Four Goats and a Community Tap Stand
First ask...
Is this it then? In this song? Is this all there is to Christmas? Trees, candy, reindeer, toys? Has it come down to this where Santa has become the good guy, and Jesus does not even get a mention?
I heard recently in a Scripture Union magazine, that Wayne Dixon, schools worker in Slough, Maidenhead and Windsor, described the Christmas Story as bubble gum; and all the trimmings that surround Christmas as the fluff on the bubbly gum.
You can still see the bubbly gum, but it’s somewhat camouflaged and hard to see.
We don’t want to take the fluff away because this is what people connect with…things like trees and mistletoe, cakes and cards, pantomimes and Santa are the fluff of Christmas. But the bubble gum, the real story, should be at the very heart of Christmas.
The facts are these:-that this is the time when God gave his son to be born on earth, he didn’t ask anything in return. His was a gift of love for each one of us.
His son, Jesus, came to demonstrate that love, and to be an example for us to follow.
Shepherds came hurrying to see the new-born king, after a visitation by angels
They may have even taken a gift, we don’t know, but if they had they wouldn’t have expected anything in return, for their main purpose was to see their Saviour.
Wise men, magi, came later to see the child, we don’t really know how many there were, we assume there were three as they gave three gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh, and they too, wouldn’t have expected anything in return.
Today the giving of gifts could almost be seen now an exchange of gifts, a swop!
Is there a genuine gift we can give back to God?
Is there some way in which we can really repay God for the good things we have been given, and make this a Christmas to remember?
Is it possible to give without expecting to receive something back?
(VISUAL AIDS: a toy duck, An ‘Envy and Strife’ C.D.)
First a team of ‘over the top’ costumed pupils first sing this song. If you have no knowledge of the Christmas Song below, just ask anyone over 50 years +.
C is for the candy trim around the Christmas tree
H is for the happiness of all the family
R is for the reindeer prancing by the windowpane
I is for the icing on the cake as sweet as sugar cane
S is for the stocking on the chimney wall
T is for the toys beneath the tree so tall
M is for the mistletoe where everyone is kissed
A is for the angels who make up their Christmas list
And S is for Old Santa who makes every kid his pet,
Be sure and he’ll bring you everything in the Christmas Alphabet
(Singers gather round the main characters to form a Christmas backdrop to the drama, they freeze. Enter mother followed by the father)
Mam: Billy? Billy? Where on earth is that girl?
Dad: Did you get the presents today?
Mam: Just one for Billy! Here I’ll show you before she comes! You know how she loves cuddly toys? Look at this. (Shows the cheeky duck proudly, and makes it sing)
Dad: Very nice our mother! Well I got her a more grown up present, a computer game called Envy and Strife.
Mam: Oh lovely I must say!
Dad: Quick our mam, here she comes, put them away! (they hide their gifts)
Mam: She’s been playing football again!
Dad: Nowt wrong wi’ that!
Billy: Hi mam! Hi dad, what’s for tea?
Mam: It’ll be ready soon. Er we were just wondering what you wanted for your main Christmas present this year pet?
Billy: Oh that’s easy! I’d like four goats or a community tap stand.
Mam: GOATS? But I’ve already got you a fluffy toy duck!
Billy: No the GOATS I’m talking about aren’t toys. I’m talking about Gift Aid to poorer countries. Goats are given to villagers, in an under developed regions; and when the goats have kids they pass them on to other villagers. Or you could but me a community tap stand which provides safe drinking water, for the poor rather like a well for life!
Dad: Well for Life? But I’ve got you ‘Envy and Strife’! Oh I’ve given the game away!
Billy: Well it's just that I’ve been thinking about the real Christmas message, and it’s really about giving without necessarily receiving anything in return. So that’s what I’d like. I’ll go and wash my hands. (Mam and Dad are stunned!)
Mam: Where did we go wrong, our dad?
Dad: Why couldn’t we have a normal child, like all the others…on drink or drugs, or hanging around with boys!
Mam: She’s gone all holy on us!
Dad: I put it down to that bump on her head when she was young! You'll have to her to see that doctor down the road!
Mam: Or better still I’ll make an appointment with that R.E. teacher at school, and have a few strong words with her… PUTTING FANCY IDEAS LIKE THIS IN HER HEAD!
Dad: Our Billy’s far too young to be making such important decisions!
Mam: Christmas is meant to be a happy time!
Dad: Never mind pet, just think of a happy Christmas carol, that’ll set your mind right for the festive season! They break into the song C is for the Candy Trim or I'm dreaming of a White Christmas' getting louder as they go.