Oh NO!
My sister always said I was a Grinch,
but I never imagined 2020 would do it in a cinch.
No services to be held at our church,
but for the Christmas Spirit we still search.
This Christmas is different from those past…
Travel to visit family and friends? Not so fast.
Time with grandparent, aunt, uncle, and cousin?
These loved ones may not buzz in.
Favorite foods may too be lacking from the feast,
whether it is rolls, pie, or even the roast beast.
Shiny packages, short and tall,
Bright lights, big and small,
may be dimmer as is all.
Perhaps, you better not flinch,
for 2020 can also make you a Grinch.
If you will indulge me, may I share a story?
It tells of divine glory,
when God broke into our deepest, darkest night
with Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love so bright.
Mary, a young girl with a pure heart not to be ignored,
was asked to birth a son, Jesus, who creation adored.
Joseph was her husband-to-be,
but not the father of Jesus was he.
Jesus was the Son of God,
who among the ordinary would trod.
Mary and Joseph rode a donkey down,
across and through the desert, to Bethlehem town.
And then, the time came for the divine light
of Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love to shine so bright.
Jesus was born that very night.
Nearby shepherds, strong and tough,
watching their flock by night were busy enough.
But, the baas of the sheep would hush
as the angels told of God born in human flesh.
These shepherds to Bethlehem they sped
until reaching the babe in a manger as the angel said.
They shared with Mary and Joseph the news
the angels proclaimed about Jesus, who was a snooze.
They pondered the words within their hearts.
What an amazing adventure God charts!
A babe born in a manger that night,
would shine with the divine light
of Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love so bright.
On this deepest, darkest night,
this light continues to shine so bright.
These gifts wrapped in paper so shiny
may seem, well, oh so… tiny.
The first candle we light is Hope,
which helps us in the worse of worse to cope.
The second candle we light is Peace,
which encourages us to remain calm and squabbles to cease.
The third candle we light is Joy,
which reminds girls and boys
to enjoy more than their toys.
The fourth candle we light is Love,
which is more powerful than any on earth can dream of.
The final candle we light is Christ,
who came among us in Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love to sacrifice.
So you see, on this darkest night
the godly light of Christ remains oh so bright.
“The Grinch hated Christmas! The whole Christmas season!
Now, please don’t ask why. No one quite knows the reason.
It could be his head wasn’t screwed on just right.
It could be, perhaps, that his shoes were too tight.
But, I think that the most likely reason of all,
may have been that his heart was two sizes too small.”*
Despite the most wonderful, awful ideas of the Grinch,
he could not steal Christmas in a pinch.
“He HADN’t stopped Christmas from coming! IT CAME!
Somehow or other, it came just the same!
And the Grinch, with his grinch-feet ice-cold in the snow,
stood puzzling and puzzling: “How could it be so?”
“It came without ribbons! It came without tags!”
“It came without packages, boxes, or bags!”
And he puzzled three hours, till his puzzler was sore.
Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn’t before!
“Maybe Christmas,” he thought, “doesn’t come from a store.”
“Maybe Christmas… perhaps… means a little bit more!””*
Christmas doesn’t come from a store.
Christmas definitely means a little bit more!
Christmas is Christ entering in the deepest, darkest night
shining the divine light oh so bright.
“And what happened then? Well… in Whoville they say,
that the Grinch’s small heart grew three sizes that day!”*
May our hearts grow three sizes too, we pray. (Amen)
With our hearts so big on this day,
a prayer for the church, the entire world, and all in need will you say?
God of love, who is above, we give you glory.
May peace upon all the earth be your story.
Blessed Prince of Peace, may you rule all of earth with justice and truth.
May all the nations with your gift of peace sooth.
Blessed Son of Mary, who our humanity shares.
May the sick, dying, and suffering be in God’s merciful care.
Blessed Son of God, who is Word made flesh, please among us dwell.
May we reflect your light of Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love oh so well.
(Amen).
May this night shine forth always and forever with God’s light
of Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love oh so bright.
Christ is born this night!
May divine Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love be a light
in Whoville, on Mt. Crumpit, and everywhere oh so bright!
*These are quoted directly from Dr. Suess’ ‘How the Grinch Stole Christmas’.
‘A Grinchy Christmas’ was created by Rev. Melinda Gapen.
‘A Grinchy Christmas’ was originally performed/preached on 24 December 2020.
The Feisty Lutheran 