Manger

Angel Herald (named "Cindy")

New angel I named “Cindy”

New angel I named “Cindy”

I’ve decorated with outdoor Christmas lights for as long as we’ve owned a house. Lights complement our celebration of the season while hinting to passersby that Jesus is our reason for the season.

Of course, lights alone are a pretty subtle hint. Plenty who don’t believe in Jesus decorate their house with Christmas lights. Like many well-worn symbols in our world, a Christmas lights display presumes no belief by the homeowner.

For several years, I wanted to add something to our outdoor lights display that would more emphatically represent the true meaning of Christmas, that the Messiah has now come. A manger scene would do it but our next door neighbors already have a very nice, front-lit, cut out manger scene. Rather, I wanted something simpler and also unique from theirs so our two, side by side houses could present the same message differently. If just one figure, what?

A couple grapevine angels in our church’s Christmas decorations a few years ago first sparked my interest in a heralding Christmas angel. Technically, heavenly angels appeared to shepherds in the field outside Bethlehem to announce the Savior’s arrival as reported in Luke 2:8-20. Note the angelic heralds were the only really “supernatural” indication that something was up that first Christmas night.

Inspiration: Grapevine angels at church

Inspiration: Grapevine angels at church

Works for me!

While I figured grapevine material like the angels at Church would withstand the outdoor elements, these were not only hard to find but more expensive than we were prepared to spend. Then we found one in a store constructed from wire and lights that was perfect but also pricey. We balked to buy but also found it on Amazon, stuck in my wish list and there it sat for three or so years.

My wife’s sudden death in April after a too-brief battle with leukemia triggered something in me. As shopping for this angel was something we did together, finally getting one this first Christmas helped me to keep her sweet spirit close as I grieved her passing.

Drum roll please as I hereby introduce my Christmas angel, named “Cindy” in honor of my beloved wife to herald the arrival of the Messiah “moving into the neighborhood” to redeem us and gather us all to himself.

I believe she is with our Savior now and, soon enough I will join her. Meanwhile, I pray my Christmas angel, “Cindy” sparks something in your heart to seek the Savior “she” announces.

God sent angels as yet another way to tell us how much we matter to him.

Lying in a Manger — 2014 Ornament

“This year’s 15th annual ornament, “Lying in a Manger” speaks to 2014, a “What’s wrong with this picture?” kind of year – odd, puzzling and periodically disturbing….

Last Christmas, I was six months into a promising new position that abruptly ended in early January. Following another ten months of career-searching, I turned to simply finding a job and landed a part-time position with a major retailer in early November where I presently work.

As the rest of the year teetered through a series of ups and downs and in-betweens, Christ was my anchor along with my wife, church and family.

RBC Ministries ‘Discovery Series’ booklets are among several favorite sources of Biblical teaching and context including “The Real Gift of Christmas” by Dan Schaeffer that gave rise to this year’s “Lying in a Manger” ornament inspiration that speaks into the “What’s wrong with this picture?” dilemma. I pray it and my message offered below (on explanation card for ornament recipients) resonates with any and all oddities in your picture as well.”
— Glenn (“FarmingtonGlenn”) – Christmas 2014

2014 "Lying in a Manger" ornament

Lying in a manger...

While the baby Jesus “lying in a manger” is the central point of the tranquil scenes we prominently feature among our Christmas decorations, the actual birth event was probably not so tranquil for first time parents Joseph and Mary. The story told in Luke presents the manger crib as a concession because there was “no room at the inn.”

Luke declared that “the time came for the baby to be born,” suggesting no time to second-guess the unlikely birthing place. Perhaps in the quiet after the birth, Mary and Joseph’s thoughts turned again to reconciling the lofty claims offered by angelic messengers to both of them just nine months earlier with this birthplace fit well for animals of labor but not so well for a redeemer king. Had they somehow missed an important cue between then and now?

Could the cards be any more stacked against their baby to enter into the world to be saved at such a disadvantaged position? Where had they gone wrong?

Meanwhile another angelic disturbance was underway in the night sky above the dark pastures surrounding Bethlehem. This time a group of shepherds is the odd audience for a heavenly host of angels heralding a Savior born in the town of David who is Christ the Lord. He is to be found “lying in a manager.”

This time, “lying in a manger” is a sign given to find the right baby among many babies in Bethlehem that night due to families streaming into town to be counted in the census imposed by Caesar Augustus. No other baby would be “lying in a manger,” only Jesus, the one they sought.

But why shepherds? And why send them off to seek the baby in the manger?

God laced every moment of that evening with message and meaning, suggests Schaeffer. To shepherds, lowest on the Jewish societal strata, were given the honor to be first to see the Savior and then to release news of his arrival to the community. What comfort for them to seek their redeemer in a place that they of all people would know where to look and not feel unfit to visit?

Still, imagine their wonder as they searched. What kind of Savior arrives in a stable birthing room and a manger crib that would be unusual even in their own time? Indeed, what kind of Savior?

Then what of Mary and Joseph? Queried Schaeffer, “When the rugged shepherd worshipers arrived to see their child, did Mary and Joseph sigh in relief? Did the joy of confirmation flood their souls, washing away any doubt that might have accumulated in their hearts?”

“I think it did,” he surmised. “The heavenly-inspired visit by the shepherds was an additional confirmation that their present circumstances were exactly what God had deemed.”

So this Christmas, permit this “Lying in a Manger” ornament to be a sign for you as well, an invitation. Nothing about your situation is the least bit odd to God. Rest assured that he is working for His glory and your good. So bring your stuff and yourself to him whatever your current state. Like the shepherds, you are welcome and fit to visit.

Notes:

  1. COMMENTS WELCOME and ENCOURAGED here about how the ornament and/or message struck you ESPECIALLY from ornament recipients. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO RECEIVE a 2014 “Lying in a Manger” ornament, simply request one by emailing me at FarmingtonGlenn@gmail.com.  No guarantees but if I can get one to you, I will.  If shipping is required, I may ask you to cover those costs.
  2. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:
    1. The inspiration for this ornament came from my reading in September 2014 of “The Real Gift of Christmas”, an RBC Ministries ‘Discovery Series’ booklet by Dan Schaeffer.  Link: http://web001.rbc.org/pdf/discovery-series/the-real-gift-of-christmas.pdf
    2. Star charm: Finishing touch, the “Antique Brass Star Outline” charm http://www.artbeads.com/bba-ch002.html
  3. LYING IN A MANGER SCRIPTURES:

    The anchor scripture is Luke 2:12 but for context, read Luke 2: 4-19.