IT'S CHRISTMAS IV

"To perceive Christmas through its wrappings becomes more difficult with every year." - E. B. White

In New York's Hayden Planetarium a special Christmas holiday show was enhanced by an added feature. A giant lollipop tree was projected onto the planetarium dome, surrounded by a horizon filled with brilliantly coloured toys which came to life and cavorted to the tune of "Jingle Bells." At the climax a huge figure of Santa Claus faded out in a snow storm, and the star of Bethlehem broke through into a sky that produced exactly the Palestine sky on the night of the nativity. The designer of this show may not realize that he dramatically staged the supreme Christmas message our world needs to understand: The recovery of the lost meaning of Christmas. This is not said in any criticism of Santa Claus; the effect must have delighted the hearts of all the children who saw it, without doing violence to their love of Bethlehem. But for adults it is a tragic loss to substitute "Jingle Bells" for "Hark! the Herald Angels Sing," and a lollipop tree for the manger of Bethlehem. The instinct is right to fade out these things in the

light of the Christmas star. It is about God's incarnation that the angels sing - God with us.

It's amazing that God knows what we need, and so acts accordingly. If our greatest need had been information, God would have sent us an educator; If our greatest need had been technology, God would have sent us a scientist; If our greatest need had been money, God would have sent us an economist; If our greatest need had been pleasure, God would have sent us an entertainer; But our greatest need was forgiveness, so God sent us a Saviour.

t's no fluke. Neither is it a fable shrouded with uncertainty. Yet it is the greatest story that ever was - the birth of the Saviour of the whole world. I know we have been told that Jesus is the reason for the season, but permit me to remind you that Jesus wouldn't have come if there weren't any YOU! As we celebrate let everything else fade out leaving the Saviour redeeming you by his birth, in your minds. Merry Christmas!