The story told in the Bible is about a poor family and a birth. Tonight we will retell this story in a modern setting. In the Bible it says that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed and every man should go to his own city to be counted. In the Bible story Joseph and Mary set out to travel to Bethlehem.

Joseph: I was just told that Caesar says we have to go back home to be counted. Why can't those Romans just leave us poor folk alone.

Mary: Oh dear, that's a long way to go. How am I going to make it in my condition?

Joseph: I borrowed a donkey from our neighbors. At least you won't have to walk.

Narrator: Mary is close to the time she will give birth, and is very young. In our modern story, Mary is also young. Joe and Mary do not have a donkey, but they do have a long way to travel to reach the county seat in Port Townsend. What they have to travel in is an old beat up 1967 chevy pickup truck. Let's imagine that they have a very small piece of land in the west end south of Forks where they are hurrying to build a cabin to live in before the baby is born. They are camping out in a hodge-podge of tent, plastic and canvas, living there while they work on building a home. One day they come home from shopping to find a stop work order nailed to the construction.

Mary: What's this red piece of paper nailed to the house?

Joe: It's a stop work order. It says we have to stop building. Why can't those guys in Port Townsend just leave us alone?

Narrator: Suddenly, with the baby due in less than two weeks, they are without a place to live legally. They go to Port Townsend to testify and protest and beg for a variance. Getting to Bethlehem was not easy for Mary and Joseph.

Mary: Boy am I tired. Riding this donkey makes me really sore.

Joseph: Maybe I was unfair to bring you.

Mary: No, I will be all right.

Narrator: Getting to Port Townsend also is not easy for Mary and Joe. It is an old truck. At first it doesn't start.

Joe: Oh crumb, it won't start. Mary, do you remember where I put my socket set? It isn't in the truck where it's supposed to be.

Narrator: When they finally set out it is already late. It's raining. They have a flat tire on the narrow road by Lake Crescent.

Mary: Joe, do be careful. I hate this road. Everybody drives too fast along here. Can I help you change the tire?

Joe: No, I can do it myself. Anyway, the two of you shouldn't be out in the rain and cold.

Narrator: Whenever they go up a hill, Joe thinks the engine is missing. Mary hopes the brakes are OK every time they go down a hill. Mary feels strange and wonders if she might give birth very soon. It is still raining and now the wind is blowing.

Mary: Joe I don't see how you can even see where you're going. Maybe its just the road and the weather, but I don't feel quite right.

Narrator: When they get to Port Townsend, all of the hotels and motels are closed. They have no-vacancy signs lit up. Even the hostel is full. They knock on all the doors anyway. They go from motel door to hotel door to Bed and Breakfast and everywhere the answer is always the same.

(knock knock)

Joe: We really need a place to stay.

Clerk #1: I'm sorry but we're already full.

Joe: Do you have any ideas where we might stay?

Clerk #1: Try Point Hudson, they have a lot of rooms there.

(knock knock)

Joe: My wife is pregnant and might be going into labor, do you have room?

Clerk #2: We are full. Maybe you should take her to the hospital.

Joe: We really just need a place to stay.

Clerk #2: Have you tried the Bed and Breakfasts? They often have room.

(Knock knock)

Joe: We really need a place to stay. My wife is going into labor and we need help.

B & B Clerk: There's no room here, and anyway, we won't rent to people who don't have credit cards. Your wife should be in the hospital.

Joe: We don't want a hospital birth, just a room for a midwife to come to.

B & B Clerk: Well, we are already over full.

Narrator: Joe is tired. Mary is tired and having an occasional contraction. They stop at the Penny Saver so Joe can get a cup of coffee and they can use the phone. Mary tries to call her midwife. It is a stormy night and power lines are down all over the county. She keeps getting a message that the phones are out of order.

Mechanical Voice: Your call cannot go through. The number you tried is temporarily out of order. Please try again later.

Narrator: Joe calls the hospital. Joe and Mary are still on the waiting list for Basic Health insurance. The receptionist at the hospital does not know of any local midwives. Joe feels like crying, but he doesn't. Mary is worried about her baby that is about to be born. A friendly young stranger notices their distress. He asks if he can help.

Stranger: You guys look like you're having problems. Can I help?

Mary: Yes, I'm having contractions. The phones are out and I can't get a hold of my midwife. All the hotels and motels are full and no one will help us.

Stranger: There are some places on Haines street for people who are having housing problems. I'm staying there with a friend. Maybe you could go there, too.

Mary: That would be great. Thank you so much!

Stranger: I have to call my friend to see if it's OK.

Joe: Here's some change for the phone.

(Stranger makes a phone call.)

Stranger: He says come on over. He has a garage out back. It isn't legal, but it will have to do.

Narrator: In the Bible, Joseph and Mary are given a place to stay in a stable, the place where horses and donkeys are fed and bedded down out of the weather. In Port Townsend there is a row of small houses made available for temporary shelter to homeless people. A little garage is attached to one of these houses. The friendly young stranger has taken Joe and Mary to this garage where they are given an old mattress and with a car seat next to it for a chair.

Mary: Oh boy, I can't wait to lie down. Joe, help me get my coat off.

Narrator: In the middle of the night, with help from the friendly stranger and Joe and the people in the house, Mary gives birth to a beautiful baby. The birth of the baby brings joy and singing. The wind and rain have stopped. It is now a cool, clear night. All up and down the row of little houses, people hear singing and they wake up and follow the sound to the garage where a light is shining.

Neighbor #1: Did you hear that? I think I heard someone singing.

Neighbor #2: Let's go see what's happening.

Neighbor #3: What a beautiful baby!

Neighbor #1: Let's get some gifts for the mother and baby!

(All go to find gifts of blankets and food.)

Narrator: In some stories of Christmas, shepherds bring gifts to Joseph and Mary. In the Bible, wise men from the East bring gifts. In this story, it was the homeless, who were even poorer than Joe and Mary who brought them gifts. Everyone was amazed that a birth could make a party happen and bring such happiness. Mary and the baby went to sleep with the sound of gentle laughter and music coming from inside the house, surrounded by gifts of blankets and food. In the Bible Christmas story, Mary and Jesus went to sleep with the gentle sound of cows and sheep lowing.

Christmas is about birth and the turning of the world and the beginning of the new year when the sun comes back to the northern hemisphere, but ...maybe it is mostly about birth. Every child comes into this world with the potential to be savior. Every child could grow into a great healer and peacemaker, so in the middle of winter at the darkest time of the year we may choose to celebrate every child's birth and every child's potential, because in every child there is the spark of a messiah. Maybe Joe and Mary's baby will help to heal the world. Having a party with the homeless is a good beginning.