RICHMOND —
You’ve heard of the Herdmans, right? The worst kids in the history of the world. All six of them curse, cheat and smoke cigars. They bully other kids—and each other. They even set a dilapidated tool shed on fire once—then ate the firefighters’ donuts while they battled the blaze.
Fortunately, the unruly Herdmans are fictional, created by Barbara Robinson. In her book “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever,” the Herdmans come to church for the first time—to get free food. Through intimidation, they’re cast in the Christmas play even though they’d never heard of Jesus before, and they end up stealing the show.
It’s hard to imagine that this bunch of misfits could teach us a lesson about the true meaning of Christmas, but they do in their own bizarre way.
Imogene, as Mother Mary, thinks it’s a mother’s prerogative to name her baby whatever she wants. But she agrees to call the baby, Jesus, as an Angel instructed, instead of her choice, Willie.
The Herdmans are upset about tying the baby up in wadded up (swaddling) clothes and sticking him in a feeding trough. “Where are the welfare workers?” they wonder.
They’re outraged by evil King Herod being so jealous of Jesus that he ordered the baby to be killed. Ralph, as Joseph, offers to chop off Herod’s arms instead. Leroy wants to rename the play “Revenge at Bethlehem.”
Dissatisfied with presents the Wise Men bring, the Herdmans offer their own Christmas ham, from the welfare worker, as a more practical gift. And they refuse to take it back after the play is over.
At the end, everyone agrees the Herdmans made the Christmas story more meaningful because the worst children in the history of the world experienced Christ’s birth for the first time with a sense of wonderment. And they helped others recapture their own fascination with Jesus’ journey.
If you’re looking for a fresh perspective this holiday season, The First United Methodist Church is performing “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever,” Sunday, Dec. 9, at 6 p.m. in their Multi-Ministry Center.
Pastor Bruce Nettleton has turned the play version of the book into a musical. He’s written lyrics and music to six songs to accompany more traditional Christmas hymns. “Little Baby Jesus” reminds us:
Little Baby Jesus, sleeping in the stall,
We know you came to save us. You love us one and all,
Not just the rich and loveable, not just the privileged few,
Little Baby Jesus,
We love you.
Religion
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Marie Mitchell is a Register columnist.
The ‘worst kids in the history of the world’ teach us a lesson
- Religion
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Jesus is our companion
I am a companion of all them that fear Thee, and of them that keep Thy precepts.
— Psalms 119:63 -
National Day of Prayer
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National Day of Prayer observance, noon Thursday at courthouse
Madison County residents will be joining people across the nation Thursday when they gather at noon in front of the courthouse, 101 W. Main St., Richmond, to observe the 62nd National Day of Prayer.
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McTeggart Irish Dancers of Lexington present Ceili at Church of Our Saviour
The Kentucky McTeggart Irish Dancers of Lexington will host a ceili at the Episcopal Church of Our Saviour from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on Friday, May 3
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He is full of grace and mercy
But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, for by grace ye are saved.
He hath raised us up together and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus so that in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
— Ephesians 2:4-7 -
We are complete in Him, Who is one with the Father
If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.
Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us.
Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?
Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.
—John 14:7-10 -
‘Entangled Lives’ to be presented Saturday at Berea College
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Lexington Band, All the Little Pieces, to perform at Church of Our Saviour
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A prepared place filled with mansions for prepared people
In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.
— John 14:2-4 -
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The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be slain and be raised the third day.
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