Christmas Eve Sermon by the Rev. Dr. Tara W. Bulger

Luke 2:1-14

In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered.

Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David.

He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.

But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.”

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!”

On the late night of August 8, 1942, Navy Signalman Third Class Elgin Staples needed a savior. While serving aboard the USS Astoria at Guadalcanal, Staples, and his crewmates found themselves under attack from the Japanese. After many hours, the Japanese finally blew a hole in the Astoria that sent Staples and his crew into the air and overboard into the water. 

Staples, wounded with shrapnel, kept afloat in the water thanks to an inflatable rubber life belt he put on shortly before the explosion. Over 200 men were lost aboard the Astoria while Staples bobbed in the water. 

Many hours later, Staples was rescued by the USS Bagley, which then returned to try and help the Astoria. Those efforts failed, and Staples found himself stranded in the water again, held up by his rubber life belt. Eventually, the USS President Jackson rescued Staples and evacuated him. Once treated for his wounds, he was given leave to return home to the States.

After his rescue, Staples took a closer look at that life belt that had saved him not once but twice and for many hours in the dark waters off Guadalcanal. Inside the belt was stamped the manufacturer: Firestone Tire and Rubber Company of Akron, Ohio—which just happened to be Staples's hometown. There was also a set of numbers on the belt, but he didn't think much of it.

Returning home to Akron, Staples recounted his harrowing tale for his mother and even brought out the life belt to show her. His mother, Vera Mueller-Staples, was shocked because she had recently taken a job at the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company in Akron during the war. Staples couldn't believe it—the plant where his mother worked had manufactured the belt that saved his life. Then his mother took the belt, turned it over, and looked at it. Staples said her face went white, and her voice cracked when she said, "Son, my job at Firestone is to inspect the life belts we make. And those numbers, right there on the life belt, are my inspector identification number. I inspected this belt to make sure it was made well."

From halfway around the world, Vera Mueller-Staples had wrapped her arms around her boy and saved him. 

On this night, when we gather around the manger, we remember that we are a people who need a savior. We are a people who stray from the ways of God and cannot do it all ourselves, and often, our very best efforts can leave us feeling as if we are bobbing alone in darkened water. Salvation means there is a brokenness in our world, and Jesus does not leave us to it; instead, he enters into this world with us to guide and save us. We need saving from the evil of the world, from our selfishness, and our sins. And our loving God, on this night long ago, came to wrap his arms around all humanity and to save us. 

At Christmas, we remember that God does not leave us alone or helpless but has come to us in the Christ child to save us. Emmanuel—God with us—wraps God's arms around us all in love and grace. This is the night God's kingdom breaks into our world in order to save us. This is the night when we are assured that God is with us and for us. It is good news of great joy for all the people. In Christ, we find salvation for all.

For this reason, we can have hope for our future, even when faced with the darkness.

From a manger in Bethlehem, God comes to wrap the arms of Jesus around the whole world. To save us. Good news of great joy for all the people. Amen.