One very cold and snowy Christmas Eve a farm wife finished getting her children ready to go to the little church down the road for evening services. She asked her husband one last time if he was sure he didn't want to come too, but, as always, he declined. He just didn't see the point or the need for the religious stuff that others believed. So as his family left the driveway and headed down the snowy road, he settled back in his chair to read his paper and enjoy the quiet. 

Suddenly there was a noise at the window. Someone was knocking on his window! No, it was birds. A flock of small birds had been attracted to the light, and were looking for a place to get out of the cold. Again and again, the banged against his window, trying to get to a warm and safe place. They were desperate to find shelter from the deep cold that was coming on the night. 

The man felt sorry for the birds, realizing that their lives were in danger from the cold. Then he had an idea--the birds could go roost in his barn where they would be safe and warm through the night! He pulled on his boots and big coat, and headed out to the barn. He opened the barn door, and turned on a light in the back shop. Then he headed back to his comfortable chair, feeling relieved that the birds could be safe and warm.

Bang, bang, bang--the birds banged against the window. "What the heck?" The man was dismayed that the birds continued to pound against his window."Why don't you go into the nice, warm barn?" He went to the window and waved his arms, thinking maybe he could scare the birds away from the window and towards the open barn door. Bang, bang, bang the birds would not leave his window. He stepped out on the porch and yelled at the birds, "Get away from there! Go find the barn!" Away they flew, but just for a moment, and they were back, pounding at the glass, trying to get into the window. The birds were truly desperate.

Then the man had an idea! He got his boots and coat back on, and headed back out to the barn. He opened the barn door as wide as it could go. He got the grain out of the hopper and spread it on the ground in front of the barn door, and even inside the the door, and he turned on more lights so the birds could see to find their way. The birds continued to bang at the window of the house.

The man was starting to feel the same desperation as the birds. He felt silly, but he stood in the shadow by the barn door and tried to whistle like a bird, thinking mabe he could call them to the barn. "Oh no!" He thought, as he heard another bird hit the window hard, "if only I could be a bird, just for a moment, I could make them understand, and I could lead them in to the barn where they would be safe and warm!"

Just then, he heard a sound--it was a bell, ringing clearly in the night. It was the bell in the steeple of that little church down the road, calling to people to come and worship God, who sent Jesus into the world, so that people could understand, and so he could lead them to safety.

Suddenly he understood. He fell to his knees in the snow. "Oh, dear God, what have I done?"

And you know what happened to the sparrows? God knows. I only know that Jesus said, "Fear not, for you are of far more value than many sparrows!" Blessed Christmas to all.  

Homestead Presbytery would like to encourage everyone to send photos from your church's events to hpoffice@homesteadpres.org We would LOVE to feature all the awesome things you are all doing!