Part two of a three-part series by Clinton Halladay
Hope, Hospitality and Holy Humour
Now, let’s talk about the innkeeper. He’s often cast as the villain of the nativity story — the one who slammed the door in Joseph’s face. But perhaps we’ve been unfair. Scripture doesn’t actually say he was cruel. It simply says there was no room.
Picture Bethlehem during the census: crowded streets, every guest room filled, families packed wall-to-wall. The innkeeper could have said, “Sorry, nothing I can do.” Instead, he offered what he had — a stable. Not glamorous, but it was shelter.
That small act of hospitality mattered. It gave Mary and Joseph a place to rest. It gave Jesus a place to be born. And it reminds us that kindness doesn’t have to be grand to be holy. Sometimes it’s just making space where there seems to be none.
Isn’t that relevant today? We live in a world where schedules are packed, calendars are full, inboxes overflow. “No room” is the default answer. Yet Christmas calls us to be like that innkeeper — to make room, even if it’s imperfect. To open our homes, our hearts, our time.
Part three of the three part series by Clinton Halladay
Hope, Hospitality and Holy Humour
Now, humour has its place even in holy reflection. After all, joy is central to Christmas.
Imagine Joseph trying to explain the situation: “Yes, my wife is about to give birth. Yes, we’ve travelled miles. No, we don’t have a reservation. And yes, the baby is the Son of God.” The innkeeper probably thought, “I’ve heard some excuses in my time, but this one takes the fruitcake.”
Or picture the shepherds rushing to Bethlehem. They didn’t have GPS, so perhaps one said, “Are you sure this is the right stable? I see cows, chickens, and a donkey, but no Messiah.” And then, in the corner, a baby cooing in a manger — God’s punchline to human expectations.
Humour reminds us that God delights in surprising us. The incarnation itself is the greatest twist ending: the infinite becoming infant, the Creator becoming creature.
Christmas is not just nostalgia, not just carols and cookies (though let’s be honest, cookies help). It is the declaration that God is with us. Emmanuel.
“Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.” (Matthew 1:23)
God with us in our crowded schedules. God with us in our messy homes. God with us when there seems to be no room.
The innkeeper’s kindness echoes through the centuries, reminding us: make room. Make room for Christ in your heart. Make room for others in your life. Make room for joy, even when the world feels heavy.
This Christmas, let us:
- Open our doors. Invite someone who might otherwise spend the season alone.
- Open our hearts. Forgive, reconcile, extend grace.
- Open our hands. Give generously, not just gifts wrapped in paper, but gifts wrapped in love.
Because when we make room, miracles happen.
As the angels proclaimed:
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” (Luke 2:14)
Peace and goodwill — that’s the essence of Christmas. And maybe, just maybe, the innkeeper deserves a little credit for setting the stage.
So this year, when you hang your stockings and sip your hot chocolate, remember the stable. Remember the miracle. Remember the kindness that made room. And if your relatives show up unannounced, remember: even the innkeeper had to improvise.
May it be so by the Grace of God.
So what does this story mean for us in 2025?
- Hospitality matters. The innkeeper reminds us that offering even a little space can change someone’s life. A smile, a listening ear, a seat at the table — these are modern-day stables.
- God works in humble places. The miracle of Jesus’ birth tells us that greatness often begins in obscurity. Don’t despise small beginnings.
- Kindness is contagious. The shepherds, after seeing the child, “made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child” (Luke 2:17). One act of kindness led to a chain reaction of joy.
And let’s be honest: sometimes kindness is messy. The innkeeper probably had to clean up after the animals, deal with noise complaints, and explain to guests why a newborn was crying next door. Hospitality isn’t always convenient. But it is always holy.
Free Art Classes in the Portland Village – 6-12 yrs. Monday 4:30-6:15 at the Portland Restaurant & Pizzeria. Visual Art Teacher – Darlene, call to book your spot 905-801-5060.
Christmas Eve in Portland is 4:00 and 7:00 in Elgin.
No service on Christmas day
Joint service at 10:00 in Elgin on December 28th.
Normal service times resumes on Jan 4
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The 2025 Annual Meetings scheduled for March 1st
PUC: following worship service
EUC: following worship service
EPPC: following EUCs ACM
Annual reports are due to the office by January 20th, treasurers’ reports by January 27th.
Free Art Classes in the Portland Village – 6-12 yrs. Monday 4:30-6:15 at the Portland Restaurant & Pizzeria. Visual Art Teacher – Darlene, call to book your spot 905-801-5060.
Bible Discussion Groups
The two weekly Bible Discussion Groups will take a few weeks off during the holidays and resume their meetings in the new year on January 5th and 6th. This past year the groups have completed reading the New Testament two more times and have read the first half of the Old Testament (up to Job). In the new year, we will resume our study in the second half of the Old Testament, while reading again the New Testament. If you would like to start your new year with greater understanding of God’s word, please join us for lively discussions and encouraging fellowship. Contact Jim Barton at ccjimbarton@gmail.com or (cell) 613-328-4089.
Devotional Reflection
December 20, 2025
As a child there were times that I felt afraid. Sometimes, my older siblings would tell us ghost stories, that conjured up scary feelings – like the shadows that cross your window at night! Or those unfamiliar sounds when the whole house seemed to be sleeping, and you could definitely hear something out there, under your bed, or above your head. Ducking under the covers was the only safe place to hide – until you couldn’t breathe because you were too hot and had to come up for air!
And I distinctly remember having to walk from a friend’s house after dark. There were few street lights back then. You were afraid to run in case you wouldn’t hear someone chasing you. You furtively kept a close eye on what was behind you, and walked as quietly as possible. Then, you saw the light from your kitchen window, shining bright, like a beacon. And you ran like the wind to reach your front door, throwing it open, in relief.
Of course, when a sibling, or your mother asked if you were OK, you pretended that nothing happened. And your heart slowly returned to normal rhythm.
I am sure you have many experiences similar to mine. And for some of you, you still refuse to face the darkness.
My thoughts today centre around a new way to consider this darkness. We live in the midst of darkness. There are times when your life is devastating. You are engulfed by pain, or fear, or loss. The darkness is smothering you.
So many in our world today are consumed by the darkness. They fail to realize that they need only turn toward the light.
Long ago, there was a bright light in the sky. And this star led to the Light of the World! And yet, not everyone turned toward it.
In fact, many did not. The star that lit up the whole sky was ignored by the Proprietor who was busy filling up the rooms at his hotel. He did not see the Light. Hundreds of people, who were in the town of Bethlehem, did not recognize the Light of the World! They continued in darkness, grumbling about having to travel for the census. Inconvenience hid the most remarkable Light.
In your own life, have you experienced such an emptiness that has crushed you, left you broken, thrashing around in the darkness, looking for a way out?
Are you afraid to turn to Bethlehem? To see this phenomenon that was sent from God? How long must you walk in darkness before you come to realize that you must turn back to Bethlehem and see the Light of the World? Through the darkness, there shines a bright Light.
Come now to Bethlehem and see again, Christ the Saviour! And your darkness will be turned into Light!
You are blessed and loved!
Liz Church, Director of Pastoral Care
Elgin/Portland Pastoral Charge