This Sunday in 12/22 Worship

Dear Grace Family,

The first time I heard the story of “The Little Red Wagon” was around 1975. It was told by Reverand Paul Matthaei, the pastor of my church in Hutchinson, Kansas. He heard the story about 30 years earlier when he was pastoring a small church. Paul asked his wife if she thought the church would be okay if he skipped his usual sermon one Sunday in Advent and just told Christmas stories. There was only one way to find out. Not only did they embrace his stories, but it also became his most popular Sunday of the year. From that point on, Paul Matthaei took one Sunday in Advent to tell Christmas stories.

I was able to hear Paul’s Christmas stories for about ten years until he retired in 1984. The church accepted his retirement, but they did not know how they could celebrate Christmas each year without hearing his stories, especially “The Little Red Wagon.” I found my own solution. When I was appointed to my first church in 1996, I revived the tradition. I had been given a folder with some of Paul’s stories and over the years have added my own. Last Christmas I brought the tradition to Grace. On Sunday, I will share with you some of my favorite Christmas stories including “The Little Red Wagon.”

See you in worship!

Barry 

ASL Interpreter at 5pm and 7pm.  Available on request for 3pm and 11pm.

Each Tuesday Pastor Mitch publishes a devotion on his website Weeklydevotion.com.  If you’d like to receive this in your inbox, drop him an email at   and just say “Sign me up!”