christmas magic

I went to a brilliant pantomime in Kuwait where they performed a spoof magic show. One of the items was a mind reading trick in which a member of the audience is asked if they know which word the magician had previously written down on a piece of paper before the show began. When the volunteer replies "No" the magician screamed "Correct!" and pulls out the paper to show that he had written the word "No".



I used this to begin my sermon in order to talk about how God planned the Christmas story in advance. This led onto the use of the Magician's Choice in which 5 numbered envelopes containing a different response and understanding of Christmas. held by different people around the world. I got a line of children out to hold each envelope in front of them with each number clearly visible to the audience.



I asked a volunteer to choose an envelope (he chose the one I wanted him to pick by applying the Magician's Choice technique - Tis was envelope number 2). Envelope number 2 had a picture of the baby Jesus in it. The other envelopes had pictures of a Santa, a Christmas Tree, a pile of gift wrapped presents and a Christmas Turkey. All these pictures were revealed from the different envelopes with comments on how they represent for many people the only meaning of Christmas. Then I highlighted the choice of Envelope 2 "chosen" by the volunteer which contained the real meaning of Christmas.



It was great fun and made for a fifteen minute sermon. The great thing about this technique is that you can adapt it for any season or occasion.



Blessings