Over the years, Christian traditions have built different walls around their castles of faith—each convinced they’ve got it right, and everyone else has it wrong. It’s strange, really, that so many walls exist around the same story.

But when we read the Bible closely, we discover things happening outside those walls—stories and actions many traditions would call unacceptable. There’s one sitting right in the Christmas story itself.

So what do we do with that?
Do we ignore the biblical accounts?
Filter them through our traditions?
Dismiss what doesn’t fit inside our castle walls?

I don’t think so.

Instead, it’s worth reading the stories as they’re told—and wrestling honestly with what they invite into our spiritual lives - even if the stories challenge the walls we inherited.

That’s what we’re doing this week: exploring the Christmas story, regardless of whether they fit inside some traditions' walls. Last week it was the exiled shepherds. This week, it’s the "wise men".

It’s going to be a freeing conversation—I promise!

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The shepherds were the last people anyone expected to be part of the story—they were living on the margins, working the night shift while everyone else slept, never invited to the events around them. Outsiders

And yet… they’re the first ones invited.

In the middle of the darkness, they’re the ones who hear the news. The ones who run toward something they can’t fully explain. The ones who show up—curious, uncertain, hopeful.

This Christmas, we’re turning our attention to them—the ones who never imagined they’d be included. We’ll explore their world, their courage, and what their story might be whispering to ours. This is the beautiful part of the Christmas Story, its not just a story from the past, it's our stories if we are open to hearing it!

Join us for Christmas from the Ledge—a Christmas for (and about) people who don’t fit traditional church.

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To donate to this podcast and support the making of more of these please visit https://friendschurch.ca/podcast

Every year, we gather the remarkable stories emerging from our community—stories of people “Taking Water,” showing up with compassion, generosity, and a willingness to invest themselves in the lives of others without expectation. These stories highlight everyday individuals living out quiet courage, humble service, and extraordinary impact.

Join us again this year for a morning of inspiration as we honour those who have embodied this spirit in meaningful and memorable ways. Come hear the stories that lift us, challenge us, and remind us of the heart of Friends Church—cultivating a healthy spirituality that Takes Water into our world.

To donate to this podcast and support the making of more of these please visit www.friendschurch.ca/donate

Donate to Friends Church

To donate to this podcast and support the making of more of these please visit https://friendschurch.ca/podcast