A returning favourite from last year - NOW WITH VIDEO!
"The Stuff I Find at Work On YouTube" Dept.:
Our reading tonight is from the First Book of Ernie, Chapter 23..."
1. And lo, it should come that Ernie should see the holiday fast approaching and be barren of coin. And having naught to offer his dearest friend come the Feast Day, did fall into a great sadness and great confusion. And most heavy of heart, Ernie looked to the street and saw the place of Hooper the Semite and knew what he must do.
3. And Ernie had naught but his finest possession, but as Bert was his first and greatest friend Ernie did arrange to exchange his possession for the container for Bert, that Bert may take his metals and small things, such as the joints for parchment and corks of metal for Figgy Fizz, and place them therein, not to lose them or misplace them again. And Ernie then spoke unto the Semite and this is what he said.
4. Take you this, my finest and only possession. Take you my idol of a water bird, made of the hardened sap of trees. Hear its mirthful song as often I have when I have bathed and squeezed it so.
5. And the idol did sing, and the Semite heard it, and saw Ernie's joy and tearful eyes. And smiling softly, the Semite did take the idol, and exchange the container, and the bells at the Semite's door did ring once and Ernie did return to his home.
6. And at his home, Ernie saw Bert, who greeted him, in household clothes, and did entreat Ernie to open the gift that he had brought for the Feast Day. And Ernie did the same, and Bert said that he would.
7. And Ernie was sore amazed. And Bert was amazed.
8. Bert had made of Ernie a gift, and this was a container and shrine of cloth for his idol, so that Ernie might keep his idol safe and always know where it was. And the gift of Ernie was that of the container of the metals of Bert.
9. And to their great surprise, the bell of their door did ring and Hooper the Semite appeared unto them, and said this.
10. My young friends, may the Glory of the Feasting be Upon You. I have brought you my gifts that you might open them now. And these are my gifts that I bring to you.
11. And he did make a gift to Ernie and then to Bert. And then Ernie and then Bert did see a miracle.
12. For Bert, being barren of coin, had come to the Semite before, and given unto him the metals and small things, the joints for parchment and corks of metal for Figgy Fizz that were his own, and gave them to the Semite in exchange for the shrine of cloth that he then did give to Ernie.
13. And Bert saw that the Semite did give him his metals and joints in return.
14. And Ernie saw that the Semite gave unto him his idol of a water bird.
15. And both Ernie and Bert were amazed to see that the other had given his one true possession to his friend, that his happiness might be preserved, and at the cost of his own.
16. And Ernie and Bert looked to the Semite and said this to him.
17. Semite, you know we have no coin or gift for you. What is it that we might give to you as a gift, for these gifts that you have brought us are the greatest gifts that we could have.
18. And the Semite answered and said that the joy of the gifting was all that he needed, as he was not of their tribe, and did not share their feast, and knowing now of their happiness would need no other gift. And saying this the Semite did leave to go to his family.
19. And Ernie and Bert did lift their voices together in song.
