The birth of Jesus reminds us of the necessity of shelter. There was no room for them in the inn, so the little family of Joseph and Mary took shelter in a stable and laid their new born son in a feeding trough. Still there are people who wander homeless. Some are refugees of war, violence and poverty. Others have fallen on bad times and may shelter in a tent or car or even or in a doorway or on a park bench. Shelter is another of the basic human needs. Recently, Jimmy Carter, our most useful ex-President fell while working on a Habitat for Humanity House. He is in his 90’s and still working to bring shelter to those who need it. I often think of the church as a sheltering place. Here the wanderer can find rest, the sinner can find redemption, the lonely can find friendship. At its best the church is a shelter for the world weary and storm tossed. But as President Carter demonstrates, Christians also need to work at solving the practical problems of shelter for those who need it. A pre-schooler, who was told that there was no room in the inn for Jesus burst out, “He can have my room!”