Christmas

 

Hello everyone,

It’s been a real joy to begin to get to know you over the last month, and we’re so looking forward to our first Christmas with you all (if not ‘in’ the parish, at least in our services!).

 

Thank you to all of you who have helped us to settle in, and an especially big thank you to Phil who is ending his time with us and who will be greatly missed. Thank you for all your hard work, and for helping to show me many of the ropes!

You may well have already met a handful of people who’ve come over to join us from Platt church, the good news is that we will see some more coming to be a part of St James from January.

In the meantime, as we launch into December, I’m very conscious that it’s one of the busiest months for us all. In the midst of all the business, in and out church, it can be easy to lose sight of what it’s all about.

Luke 2:10-11: “But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is the Messiah, the Lord.’”

Our lives are busy, stressful, more expensive than ever. The world feels more tense and dangerous than it has done in a long time. But we have good news that brings great joy. 2000 years ago God displayed his grace and love in the most powerful way. God the Son became man - ‘heaven touching earth’ as the Christmas prayer says. That little baby in the manger is the most extraordinary thing, Emmanuel, God with us, come to save us.

Perhaps over this Christmas season we can take some time to open our Bibles and read the first few chapters of the gospel of Luke, to draw near again to this baby. To sing along with Zechariah and Mary and Simeon and the angels their songs of salvation:

‘And ye, beneath life's crushing load, Whose forms are bending low, Who toil along the climbing way With painful steps and slow, Look now! for glad and golden hours Come swiftly on the wing; – Oh, rest beside the weary road And hear the angels sing! For lo! the days are hastening on By prophet bards foretold, When with the ever circling years Comes round the age of gold; When Peace shall over all the earth Its ancient splendours fling, And the whole world give back the song Which now the angels sing.’

Rev Jack