Advent

Advent Reflection - 24th December

Today’s Advent Reflection is from Julie Hackney

Glory to God in the Highest

Luke 2:8-18

8 In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 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: 11 to you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.’ 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying,

14 ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven,

    and on earth peace among those whom he favours!’

15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.’ 16 So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. 17 When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them.

Reflection

For the shepherds watching their sheep on the hills outside Bethlehem, it was just another night. They had no idea that something incredible was about to happen that would change their lives, and the lives of millions of people throughout the ages, for ever.

When the Angel of the Lord suddenly appeared to them, surrounded by the amazing, golden light of God’s glory, they were, understandably, terrified. But they were told not to be afraid as the Angel said to them (in the words of the King James Bible), “Behold. I bring you tidings of great joy which shall be to all people.”

Who knows what they made of it all, let alone what was to come, as the Angel went on to tell them, that a baby was born in Bethlehem? A saviour. Christ the Lord.

And yet, it was to these shepherds that a sign was given. It was their mission, should they choose to accept it, to go and look for the baby who, the Angel said, would be wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger. This was how the shepherds would know that they had found the right baby. There was to be no mistake. Then, just to underline the fact that this was what they should do, “a multitude of the heavenly host” joined the Angel to sing out these words that are at the very heart of the Christmas story, “Glory to God in the highest and on earth, peace, goodwill to all”.

The shepherds must have been reeling from all this but, after some discussion, they decided to do as they had been asked and set off into Bethlehem to find the baby. They had to know for sure; the Angel had given them all the clues and now they had to see for themselves if what they had been told was true.

This was a leap of faith on the part of the shepherds. But how they were rewarded.

And we are told that they “came with haste” and found Mary, Joseph and, as promised, the baby lying in a manger. After seeing all this for themselves, the shepherds went off to spread the Angel’s “tidings of great joy”, telling anyone who would listen what the Angel had said.

They had indeed been changed from the timid shepherds who had been so afraid when the angel first appeared. Now they were confidently going round “glorifying and praising God for all the things they’d seen”.

We don’t know what happened to the shepherds after they returned to their flocks, but it’s hard to imagine that they all went back to sitting in the fields night after night watching their sheep, maybe, now and again, one of them saying to the others, “Do you remember that night when…....”

And now, thousands of years later, the shepherds’ story resonates with us as 21st century Christians. It is Christmas Eve and, unlike the shepherds, we know that it is a momentous night and we know what we are waiting for: to celebrate the birth of Jesus, that baby that was found by the shepherds lying in a manger.

Everywhere we turn at Christmas we are reminded of the shepherds’ experience that night: Christmas cards featuring angels and shepherds, decorations on our Christmas trees, the words of carols such as “While Shepherds Watched” or “Hark the Herald Angels Sing”. But of greatest significance is the light. The light of God’s glory which shone all around.

At Christmas, lights are an integral part of our celebrations. We have been lighting our Advent candles each day whilst we make our preparations since the first of December. Candles continue to cast their soft, gentle glow in our living rooms and on our tables. The lights on our trees glisten against their branches, both inside and outside our houses. As we look at the sky on a clear night, stars pierce the darkness.

Tonight, we can be pretty certain that there won’t be a host of angels appearing in the sky, giving us instructions as to how to find the baby Jesus. But, fortunately we have already found him and we are reminded, especially at Christmas, that he is the light of the world, shining for us in the darkness.

Sometimes, and particularly perhaps during this challenging year, we may wonder about the Angel’s promise of peace and goodwill to all on earth. But we believe that this is God’s hope for his world and that there is a job which he has given to us, that is to work towards making it a reality in whatever way we can.

He wants us to be his light in the darkness.

The shepherds remind us that we can all play a part in spreading the Angel’s “tidings of joy”, just as they did on the night when Jesus was born.

They had faith, they followed the signs, they were afraid but went out into the world to declare what they knew, share the good news and bring joy.

Surely if they could, so can we.

Wishing you all a joyful Christmas filled with love and light.

 

Carol A Day in Advent

Michael Crawford sings a transcendent "O Holy Night" -- possibly the best version ever recorded -- on the TV special "David Foster's Christmas Album" (NBC, D...

Advent Reflection - 23rd December

Today’s Advent Reflection is from David Daniels

Mary Visits Elizabeth

Luke 1.39-45

39 In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, 40 where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leapt in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit 42 and exclaimed with a loud cry, ‘Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. 43 And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? 44 For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leapt for joy. 45 And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfilment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.’

Reflection

Mary wanted to share her experience and news of being pregnant with her relative Elizabeth, who was also having a baby, which was an answer to her prayers.  She had given up hope of being a mother and in those days would have been judged to be too old. Mary was betrothed to Joseph but was pregnant by the power of the Holy Spirit. The contrast is of an older married woman and a girl, yet to consummate her coming marriage. The baby carried by Elizabeth moves surprisingly when Mary greets her. The baby Elizabeth had named him John, since her husband had been made dumb and could not do so, she had been inspired to call him John. This meeting shows us the coming together of two prayerful and devout women and the impact of the guidance of the Holy Spirit working within them both. Mary had believed in God’s promise and Elizabeth had become the mother of the prophet who would proclaim the coming of the Saviour of the World.  

The older woman realises the importance of the situation that when she says that she is humbled that the mother- to- be, carrying the Lord of All, should visit her. That her baby proclaimed the other child as the Saviour. This prophet inside her would be the voice crying in the wilderness, the first of many who would proclaim Jesus as the Messiah.   This moment was the beginning of the events that would change the behaviour and thinking of the population of the world for all future generations. These two children would grow up and experience the learning and the guidance of their Fathers which would keep them safe.

Mary is with Jesus throughout his journey, it may be a stretch to see that Joseph was only his teacher as he was a devout Jew and would have taught him the Law. He also taught Him the skills needed to be a builder and carpenter throughout his working life; but Mary was his first disciple and followed Him. She was holding Him at his presentation in the Temple. The emphasis is the circumcision and the presentation of Jesus in the Temple, rather than the purification of Mary following his birth. Simeon who has waited his lifetime to see the Saviour proclaims Jesus as the one he has waited for. Anna has spent her life praying for the Messiah. Mary held these things in her heart.

Mary prompts the first of his miracles, He accepts the instruction given by her to the servants serving the guests, as running out of refreshment would have embarrassed their hosts.

In the last days Mary watched the cruel end to her son’s life and stood by Him to the final breath.

The Holy Spirit guided Him throughout his ministry, his mother was watching over Him as only a mother can.

What has this reading meant to me. Have I listened to God speaking to me? I have often referred to coincidences in my life. When I have prayed most fervently then sometimes there is an immediate answer – or would it have happened anyway?

Mary had a conversation which ended when she agreed by her submitting. She becomes pregnant and by this incredible action she then knows she is totally in God’s hands.

This is a special time of the year for our family, because December 18th is the birthday of our daughter Johanna. She was with us for three years and died suddenly.  I was shattered and broken. I prayed for her and her Mum that we would find peace and comfort as we moved towards the funeral. Then I had a dream. Little Jo’ was running across a field towards Grandma who was holding out her arms and calling “Mano mergaite” I asked Tricia what it meant. She was very surprised and said it was Lithuanian and meant “my little girl”. She said that Grandma had moved to England and had married here. I had never heard this language. I now know there is a heaven and we will meet others. I am certain that God had spoken to me.

 

Carol A Day in Advent

Selection from the concert presentation "Let Earth Receive Her King"Performed Sunday December 4, 2016.

Advent Reflection - 22nd December

Today’s Advent Reflection is from Mark Tomlinson, from St Marys, Cheadle

Jesus, Founder and Perfecter of Our Faith

Hebrews 12:1-3, 13:1-2

12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

3 Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or faint-hearted.

13 Let brotherly love continue. 2 Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.

Reflection

Christmas is fast approaching now, almost certainly a Christmas like no other for us. But even with the challenges and restrictions of this year, this is still a time for reflecting on the past and experiencing the joys of past traditions.

One of my loves has always been films - especially at Christmas. We live in a time now when the access to films is greater than it has ever been, you can almost see any film at any time. But many of us will still remember a time when one of the highlights of Christmas, in particularly Christmas Day, was to see a blockbuster film or one of the ‘old Christmas favourites’ . . . . . James Bond, White Christmas, It’s a Wonderful Life, to name just three. I can almost feel the tingle and emotion of remembering.

Nearly all of these films have a hero of some kind, who eventually comes through in some way. I love heroes coming good, and the escapism of it all getting lost in the experience, even for an hour or so.

So, what has this to do with today’s readings in Hebrews?

I love the letter to the Hebrews and especially chapters 12 & 13, not just for them in themselves but also because of what they follow. Chapter 12 starts with ‘therefore’! I hope your first thought was, ‘what is chapter 12 referring to’? Chapter 11 is an amazing chapter of ‘Faith in action’ and lists so many heroes of faith from the Old Testament, like Abel, Enoch, Abraham, Jacob and Moses, to name a few. The beginning of the chapter reminds us that faith is, ‘confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.’ And as we are reminded of the different characters, we are also reminded that faith is understanding God’s commands, righteousness, what pleases God, the importance of seeking God and obeying Him.

Christmas is a wonderful and perfect time to be reminded of all these characters and what they help us to remember about our own faith. ‘So since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses . . . . . ‘, what do we need to do this Christmas? Our verses today give us really clear instructions . . . keep your eyes on Jesus, focus on Him. What wonderful words of encouragement to us all, but what does this mean in practice? The writer to the Hebrews explains this to us in the verses we are reflecting on today:

·     Lay aside every weight and sin (12v1) – God’s rescue story, beginning at Christmas and through to the story of Easter, is all about God’s forgiveness. As we remember all that God has done through Jesus, we must let go of anything that gets in the way of our relationship with God. Will you do that today and continue into the new year?

·     Run the race with endurance (12v1) – our faith is all about living it out, putting it into practice and being faithful and persevering, even when it is hard, like it has been this year. Will you run the Christian race with endurance?

·     Look to Jesus and His sacrifice (12v12v2) – remember and recognise what Jesus has done, which all began with the His birth in the Nativity story. Jesus’ love for us is so complete that He gave up everything for us. How amazing is that? Christmas is a great time for us to reflect on Jesus’ love and think about how we can show our love for Him in our life.

·     Don’t grow weary (12v3) – As we think of Jesus and all He has done this Christmas, we need to be encouraged, and not grow tired or faint-hearted. Despite the challenges this Christmas, will you make the most of circumstances?

·     Show love to your church family (13v1) – ‘Let brotherly love continue’ is challenging at the moment isn’t it, with all the restrictions of Covid-19, but are there things you can do to help others? Even within our own church there are so many who are finding this Christmas very difficult. Can you make contact with someone by phone? Is there a word of encouragement you can share? Are there members of church who can’t get out and need some practical help? This Christmas we need to do what we can to show love.

·     Show hospitality to strangers (13v2) – Jesus challenges us to show hospitality to all, but it is very challenging in our present situation. But can we be creative in our thinking? And when all this eases, are we beginning to think in what ways we can bless those in our wider community?

My hope and prayer is that you will have a very safe Christmas, and one when you will know God’s love, provision, protection and blessing.

God Bless

Mark

 

Carol A Day in Advent

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Advent Reflection - 21st December

Today’s Advent Reflection is from David Walker

Jumping for Joy

Luke 1:39-45

At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, 

40 where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. 

41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 

42 In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! 

43 But why am I so favoured, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 

44 As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 

45 Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfil his promises to her!”

Reflection

If the passage above were to have been made as a film, it would have been made as a prequel to the major blockbuster: The Birth of Jesus Christ, and might have had the title: Jumping for Joy, and it would have been introduced by an American voiceover proclaiming that we mustn’t miss this new movie.

But a story of two mothers-to-be, excitedly discussing their impending motherhood, is a scene of anticipation and love, and one which has been enacted everyday throughout the ages, right up to the present. So, what would be new about that?

What makes it new is the essential ingredient not mentioned in the text above; the back-story; the Angels. God’s messengers, heralds, God’s ambassadors call them what you will. They are always there in the background. Helping and guiding. Portents of good things to come.

It could be perceived that angels exist only in the Bible. They are locked in a biblical time- capsule, so to speak. They couldn’t possibly exist today. Or could they?

To me, angels are nudgers; providing that little nudge in the right direction; that spark which results in that Eureka! moment. Producing comprehension and resolutions to problems and issues every single day; or being there for us when a life-changing catastrophe is avoided. How often have you heard the phrase: they must have a guardian angel? They probably have.

Exactly one year ago, during Advent 2019, we would have been frenetically trying to cram in to a short amount of time a multitude of activities. Christmas shopping – what a nightmare! Parking! Being here and there, for this or that reason, trying to keep a lid on the stress-levels. Who’s going to whom for Christmas? Are we reciprocating at New Year? The list goes on and on so that, eventually, and in the words of Anthony Newley (if you’re younger than forty, Google him), we scream, Stop the World I Want to Get Off! I suppose we ought to be careful what we wish for. Because quietly, surreptitiously, a serial-killer virus set about doing just that- stopping the world.

Where are the angels now? Answer: all around. They are in the Health Service, nudging those doctors and nurses to do another shift, because they are needed.  Encouraging us to donate more. More money, more food, more help.

I was at the foodbank recently and standing in the doorway was a young mum waiting patiently. She was well dressed, her toddler daughter was playing in the smart SUV which was parked behind my car. It only occurred to me, as I was leaving and I saw her carrying two bags of food to her car, why she was there. It’s highly likely that twelve months ago she would have been donating to the foodbank, not being a recipient of it.

That’s both the angelic act of guardianship and the encouraging angelic nudge given to help one another. How often have we heard about the selflessness of others helping to ensure those isolated and in fear of going out have been given provisions to keep them well fed? Angels every one of them.

And now, against the most unlikely odds, our scientists around the world have produced a vaccine to combat the virus. Not by chance, but by doggedly trying to understand and produce a solution. I wonder how many doctors, scientists, nurses and engineers eventually had that Eureka! moment in the quiet of the night? And where did it come from?

As I come to the end of my scenario for ‘Jumping for Joy’ which like most films these days leaves us with an element of uncertainty - are there angels? That’s how I’m going to finish, but not before paying homage to the best angel movie of all time – in my opinion, anyway – It’s a Wonderful Life in which the angel Clarence has to do some ‘nudging’ and ‘guarding’ to get his wings.

So, when you next come to St Michaels looking for ‘JOY’, writ large under the East Window, remember it’s not only St Michael, it’s… and ALL ANGELS, as well.

Merry Christmas.

 

Carol A Day in Advent

"This Is The Best Christmas Song I Have Ever Heard. It Will Give You Chills."Support my art on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/peterhollensStream or Buy Thi...

Advent Reflection - 20th December

Today’s Advent Reflection is from Julie Hackney

You Know when People are Feeling Joyful!

Luke 15:1-10

Now all the tax-collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him. And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, ‘This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.’

So, he told them this parable: ‘Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it? When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders and rejoices. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbours, saying to them, “Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.” Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who need no repentance.

Reflection

You know when people are feeling joyful. You can see it on their faces.

In my job as headteacher of a Primary School, I could easily become swamped with the amount of emails, paper work, meetings and so on, which I had to deal with each day.

But the joy of my job was being with the children, not in completing a form, and so I made sure that I spent as much time with them as I could. That may sound odd but sometimes the bureaucracy could take over if you let it.

One of the things I looked forward to each week, was having the children altogether to sing. When I was a child it was called hymn practice. If you want to see joy on children’s faces just watch them when they are singing.

There were a number of joyful songs that we loved. “You shall go out with joy”. Which they did! Out into the playground still singing. On a gentler note, “Joy is flowing like a river” and a simple, but great favourite “I’ve got joy like a fountain in my soul”. Granted, the accompanying actions played a big part in the joyfulness!

I mention all of this because I wonder if there was any singing at the party which was held when the lost sheep was found?

Jesus told The Parable of the Lost Sheep when the Pharisees and Rabbis around him were complaining that he was welcoming sinners and eating with them.

The well known parable tells of the shepherd who has lost one of his hundred sheep and cannot rest until he has found it. When he does find it, he carries it home on his shoulders and is full of such joy that he gathers everyone, neighbours and friends, together to celebrate with him by having a party.

There wasn’t anything special about the one sheep that was lost. It wasn’t any different from the other ninety nine. But the point was that this sheep had been lost but now it was found and that was why there had to be a joyful celebration.

There are actually three parables in this Chapter of Luke’s Gospel; The Parables of the Lost Sheep and The Lost Coin and The Parable of The Prodigal or Lost Son. Through each of them Jesus is basically telling us the same thing, which is that when one person repents and follows him, God is so full of joy that there will be a party in Heaven to celebrate.

At the end of The Parable of The Lost Coin, when the woman finds what she had lost, just as the shepherd did, she invites her friends and neighbours to come and celebrate with her.

And then, Jesus paints a wonderful picture of a Heavenly party when he says, “I tell you there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

What a wonderfully joyous party that must be! And what singing!

Although current restrictions prevent us from singing together in church this year, singing carols is an intrinsic part of Christmas worship for me. They are part of my way of celebrating the birth of Jesus and, Mark will tell you, I can be heard singing them throughout the season.

Well, it’s another party! And this one is a birthday party of course!

Wishing you all, a very merry, musical and joyful Christmas!

 

Carol A Day in Advent

Aled sings "Candlelight Carol" on Songs of Praise from Israel on Sunday 20th Dec 2009.This is produced solely to promote Aled and his music.

Advent Reflection - 19th December

Today’s Advent Reflection is from Calum Piper

The Joy of the Lord is my Strength

James 1:1-8

James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,

To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion:

Greetings.

2 My brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of any kind, consider it nothing but joy, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance; 4 and let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking in nothing.

5 If any of you is lacking in wisdom, ask God, who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, and it will be given you. 6 But ask in faith, never doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind; 7, 8 for the doubter, being double-minded and unstable in every way, must not expect to receive anything from the Lord.

Reflection

December for me always feels a little bit like a marathon. You know the finish line is Christmas and there is a fairly long journey to go throughout Advent. Its normally about this time during the month that the finish line appears in site, with the majority of carol services concluding, the Christmas service sheets sent for printing, and just a few remaining sermons left to craft. I have found the best way to keep myself on track is for a thorough and well put together plan – I love a good plan – but something always manages to disrupt and cause chaos despite my best efforts of planning.

A bit of chaos in the middle of my Christmas planning is nothing compared to some of the trials many face on a daily basis and is nothing compared to the trials we have faced as a church, nation and global population this year. I don’t need to list of the trials of 2020 for you to be able to agree – and at first glance, your might find the words of the letter of James difficult to accept –

Whenever you face trials of any kind, consider it nothing but joy.

Put that statement into our modern context and it reads something like the following:

Whenever you face lockdown, consider it nothing but joy.

Whenever you face not being able to see your family, consider it nothing but joy.

Whenever you find your worship limited, consider it nothing but joy.

Does James really mean that?

Of course he doesn’t – James isn’t calling us to find joy within the suffering and the tribulation but rather to understand one of the side-effects of our trials – growth in maturity.

Immediately following his baptism, an identity affirming moment for Jesus, we read that he is forced out into the wilderness. As Jesus walks in the wilderness, he faces a number of trials – these trials strength his faith and his dependence on God.

The trials we have faced this year, the disruption to all our lives has not been a joy, in fact much of it has caused heartache – yet we can still know the joy of the lord because of some of the other fruit of our trials.

  • We may no longer take for granted the things we used to, like family, freedom and maybe even Church.

  • The confidence we have in our own devotion to God may have grown, as we have each become responsible for our worship of God.

  • The life of our community may have been strengthened through the long absence of genuine fellowship.

These are all things we can find joy in.

2020 will be a year none of us forget, but my aim is to try and remember the good things as much as bad – the places where I have grown and matured, the strength I have seen in the people of God in Bramhall, the overflowing generosity of so many to things like the foodbank, Stockport and Brinnington, The Children’s Society and so much more.

A verse of scripture that has been foundational for me over the last couple of months has been this:

“The joy of the Lord is your strength.” Nehemiah 8:10

In those times and places when you feel weak and burdened, remember that the Lord you God is with you. Ask him for help just as Mary and Martha did, just as the Roman Centurion did, just the criminal on the cross did. To all of them, their situations seemed inevitable and unchangeable and yet they still asked. In the love of Jesus, and in his strength, things changed. Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, the centurion’s servant was healed, and the criminal on the cross was welcomed into the Kingdom of heaven.

If Jesus could change the outcomes of these trials – so he can provide you with strength (and joy) in the trials, you face.

 May the inner joy and peace of God continue to strengthen your walk with him each and every day.

 

Carol A Day in Advent

Advent Reflection - 18th December

Today’s Advent Reflection is from Mark Hackney

‘We are writing these things so that our joy may be complete’.

1 John 1:1-9

1 We declare to you what was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— 2 this life was revealed, and we have seen it and testify to it, and declare to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us— 3 we declare to you what we have seen and heard so that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. 4 We are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.

5 This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light and in him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with him while we are walking in darkness, we lie and do not do what is true; 7 but if we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Reflection

Knowledge is a curious thing, and it can sometimes become fractured or even go missing.

If you have seen the play, or watched many of the film versions, of Shakespeare’s ‘Romeo and Juliet’ (or even if you have done neither of these things) you will realise that, at no point in the proceedings, does a monkey play a key role. In fact, there is no monkey whatsoever. There is a monk, (Friar Laurence, crucial to the plot) but absolutely no monkey. Yet a student of mine, in his actual SATS’ exam, managed to write: ‘Romeo fails to receive Juliet’s important letter that she is not really dead because the monkey fails to pass it on.’  What on earth the examiner thought I shudder to think. But, of course, we all make errors under pressure. And he was a clever student; he simply miss-wrote.

In any case, a false piece of knowledge had been transmitted. On a different scale altogether, the issue of distorted messaging is what concerns John in his first letter. He wants to make it clear to his readers what true knowledge is. He writes about ‘knowing’ and ‘knowledge’ an impressive forty-five times in the five chapters of this letter. It is crucial to John that he conveys to people that the Gospel alone imparts true knowledge of God – not the false teachings (what some may call Gnosticism) that was emerging in some early churches during John’s old age.

John wants to keep it simple and clear, our messaging must be borne of our knowledge of Jesus Christ, and not be contaminated by other worldly influences. John knows the truth, he possesses true knowledge, he was there! ‘What we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— this life was revealed, and we have seen it and testify to it, and declare to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us’.

We have the same concern today in our wider society, where society exhibits a spiritual lethargy. We try to convey the real truth, God’s reality, the Good News, to others. But it’s challenging, isn’t it?

The contemporary, postmodernist, mindset finds big ideas pretentious, naïve – and Christianity is the biggest of big ideas. If you talk of ethics you might be accused of ‘signalling’, and if you wish to hold a truly serious conversation about life’s meaning, you might be accused of being something of a ‘downer’. ‘Keep it light!’ they may say to you. Of course, you reply, in this time of Advent especially, ‘That’s exactly what I am doing by telling you of Jesus’.

Yet, if we still our Christian voice, keep our light in the shadows, allow what we know to be true to linger in the recesses of society’s consciousness, we do John’s legacy a disservice. Rather, as I strongly suspect, John would say: we do God a disservice.   

During the expectancy of Advent, and the joy of Christmas, let us try, as much as we are able, to feel and transmit, the love and glory of God. By our demeanour, our visits to church and home Bible reading, our Zooming, real-timing, phone calls, longed-for (if brief) visits, charitable works – by all these things – we can live and promote our Christian knowledge. God’s truth.

During this somewhat claustrophobic Christmas, we can and will feel joy and appreciate John’s words to us. We will walk in the light as Jesus himself is in the light. The eternal life that was with the Father and has been revealed to us through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Thank you for writing or reading our Advent Reflections. As John states: ‘We are writing these things so that our joy may be complete’. And we still have six to go!

 

Carol A Day in Advent

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Advent Reflection - 17th December

Today’s Advent Reflection is from Sheila Collins

Our Helper and Comforter

John 14:15-31

‘If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you for ever. This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you.

‘I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you. In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me; because I live, you also will live. On that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.  They who have my commandments and keep them are those who love me; and those who love me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them.’ Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, ‘Lord, how is it that you will reveal yourself to us, and not to the world?’ Jesus answered him, ‘Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; and the word that you hear is not mine, but is from the Father who sent me.

‘I have said these things to you while I am still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid. You heard me say to you, “I am going away, and I am coming to you.” If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father, because the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you this before it occurs, so that when it does occur, you may believe. I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no power over me; but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us be on our way.

Reflection

When my nephew, W, was 3 he was in possession of a ‘cuddly’. Not a toy but a muslin cloth which accompanied him everywhere and which held, for him, protective, and comforting powers. Holding this soft rag to his face and thumb firmly plugged in mouth, his resolve strengthened, this shy boy was able to step out bravely from his front door to face the world. However, the temporary misplacement and occasional loss of the ‘cuddly’ was met with fearful tears. (My sister did have spares!) The ‘cuddly’ was the comforter that W needed to have the strength and confidence to help him to go anywhere.

For the last 7 months we have rarely left the house without washed hands, a mask, and a spare, and a small bottle of hand sanitiser; obeying advice and reassured that we are doing everything possible to avoid spreading and /or catching the virus. We feel a little more confident and somewhat comforted (to a certain degree), that in the face of the invisible virus, we have the tools to enable us live a life which has become our new normal.

The things which comfort and protect us, give us confidence to get on with different circumstances, relationships and situations, vary from person to person. For my nephew it was a muslin cloth, for us now it is hand sanitiser and masks, for those who are in pain or lonely it would be a visit or hug or a listening ear (some of which we which can’t do at the moment). In this season of Advent we have a chance to reflect on who Jesus is and how he explained to his disciples that they would never be left without Him to comfort and reassure them.

In John’s Gospel Jesus speaks to his disciples at the last supper about his imminent betrayal. He tells the disciples that he is going away. He gives the disciples a new command to love one another as he has loved them. He reassures them promising to prepare a place for them in his Father’s house, although some of his disciples really don’t quite understand what Jesus is saying to them at this point and the reasons why. Maybe they feared that Jesus was abandoning them and they wouldn’t know what to do. Jesus goes on to say, ‘If you love me you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father and he will give you another Helper (1) to be with you forever.’  In fact, the disciples wouldn’t have less help; they would have more help because the Father would send another Helper. Jesus understood that His disciples (both those with Him on that evening and those across the centuries including us) would need God’s presence and power to keep His commandments. God the Son promised to pray to God the Father and ask for the giving of God the Holy Spirit to the believer to accomplish this.

Jesus promised his disciples he would never leave them. He comforts them and promises that another Helper/Comforter will be present with them, not temporarily, but forever. He understood his disciples then and he understands us now, we are human, not perfect and need help.

Jesus speaks to his disciples using the words of someone reassuring his children: ‘I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you’.  An orphan has parents who are dead; the Spirit shows us Jesus is alive. An orphan is left alone; the Spirit draws us close to God’s presence.  An orphan has no one to look after them; the Spirit is protector.

Nephew, W, no longer needs his ‘cuddly’ (he’s 35 now), he outgrew it. It was a temporary comforter/helper to enable him to leave the house to engage in nursery life, go to friends and play in the park: to live joyfully and without fear.

It is to be hoped that the necessity for carrying face masks and hand sanitiser to reassure ourselves and others that we are a little safer from catching or spreading the virus is also temporary.

Jesus knew and understood what it was to be human, to be fearful, alone, misunderstood and ultimately abandoned. Knowing that he was going to his death he still promised, comforted and reassured his disciples that he would be present with them forever. He promises us the same, that His heavenly Father will send his spirit to be our Helper and Comforter always and to enable us to keep his commands: to love one another as he loves us.

 (1) The word Helper translates the ancient Greek word parakletos. This word has the idea of someone called to help someone else, maybe like an advisor, a legal person or a mediator. The King James Version translates parakletos with the word Comforter.

 

Carol A Day in Advent

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Advent Reflection - 16th December

Today’s Advent Reflection is from Phil Wadsworth

Advent in One Chapter

Isaiah 55:1-13

Ho, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat!  Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.  Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labour for that which does not satisfy?  Hearken diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in fatness.  Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live; and I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David.  Behold, I made him a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander for the peoples.  Behold you shall call the nations that you know not, and nations that knew you not shall run to you, because of the Lord your God, and of the Holy One of Israel, for he has glorified you.

Seek the Lord while he may be found, call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that he may have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.  For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, says the Lord.  For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.

For as the rain and snow come down from heaven, and return not thither but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and prosper in the thing for which I sent it.

For you shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall break into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.  Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress; instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle; and it shall be to the Lord for a memorial, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.

Reflection

Before those responsible for such things decided to change some of the dates in the Kalendar, today, 16th December, was an Observance called O Sapientia, the celebration of Divine Wisdom.  Much theological and philosophical debate, and many books, have covered the subject, but in essence, while Jesus is identified as the Logos, the Word of God (as in at the beginning of John’s Gospel), Divine Wisdom is, variously, characterised as that aspect of God becoming incarnate as Jesus, or as the Holy Spirit (or as an aspect of the Trinity).  An interesting – to some! – aside is that in the original Greek, Ἁγία Σοφία (Hagía Sophía), is feminine.

That may seem rather abstruse and not particularly relevant, but it’s no accident that O Sapientia was – and is, on 17th December now – celebrated during Advent.  In this season of preparation and consideration, reflection and self-examination we need to appeal to and for wisdom: both better to understand ourselves, our Faith, and our relationship with God; and for our preparations to bear fruit in plans for our development in future.  As we have been made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27) – in the sense of being independently sentient entities – we can sense, if dimly (1 Corinthians 13:12), the preparations and plans of omniscient Wisdom; and God’s preparation and planning for our salvation, beginning to be realised at the Incarnation, is what Advent and Christmas are all about.

 Isaiah 55 lifts a corner of the veil on this.  We are reminded, though, that “my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways” (verse 8): we cannot hope to understand more than a little of how God brings about the things which He intends, how His plans are made and accomplished, and the means by which His actions fulfil His purposes.  We can rest assured, though, that they are perfect, and will exactly bring about that which God intends; everything that God plans and executes is fulfilled completely (“so shall the word … that goes forth from my mouth … not return to me empty”, verse 11a) and brings about what God intends (“it shall accomplish that which I purpose and prosper in the thing for which I sent it”, verse 11b).

While considering our own personal journey through Advent, our self-examination and resultant plans, the above part of Isaiah 55 provides assurance of support, guidance, and a route; all dependent upon the divine planning of the Incarnation and all that the revelation of Emmanuel, God with us, means.  While this is seen in the central part of the chapter, its earlier verses give us a range of things to think about during our Advental contemplations and self-examination, and directions in which we may (hopefully will) plan to go.  We’re called to think about ways in which we are wasteful; to turn to God for things which last; to listen to God and to come to God; to be witness to those who don’t know God; to follow the path that God intends for us.

Isaiah 55 is, in some ways, a complete ‘Advent package’:  It begins with things to think about and to plan to do, it moves on to glimpse the sure foundation in God on which all is based, and it concludes with the message of comfort and joy.  Echoes from elsewhere in Isaiah recall themes which keep bubbling up and bursting out, in some of the most well-known passages and elsewhere.  “For you shall go out in joy, and be led forth in peace …” (verse 12a) continues the loving assurances that God gives in ”Comfort, comfort my people, says your God …” (Isaiah 40:1); while the glimpse of God’s coming Kingdom, in which “instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress; instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle” (verse 13a) recalls “the wolf shall dwell with the lamb … and the calf and the lion and the fatling together” (Isaiah 11:6).

The chapter ends with the reminder that while our Advents and Christmases come and go, and all the things of this world are transitory, God’s preparation and planning, which includes each of us individually, is for eternity; that the Incarnation and its full working-out are for eternity; and that, for each and for all of us, our indwelling within God’s love is for eternity – “it shall be to the Lord for a memorial, for an everlasting sign which shall not be cut off” (verse 13b).

 

Carol A Day in Advent

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Advent Reflection - 15th December

Today’s Advent Reflection is from Bryan Goodwin.

 The Agenda for Rejoicing.

Psalm 4

1 Answer me when I call, O God of my right!

    You gave me room when I was in distress. Be gracious to me, and hear my prayer.

2 How long, you people, shall my honour suffer shame?

    How long will you love vain words, and seek after lies?

3 But know that the Lord has set apart the faithful for himself; the Lord hears when I call to him.

4 When you are disturbed, do not sin; ponder it on your beds, and be silent.

5 Offer right sacrifices, and put your trust in the Lord.

6 There are many who say, ‘O that we might see some good!

    Let the light of your face shine on us, O Lord!’

7 You have put gladness in my heart more than when their grain and wine abound.

8 I will both lie down and sleep in peace; for you alone, O Lord, make me lie down in safety.

Reflection

Psalm 4 is a night Psalm, which invites us to trust in God to guide us through difficult times, as we lie on our beds, in the expectation and knowledge that God will not desert us, and we can look forward to the comfort and joy with which He will reward us for our trust in him.

Particularly relevant this strange year of 2020, but the news of the last few days, that a Vaccine to protect us from Covid-19, is now here and is amongst us, is good news.

Let us thank God for guiding the wonderful work of the Medical Scientists.

The Psalm itself, for me, brings back memories of my childhood. Born and raised in the inner city of Manchester, in the 1940s, we all lived in row upon row of close packed terraced houses, mostly 2 up 2 down with an outside loo. There I went to the local Church Sunday School, from an early age, once Churches re opened again after the War, and later gradually progressing to become a not very good Chorister.

In my early teens, after Evensong, twice a month, about 12 of us, 3 Teenage boys and 3 girls, with 4/5 adults, led by our Choir Master, would walk a mile or so to Manchester Royal Infirmary, and afterwards each one of us Boys would walk one of the Girls’ home. An added attraction perhaps for us to go and sing, as many a young romance started out as a result.

In the Hospital we would go around the Wards, singing the requests of the Patients. In the weeks up to Advent, especially around Armistice Day, as we used to call it, uppermost in lots of people’s minds in those days following the recently ended War, in every Ward we were always requested to sing “Abide with me”. The Hymn popularised during the Great War, and sung at every Wembley Cup Final since 1927 when Cardiff became the only non-English Team to win the Cup.

In December “God Rest ye Merry Gentlemen” was the popular request in the Male Wards. The former we hoped brought some comfort and hope to Patients, in their pain and distress in Hospital, whilst the latter, with its rousing Chorus and refrain of “Glad Tidings of Comfort and Joy“, speaks for itself.

On Christmas Eve we would sing Carols, including the latter, in the terraced streets around our Church, passing from under one street gaslight to another, so we had enough light to see our Hymnals clearly, and our Vicar with us, would encourage people to come to Church, later that night, or at least on the following day.

All this reminds me that as we are now passing through the darkest days of the year, the short dark days of Winter, we know that it starts to turn to lighter longer days after the Winter Solstice, and that the Light of the World truly is with us on December 25th, when we celebrate the birth of our Saviour Jesus.

His arrival was heralded by the bright star that led the Wise Men, and, symbolically, there is a bright star in our night sky on December 21st this year when Jupiter and Saturn are in conjunction, perhaps reminding us that Jesus is the Bright Morning Star. Jesus brought comfort and joy to his faithful followers in Israel, as he proclaimed that the Kingdom of God was at hand, and that he, as the Messiah, fulfilled the Law of the Prophets, and taught a new message. To love one another as he loved us. For God so loved the world he sent his only Son into our World, our Emmanuel. God with us.

That Message is still being preached today, it is timeless, and underpins all our hope and belief in the comfort and joy that we can bring to others, as well as to ourselves, if we trust in Jesus.

Sadly, today many have forgotten or have never been taught that message of love, salvation, and hope. They are too focussed on the material things of life, and, boy, are there plenty of them these days, to distract us. More perhaps than any other Society has ever had before.

Yet still many people are not happy. They still want more. What more could they want than the comfort and joy of knowing we have a mediator working for us in Heaven with God to hear our Prayers? They miss out on so much. Perhaps we can help them find that comfort and joy this Christmas? Let’s all try anyway by sharing our own comfort and joy to help them.

PS “Abide with me” coincidentally played at the Funeral of our former Reader Claud Metson last Wednesday.

 

Carol A Day in Advent

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