Christmas

 

Christmas service 2022.

Song: Come and join the celebration

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sp2QlKTYTZ8

Some of you may be lighting a candle to show we are celebrating the birth of Christ.

 The light of the world 

Prayer

Lord God be with all me and all who are praying with me. May we know your love and peace with in our hearts. Be with those those who feel emptiness and sorrow.

Be with all who are working today. Be with those in hospital, some who are alone, others in prison. We think of those who have nowhere to call home. We pray that your peace may spread around the world. Father God we thank you that we can give you thanks for your wondrous love. and as the candles around the world are lit may their light shine out to proclaim the wondrous gift of your son. Amen.

Bible Reading: is taken from Saint Matthew’s Gospel Chapter1: from verse 18 to 25.

This is an account of how our first carol came to be written.

"What would you like for a Christmas present?" That’s not such an unusual question for a father to ask his child. But when John Byron posed the question to his daughter, he received this extraordinary reply: "Please write me a poem."

So on Christmas morning in 1749, the little girl found a piece of paper by her plate at breakfast. On it was written a poem entitled, "Christmas day, for Dolly." John Wainwright, the organist of Manchester Parish Church, later put the words to music. The following year on Christmas morning, Byron and his daughter woke to the sound of singing outside their windows. It was Wainwright with his church choir singing Dolly’s hymn, "Christians, Awake:"

Song: Christians, awake! Salute the happy morn.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TjRzXSWcib0

Christmas Light.

C. Is for Christ born for us to save

H. Is for Holy for holy is His name.

R. Is for Repentance of our sins.

I. Is for Inner peace.

S. Is for Christ’s Sacrifice.

T. Is for Thankfulness.

M. Is for Mary the mother of Christ.

A. Is for Almighty God.

S. Is for Saviour of the world.

L. is for Love He has for us

I. is for Infant child born for us

G. is for God wondrous Gift

H. is for Hope everlasting

T. is for Today and tomorrow His light will shine forever.

By S Youdan

Song: O little town of Bethlehem

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=71ppzuPARXg

Reading. What a Christmas present.

A Methodist minister Rev Bob Reid from Brooklyn was given a Dilapidated church. He decided to do it up and have the first service on Christmas eve. He spent 6 weeks cleaning and redecorating. On the 19th of December 1973 a bad storm hit. And rocked the building Plaster fell off the wall behind the communion table. On His way home he called in at a flea market. There he saw an old embroidered tablecloth with a cross in the middle. Back at the church it had just started to snow he saw an old lady rushing for the bus but it did not stop so he offered for her to come and sit in the church as she had over 45 minutes to wait for the next bus. While she sat a waited she watched the minister fetch a ladder and start to hang the cloth on the wall as a tapestry to cover over the missing plaster. “Where did you get that cloth she asked I've just bought from the flea market why?”

“See if there if it has EBG. in the corner.’ it had. She had made it some 35years ago in Austria, when the Nazi’s took over, she had to flee and her husband was arrested and she never saw him again The minister wanted to give it back to her but she said it looked so right so to leave it where it was. Instead of waiting for the bus the minister took her home in his car. The service on Christmas eve was well attended. At the end He shook hands with the folk as they left. He noticed an old man just sitting in the pew he asked the minister where did you get that cloth then he went on to explain that 35 years ago his wife had made one just like that one but when he was arrested by the Nazi’s and thrown into a concentration Camp he never saw his wife again and he could only assume she was dead. “come with Me’ said the minister and he took him in his car to the place where he dropped off his wife two days before. What a Christmas present.

Song: Love came down at Christmas.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FAjB0GVpleg

These are the words for you to sing along to:

Love came down at Christmas,
Love all lovely, love divine;
Love was born at Christmas,
Star and angels gave the sign.

Worship we the Godhead,
Love incarnate, love divine;
Worship we our Jesus:
But wherewith for sacred sign?

Love shall be our token,
Love be yours and love be mine,
Love to God and all men,
Love for plea and gift and sign.

Back in the 1980’s Max Bygraves, a British comedian, singer, actor and variety performer, had catchphrase "I wanna tell you a story"

Here are two short stories.

Back in June a lady on the bus was sneezing from hay fever, Another passenger leant forward and handed her a tissue and said God bless you. Some stops on the sneezing lady got off, and a women with a pram got on. The baby became distressed and burped wind the mother started to look in her bag for some wipes when the lady with Tissues offered the mother some. The mother said” That’s so kind I must have left mine at home.” She relied “You’re welcome love, God bless you & your baby”. The Tissue lady got off at the next stop.

This was the first tissue story. The next one happened a few months later.

Two workmen sat at a coffee table when one of them knocked the table the coffee was spilt, an old man on the next table passed them some tissues. As they talked with old man they all had a good laugh. The old man had not laughed for some time. The three of them planed to meet up the next morning for coffee. The Old man thanked God that evening for the tissues that his little granddaughter had posted to him for his birthday. For through them he felt less lonely.

So treat your self to a small packet of tissues if you are able.

You never know it may be just what is needed to bring light relief to a runny nose.

Carry them with you, so you too will be able to Show Gods love in action as you give them to folk in need through the coming year.

Song: Carols by Candlelight.  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F29LhgN2U3

God bless you, May the Light of the world shine on you and those you love

As you share this blessed, holy season.  Amen

Carol Service

 

Carol Service 2022

If you have candle be ready to light it safely later on.

Song: The Angel Gabriel from heaven came

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvOU9HowCuE

Reading: Luke’s gospel, chapter 1: verses 26 to 38

Prayers. Lord God we remember Mary and Joseph, giving thanks for their faithfulness, courage and obedience, stepping out into the unknown in the strength of your Spirit, playing their part in the fulfilment of your plan to bring your prodigal people home again.
We pray that their example might be the pattern of our lives, that when your gentle whisper
breaks through the clamour of this world and into our small corner, we might be ready to listen,
and having listened, to act.

God of hope, who brought peace into this world, be the peace that dwells between us.

God of hope, who brought love into this world, be the love that dwells between us.

God of hope, who brought joy into this world, be the joy that dwells between us.
God of hope, the rock we stand upon, be the centre, the focus of our lives always, and particularly at this time of Advent. Amen

Reading: Luke’s gospel, chapter 1: verses 39 to 56. Mary’s Magnificat. Which means utterance of praise

In our Church to day is the fourth Sunday in advent we light a candle for Mary.

Quite a few years ago I Was challenged to write my own Magnificat  an utterance of praise.

At the time I found it challenging but once I started to think of the things I had, the way people helped, I realised miracles still happen today. Twenty five years ago I had no money left and I did not know what I was going to do, so as we walked to church, I start to say a silent pray as we turned a corner there came towards my feet was a twenty pound note. This not only fed us that day but I was able to feed the family for the week. So I silently lifted an the utterance of praise to our Lord. After that it became easier for me to write the following:

My soul whispers with in me that the Lord is good
my spirit acknowledges that God is my father.
For he has seen my anxiety and vulnerability’

and he knew what was in my heart and answered my prayer.
For mighty God has done great things for me,

he fed our family with good food,
his mercy is for those who love his name,
for he has shown his strength and majesty.
My souls thanks those who have helped and prayed for me and my family.
God opens His heart to the weak and feeble
The rich He sends away with nothing,

Truly the poor and hungry are welcomed in.
blessed are those who prepare the way of the Lord.

You may feel you would like to write your own utterance of praise. (Magnificat.)

Song: O come all ye faithful

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8dgI4-bVPU

Stephen Baker writes his thoughts about our next hymn

One of the things that I really love about this time of year is the music. I mean all of it, I love all the songs but particularly the Christmas Carols. We sing the same songs, year after year, and the words get stuck in our heads; we can often recite the words without even thinking about it. 

Many people attend Carol Services and Concerts and while a wide range of songs are sung the majority are still Carols. The words of the Carols can teach us a lot about the message of Christmas.  Even familiar Carols I carefully read the words on the program, trying to make sure I was singing it all correctly. The further we got into the song, the more I began to get distracted from my singing (which I am sure was a relief to those sitting around me!) as the message of the song began to resonate within me.  I listened as everyone sang in perfectly harmony. As I looked around the concert hall, I wondered if those who were carolling had ever given pause to what they were singing ’. Many of the carols we sing are based firmly on the Bible, and “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing!” is no exception. It was written by Charles Wesley, who was a hymn writer he wrote over 6,000 hymn. It is said that his goal in writing hymns was to teach the poor and illiterate sound doctrine. His brother, John Wesley, a famous vicar and founder of Methodism, said that Charles’ hymnal was the best theological book in existence. 

Charles Wesley was inspired by the sounds of London church bells while walking to church on Christmas Day and so he wrote the “Hark”. The poem first appeared in Hymns and Sacred Poems in 1739 with the opening line of “Hark, how the welkin (heaven) rings.”

Song: Hark the herald Angels sing

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCt1s44cfMM

I will light a candle for Christmas. A Candle of joy despite all the sadness,
A candle of hope where despair keeps watch. A candle of courage for fears ever present,
A candle of peace for tempest-tossed days. A Candle of grace to ease heavy burdens.
A candle of love to inspire all my living, let Candles of love in hearts burn all year long.
Howard Thurman. alt Susannah Youdan

If you have a small candle please light it now.

Poem One Lit Candle By, Author & Poet, Sandra Juanita Nailing

Are you that lit candle, to show someone the way?  Are you shining in the night, as well as in the day?
Are you that lit candle, keeping someone from stumbling?  If someone happen to trip, this will be very humbling.
Are you that lit candle, that's shinning bright?  Are you delivering people out of darkness, down the path that is right?
Are you that lit candle, with a clear reflection?  It's up to you to continue to shine, regardless of any rejection.
Are you that lit candle, that sit high on a hill?  Are you placed in the right spot, so your light can be revealed?
Are you that lit candle with a perfect glow?  Make sure it is shinning, so people know where to go.
Are you that lit candle, brightening everyone's smile.  It will help them to receive strength, to go the extra mile.
Are you that lit candle, only to hide?  Obscuring the light to enter, all types of  people eyes?
In this world today, everyone need the light.  Keep your candle before them, in plain view of their sight.

The light of Christmas has splintered the darkness; Hope is ours once more.

The light calls us forward, remembering the past and walking confidently into the future.

Do put out the candle if you have children/pets. Please do not leave it burning where it is unattended.

Reading: Luke’s gospel, chapter 2: verses 1 to 20 Shepherds

Song: While shepherds watched

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdASbgux6ds

James Banks tells this story

I got you a present!” my two-year-old grandson shouted excitedly as he pressed a box into my hands. “He picked it out all by himself,” my wife smiled.

I opened the box to find a Christmas ornament of his favourite cartoon character. (Shawn the sheep) “Can I see it?” he asked anxiously. Then he played with “my” present for the rest of the evening, and as I watched him, I smiled.

I smiled because I remembered gifts I had given loved ones in the past, like the music album I gave my older brother one Christmas when I was in high school that I really wanted to listen to (and did). & I realized how years later God was still stretching me and teaching me to give more unselfishly.

Giving is something we grow into. Paul wrote, “But since you excel in everything .see that you also excel in this grace of giving” (2 Corinthians 8:7). Grace fills our giving as we understand that all we have is from God, and He has shown us “it is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35).

God generously gave us the most unselfish gift of all: His only Son, who would die on a cross for our sins and be raised to life. Any who receive this ultimate gift are rich beyond measure. As our hearts are focused on Him, may our hands be open in love to others.

In our next hymn, In the bleak mid winter, the last verse reads

What can I give him? Poor as I am If I were a shepherd I would give a lamb
If I were a wise man I would do my part, Yet what I can, I give him: Give him my heart

Song: In the bleak mid winter

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xAzQIS4-MpY

At one of our Christmas services last year, Jonathan, our pastor asked if any one could right a carol to a well-known Christmas song. This is what I came up with the words came to me in the early hours a week before Christmas back in 2017. I sang it at that years carol service. Here it is for you to sing along to: it plays the introduction then the well known chorus.

(do not watch words on the screen)

Joseph and his wife Mary Rudolf the red nosed reindeer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MieO0RO2VrU

Joseph and his wife Mary had a very tiring day,
When they got to Bethlehem
There was not a place to stay.
One of the hotel keepers Led them to the stable door,
There Mary had her baby, placed him on a bed of straw.

There were shepherds in the field
Angels came to say:
" fe-ar not our lights are bright
Go and see God's Child this night. "
Then all the shepherds ran there

as they shouted out with glee,

Jesus the son of Mary. You'll go down in history

There were shepherds in the field
Angels came to say:
" fe-ar not our lights are bright
Go and see God's Child this night. "
Then all the shepherds ran there
as they shouted out with glee,
Jesus the son of Mary. You'll go down in history.

By Susannah Youdan.

Reading: Matthew’s gospel, chapter 2: verses 1 to 12 The Magi visit the Messiah

As with Gladness Men of Old is considered an Epiphany hymn more than a Christmas hymn. William Chatterton Dix wrote the hymn on January 6, 1859 while recovering from an extended illness. He was bed bound at his home in Glasgow, and unable to attend that morning’s Epiphany service at church. While reading the account of the Epiphany or Wise Men in the Gospel of Matthew, he was inspired by the text. He began to write his thoughts throughout the day. His writings eventually became this hymn.  However, he kept it private until the following year.  It was then published in Hymns for Public Worship and Private Devotion.

Song: As with gladness men of old

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UB8rKNrlpDQ

Reading: Matthew’s gospel, chapter 2: verses 13 to 21

In our next hymn Unto us a child is Born

Jesus was born to Mary and Joseph, but he was also born “unto us,” the spiritually bankrupt; the lost and broken.

Song: Unto us a child is Born

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EgkJDvMTj7M

Poem: Jesus Is The Reason

In Bethlehem, God gave to us  The source of Christmas joy;
 A star shown on a miracle:  The virgin birth of a boy.

He was born both God and man,  A Saviour for us all,
 The way to get to our heavenly home,  If we just heed His call.

So as we shop and spend and wrap  And enjoy the Christmas season,
 Let's keep in mind the sacred truth:  Jesus is the reason.

By Joanna Fuchs

Song: Holy Child how still you lie

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tuYdvE4iGeQ

Holy child, how still you lie!
safe the manger, soft the hay;
faint upon the eastern sky
breaks the dawn of Christmas Day.

   Holy child, whose birthday brings
   shepherds from their field and fold,
   angel choirs and eastern kings,
   myrrh and frankincense and gold.

Holy child, what gift of grace
from the Father freely willed!
In your infant form we trace
all God's promises fulfilled.

   Holy child, whose human years
   span like ours delight and pain;
   one in human joys and tears,
   one in all but sin and stain.

Holy child, so far from home,
all the lost to seek and save;
to what dreadful death You come
to what dark and silent grave!

   Holy child, before whose name
   powers of darkness faint and fall;
   conquered death and sin and shame -
   Jesus Christ is Lord of all.

Holy child, how still you lie!
safe the manger, soft the hay;
faint upon the eastern sky
breaks the dawn of Christmas Day.

breaks the dawn of Christmas Day.

Let us go out with hope proclaiming that we have seen the glory of God.

Believing that there is a light that shines in the darkness which the darkness shall not overcome

 

And may the love of God

The joy of the Spirit,

And the peace of the Christ-child be with you this Christmas, and evermore Amen.

To listen and watch

Angels We Have Heard on High

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n543eKIdbUI

Week beginning 11th December

 Reading: Psalm 126

The Holly and the Ivy,
Are dancing in a ring,
Round the berry-bright red candles,
and the white and shining King.

And One is for God's people,
In every age and day.
We are watching for His coming.

We believe and we obey.

And Two is for the Prophets,
And for the light they bring,
They are candles in the darkness.
All alight for Christ the king.

And Three for John the Baptist,

He calls on us to sing;
‘O prepare the way for Jesus Christ,
He is coming, Christ the King.

Song: Be Still, for the presence of the Lord

Be still for the presence of the Lord - YouTube

Prayers:

Heavenly Father, This third week of Advent, let us remember that the good news of Jesus’ birth has the power to bring us great joy this Christmas season. Our joy isn’t dependent on what is going on in our life, in our world, or the people that we are with. It doesn’t depend on the gifts we give or the gifts we find under the tree. No earthly thing can ever give us complete joy. Our joy comes from you. That joy that flooded the hearts of the shepherds, the angels, the wise men, the hosts of heaven, and Mary and Joseph is the joy that still has the power to overwhelm our hearts with rejoicing. 

Those who gathered around the new baby were blessed because they believed that you had fulfilled your promises. Mary and Joseph believed and were able to feel the joy of holding baby Jesus in their arms. The shepherds and wise men believed the angels and the signs and experienced the great gladness of worshipping their Messiah.

Those who knew him and recognized him were overjoyed at the coming of Jesus. They saw the prophecies fulfilled and their fear was replaced with happiness as they gazed on the face of the one who would be their Saviour. They trusted in your promises and their hearts were filled with gladness as they watched your loving-kindness manifested in the face of a tiny baby in a lowly manger. 

Father, you offer that same joy to us now if we know you and recognize Jesus as our Saviour and Lord. You gave us a reason to celebrate when you gave us the unspeakable gift of Jesus Christ. You came to dwell among us. You went to Calvary’s cross for us. You overcame death and rose from the dead for us. You forgive our sin and give us eternal life when we believe in you. 

Our joy doesn’t come from our jobs, our family, our relationships, our finances, or our success. Our joy doesn’t come from what we have on earth or who we are with. Our joy is a gift. It is the gift that you gave us that first Christmas in Jesus Christ. Our joy is encompassed in our Saviour, King Jesus. Flood our hearts with joy this Advent season as we reflect on the good news of Jesus’ birth. In Jesus’ precious name we pray. Amen

www.ibelieve.com

Reading: Matthew’s gospel, chapter 3: verses 1 to 12

Song: On Jordan’s Bank

103 - On Jordan’s Bank, the Baptist’s Cry - YouTube

Reading: Book of Isaiah, chapter 40, verses 1 to 14

Song: Make way, Make way

Make Way, Make Way (Graham Kendrick) (Singing the Faith 264 / StF 264) - YouTube

Prayer:

God with us,

Your Son Jesus,

calls us to follow him.

Give us courage to leave behind the things that don’t really matter,

and to follow you in our lives,

in your special love for people with no power or influence,

In your struggle against the powers of evil and destruction.

Show us the way to travel, we pray,

and give us strength and courage.

---

We pray for the powerful of the world,

for heads of state and for leaders of big business,

especially for those who have the means

to save our fragile world from environmental disaster

Deliver them from the lure of power for its own sake

and the love of wealth above all else.

Give them compassion

for those who have very little power or wealth.

As members of the human race,

teach us to serve the common good,

and to cherish those who own the least.

---

Jesus, our friend, You healed the sick 

and brought God’s love to ordinary people.

We pray those all those we know who are sick

especially …..

asking that they will know your presence,

encompassing them in love on every side

bringing healing and peace.

We pray for those who have died,

that they will rest in your eternal love and peace:

we remember especially…

We pray, too, for many who mourn;

for those who have lost family members in the pandemic,

and for all who are lost in sadness and grief.

---

Jesus we give thanks for your love without end,

for us, your children,

and for your call to follow you.

We give thanks for the purpose and direction that call brings,

for faith which deepens and grows as we journey with you,

and for the hope you give us,

We give thanks for the voices in the news,

voices of faith speaking of your beautiful  creation,

and of your Kingdom of justice and peace.

Help us to treasure that which we have,

to cherish the world you made,

to rejoice in its beauty

to glimpse your reflection in the sky, the sea, the sun, moon and stars,

and in the faces of those we meet. Amen

revannemorris.co.uk

Song: O come, O come Emmanuel

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (Tune: Veni Immanuel - 5vv) [with lyrics for congregations] - YouTube

How much do you like the past?

What period of the past would you like to live in?

How often do you here people talking about how wonderful everything was in the past?

There was no litter on the streets; everywhere was clean and bright; everybody was polite and well mannered; everyone was honest;

Further in the past; we had the age of chivalry when everyone dressed in spectacular Hollywood clothes, and had impeccable manners while they jousted (gently) and ate fantastic feasts.

Even right back to the stone age, we have a romantic image of life. People want to “get back to nature” or live “Off Grid”

In 1981, Tony Capstick released a record entitled “Capstick comes home”

This was inspired by the “Hovis adverts of the time, and mocked the idea that everything was better in the past.

My mother talked about people cutting the toes out of shoes when their children had grown out of them. Perhaps some of you have similar reminiscences.

What has this to do with John the Baptist?

John appeared bout 500 years after the last of the prophets. Despite their messages, that the people needed to turn to God, and follow His commandments, they had become part of the culture. It was written down and was a part of the literature of the nation. The individual prophets had become glamourised, may even have been imagined in the same sort of way that we imagine the saints, although there is little, if any, surviving Jewish art. Due largely to the ban on graven images.

The religious leaders of the day believed that they were following the law, and the teachings of the prophets. They had surrounded themselves with people who agreed with them, (Sound familiar?) and claimed a monopoly on interpretation. After all, they had the might of the prophets behind them.

Then a rather odd figure arrives on the scene;

If you can imagine a report by the committee on his job application; it might have said something like “says he is a Baptist, but he doesn’t act like one”

An ascetic, one who lived a rather unconventional life. Not well dressed, indeed, his dress and diet were worthy of of note, and therefore presumably not the norm. Unlike Jesus, and others, he waited for people to come to him, and did not seek them. He certainly was not a crowd pleaser, he did not say what people wanted to hear; he was direct, blunt to the point of rudeness in his preaching. Later evidence shows that he certainly did not adjust his message to his audience!

He is described as the final prophet, but unlike the rest of the prophets, he was not talking about the future. He was not telling people about some vague time when God, or His representative would come.

As many of us remember “The Kingdom of God is at hand” the NIV says “is near”. Not sometime in the future, “At hand”. Here. Now.

In the children’s film Shrek, there is a character of a talking Donkey, voiced by Eddie Murphy. When they are on the road to “Far Far Away” , he utters the words every parent is familiar with. “Are we there yet?” How did you used to answer? Shrek lost patience, and urged Donkey to stop being himself!! Eventually of course, he could answer “Yes!”

John the Baptist is saying “Yes” to the question asked for many hundreds of years. “Are we there yet?”

We know the full story. We know that the message of Christmas is “The kingdom of God is here” God is with us”

We need to be telling others, just like Shrek told Donkey, “Yes, we are there”. “The Kingdom of God is at hand.”

Reading: Come, Thou long expected Jesus

Come Thou Long Expected Jesus (StF 169) - YouTube

Week beginning December 4th

 

The Holly and the Ivy,
Are dancing in a ring,
Round the berry-bright red candles,
and the white and shining King.

And One is for God's people,
In every age and day.
We are watching for His coming.

We believe and we obey.

And Two is for the Prophets,
And for the light they bring,
They are candles in the darkness.

All alight for Christ the king .

Song: Give to our God immortal praise;

Give To Our God Immortal Praise - YouTube

Prayer:

Father, we adore you; we worship you; we praise you. You are almighty, you reveal yourself through the wonders of creation. It is good to come together to praise you and celebrate your mighty acts.

We acknowledge that there are times when we are far from you; that we feel that there is no hope when this is the case.

We thank you for the salvation bestowed on us, something that we cannot do for ourselves.

We praise you that when we were lost in sin, you sent your one and only son from heaven. He lived and died to give us salvation.

We pray that we can reach out to our area, to people who have no thought for you. May the church be a beacon in its area.

Where there are people who don’t want to talk about you, we pray that you will use us to tell them about a saviour who loves them. May they hear the Word and turn to it.

We pray for the members of our fe3llowship who are not well. May they know your healing presence

We pray for ourselves; may we be encouraged and brought closer to you. Build us up, be with us and encourage us.

In Jesus’ name. Amen

Song: Thou art the everlasting Word,

Thou art the everlasting Word, Conder - YouTube

Reading: Paul’s letter to the Philippians; chapter 2, verses 5 to 11

Song: Thou who wast rich beyond all splendour,

Thou Who Wast Rich Beyond All Splendour - YouTube

As Christmas approaches, we recognise that for many it can be a difficult time. The world seems to go mad! The costs of cards, and postage can be frightening, not to mention the costs of presents. People fight over food in the shops, and often buy far more than they need. Others stress about how many people they can get into their dining room, and seated round the table.

If people are asked about the real meaning of the season, often they don’t have a clue. It can be easy to adopt the approach of Scrooge (a fictional character, created by Charles Dickens) and say “Bah. Humbug.”

WE have the Scriptures, and we don’t need to be confused.

The passage, written by Paul, that we have read tells of one who is God. The message of Christmas is that Jesus is God and Lord. How can this be?

Firstly, Jesus abandoned a sovereign position. His essential nature is God. His being is God. He possesses the nature of God. Matthew, in his gospel uses the word “Emmanuel” of Jesus. This means God is with us. John refers to “The Word”, who is God. Paul refers to “The image of the invisible God”.

In Jesus we are being transformed into the image of Christ. If we look into the mirror in the morning, we can ask the question “am I more like Jesus that yesterday?” If the answer is “no”, in the morning, then there is something wrong with our testimony.

Secondly, Jesus became a servant. He “Veiled his glory”, he emptied himself of his privileges, he gave up his omniscience. He came to earth and became a slave not a king. As prophesied, he came “In the midst of you as one who serves.”

Thirdly he gave his life. He was made in the likeness of men (v7) and was found in the appearance of men (v7) He became a real man, 100% human.

He was not God pretending to be a man. It wasn’t obvious, there was no halo, no Aura, no stainless robe, he didn’t float above the ground. He looked, walked and talked like a man, because he was a man.

He experienced Hunger and thirst, work and fatigue, grief and anger. Nonetheless. John had to point out that he was a man.

He did many things, he performed miracles with food, healing and storms, but people still did not believe that he was God.

Fourthly, his selflessness. He had infinite capacity for self sacrifice, always putting God’s will before his own. He humbled himself unto death, and was obedient and died for our sins.

Finally, he ascended as a supreme prince. He was raised from death as a sign of God’s satisfaction with him. The name above all names. He was called Jesus, because he will save his people. Now he has done that, he is called Lord. In his name Every knee shall bow.

Jesus loved us. Jesus loves us.

God has give us the opportunity to confess that Jesus is God. May we remember this through the Christmas season, and take the opportunities to tell others.

Song: At the name of Jesus,

At the Name of Jesus (Tune: Camberwell - 4vv) [with lyrics for congregations] - YouTube