A Blessed Christmas

Good morning.

Today, we celebrate the birth of Jesus, in the Bethlehem manger.

Record numbers of people have come to St. Andrew's in the last week - and the story has been faithfully re-told for every one.

My favourite Old Testament promise about eh coming of Jesus comes from the prophet Isaiah, as he saw the deepening darkness and hopelessness of his own day. 

Politically and economically, things were in a bad state in ancient Judah. Their northern neighbour, Israel, with whom they shared so much history, had led the way in leaving the path of God. In place of prudence and godliness there was profligacy and greed. 

Does this remind you of anything?
The words which bring me great encouragement are 

'Nevertheless, that time of darkness and despair will not go on forever. The land of Zebulun and Naphtali will be humbled, but there will be a time in the future when Galilee of the Gentiles, which lies along the road that runs between the Jordan and the sea, will be filled with glory.

The people who walk in darkness
    will see a great light.
For those who live in a land of deep darkness,
    a light will shine. (Isaiah 9.1-2)

May you know the peace and joy which this light brings. May our lives shine in our own day, so that others find hope!
Blessing,
Richard

Coming Soon!

The excitement is building.

Schools are finishing their long Winter Terms, with parties, special Christmas events, and Christmas dinners. Children of all ages are getting ready, with eager anticipation.

As we prepare to celebrate the first coming of Jesus, so we are also looking to his second coming. And that is coming one day. While we don't know when that 'one day' will be, that Day is 2000 years sooner than it was in Jesus' day.

Jesus warned his followers to be ready for this Great Day - when he returns to judge the world. ' “Watch out! Don’t let your hearts be dulled by carousing and drunkenness, and by the worries of this life. Don’t let that day catch you unaware, like a trap. For that day will come upon everyone living on the earth. Keep alert at all times. And pray that you might be strong enough to escape these coming horrors and stand before the Son of Man.” (Luke 21.34-36)

In this season, when many only think of Christmas parties, with too much food and drink, we do well to mark carefully Jesus' words.

In case we fall the lie about being able to work out when exactly this Great Day might be, Jesus speaks very clearly about his own ignorance. '“However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows. And since you don’t know when that time will come, be on guard! Stay alert!' (Mark 13.32-33)

For all of us, today provides an opportunity to stay alert for the promptings of Jesus, so that we are ready to speak and act, moment by moment, in the light of his will and way. That provides a wonderful antidote to the relentless drivenness of many in our culture.

And please keep praying that all of our Christmas events will point people to Jesus.

Best wishes,

Richard

End or beginning?

In 2 days time, it will be 21st December! 

Nothing surprising about that, except for the much discussed 'end of the world' predictions from some people.

Apparently, the very ancient Mayan community had developed a calendar, which went round & round. The end of one cycle was set to be on 21 December 2012 (on our calendar, not theirs!) 

But it was never expected to be an end, only a new beginning.

For us, 21st December, being the shortest day in the Northern hemisphere, is the beginning of the journey towards longer days and summer (again). So even in our modern world, December 21st is both an end to shorter days and the beginning towards longer ones.

Within the story of the promise to Mary, from Gabriel, about the coming pregnancy and birth, there is a most startling verse, which reveals both an end and a beginning.

'Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” And then the angel left her.' (Luke 1.38)

Confronted by the prospect of her life being completely turned upside down - all her plans for a future life in relative obscurity and simplicity reshaped in a moment - Mary doesn't linger long on grieving for the end she has just encountered. Instead, she grasps the new beginning with both hands, in profound and life-changing trust.

As the story unfolds, we read of Mary thinking deeply about what is taking place within and around her. She isn't uninvolved in playing her part, as though her own contribution was unimportant. She is fully and actively committed to playing her part to the full. But what she has learned is that hers is an active partnership with the God who is sending Jesus into the world. Gabriel has just told her 'For nothing is impossible with God.' (Luke 1.37), and she takes this promise as defining for her own future.

For all of us, every day is both an end and a beginning. 

Every day presents us with the prospect of trusting God to work out his will and purpose in and  through us. He longs for our active partnership with him. Can we, like Mary, say, 'I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” ?

Best wishes,

Richard

Plenty more fish in the sea??

The UK government will vote against cutting fish quotas today, in order to protect the jobs of British fishermen.

Over many years, as a result of human greed and over-fishing, fish stocks have been diminishing. The end result of such activity is that the the seas are emptied of many species of fish. 

So, in the long term, it makes sense to cut fishing quotas - because it is not true that there are 'plenty more fish in the sea'.

But many of Jesus' first followers were fishermen, because there were plenty more fish in the sea', in the case of the Sea of Galilee. 

They were working to provide food for the residents of ancient Galilee and Judea. For those who couldn't get fresh fish - no refrigeration or speedy transport links, of course - salt fish was a precious delicacy.

Jesus' call to his first followers was linked to their employment experience. 'One day as Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew throwing a net into the water, for they fished for a living. Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!” And they left their nets at once and followed him.' (Mark 1.16-18)

All of us are called to share this 'fishing for people' role. 

All of us come across people, through our work, leisure, friendships and daily life. In our case, there are 'plenty more fish in the sea'! On Goldsworth Park, there are 4,800 properties, and we delivered our Christmas publicity to every one! That is at least the start of the fishing process.

Over this next week - we are SEVEN days from Christmas Day - we will have plenty of opportunities, with the help of Jesus, and the 'reason for the season', to point people to see why we all need  to know and trust Jesus.

Please pray that we will be faithful and effective in doing our fishing over this next week.

Best wishes,

Richard

Part-time working?

As the recession continues, it is reported that more full-time jobs are being reduced to part-time posts.

These jobs are also disproportionately low paid jobs, and are also done by women. 

So women are suffering more that men, as usual.

I don't have any suggestions about how to remedy this situation.

However, I have been reflecting on whether we can be part-time or full-time Christians.

St. Paul describes himself and his fellow Chris-followers in a striking analogy.

'God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” (2 Corinthians 5.18-20)

In Paul's day, there were no 'full-time' Christian ministers, clergy, youth workers or anything else. Everyone who had become a follower and disciple of Jesus was part of the full-time sales team, as it were. 

But Paul doesn't call them sales staff. He describes them as ambassadors, which is a position of great honour and responsibility.

Paul is also aware that at the heart of that in which we are all engaged is this task of reconciling people to God. We have a great message to share - this wonderful message of reconciliation.

It was wonderful, last evening at our Carol Service, to see that so many people are actively involved in this shared full-time task. 

The large crowds of those who came for several reasons. 

Many people have been praying that our Christmas services would be effective - thank you!

Some said they said they had received our Christmas publicity leaflets - so thanks to those who delivered the Christmas publicity! 

Others came because they saw there was a Gospel Choir - and they didn't want to miss that. And wasn't the choir magnificent. Thanks to Daniel and all the hard work of his choir.

Others came because friends had invited them - and that is great.

And many people had given time and hard work in making the whole evening go so well. 

So I am excited to be part of  a large full-time team of committed Christ-followers, sharing the message “Come back to God!”

I am praying that all our other Christmas events will be similarly effective in reaching out to our community.

Best wishes,

Richard

White Christmas?

It looks like a whitish Thursday, but will it be a 'White Christmas?' I am not a betting man, but I wouldn't bet on snow next week!

But what do I dream for over these next 2 weeks?

I look again at what the prophets promised about the future, and would long for more of that in our own day.

'He will stand to lead his flock with the Lord’s strength,
    in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God.
Then his people will live there undisturbed,
    for he will be highly honoured around the world.
⁵     And he will be the source of peace.' (Micah 5.4-5)

While politicians around the world seek to give leadership, the promised Messiah leads in the Lord's strength, to be the source of our peace. 

But there is so much that is wrong in our day.

I keep meeting people whose lives are ravaged by wicked landlords, careless care professionals, or widespread spiteful unkindness. My heart cries out, 'How long, O Lord?' 

Mercifully, the Lord God knows of the prayers which we utter in silence, and he has promised to act.

The people who walk in darkness will see a great light.
For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine.

For a child is born to us, a son is given to us.
The government will rest on his shoulders.
    And he will be called:
Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
⁷ His government and its peace will never end.
He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity.
The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will make this happen!

So I pray that people's lives will be changed by the power of God, so that instead of being part of the problem, we may all want to live for the glory of God and the good of other people.

There is no other way that this will happen - apart from putting ourselves daily and relentlessly under his just and gentle rule. As I said to someone yesterday, we need to invite Jesus to take the steering wheel in the car of our lives, so that he can direct and lead us where it is good for us to go - but he won't force us to do that.

That is what I dream of for Christmas.

Best wishes,

Richard

Is Santa real?

Today, for the second time this week, I shall be dressed in a red suit, with beard and sack, and distribute gifts to the toddlers in the A2 building.

Most of the younger children are fearful, and so are reluctant to receive their gift, but most of the parents are eager to make the most of this annual event.

Why do we indulge in this piece of theatre each year?

The origin of the 'Santa Claus' story is Bishop Nicholas of Myra, in Turkey in the fourth century. He made a significant gift to an impoverished Christian family, providing dowries for the three daughters, enabling them to be married. The alternative was that they would be forced to be sold into the sex trade. Now that is not the sort of story to tell to young children!

The generosity he showed clearly links to the teaching of Jesus, who said 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.' (Acts 20.36)

St. James reminds Christians that they should use their wealth in order to be generous to those in need. 'Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.' (James 1.27)

So, following the example of St. Nicholas, at this season of ridiculous worldly extravagance, we have an opportunity to give to the needs of others, rather than wasting money on ourselves.

Best wishes,

Richard

Caught Out!

HSBC are paying a massive £1.2 billion fine for their support of illegal money laundering in the US. They have been 'Caught Out!'

These criminal actions took place up to 4 years ago, but they were found out.

The Old Testament reminds us that 'Be sure, your sin will find you out'! (Numbers 32.23)

Being 'Caught Out!' may be our worst nightmare, but we can learn from the mistakes of others, if we are ready to be changed.

The parable the Jesus told, about the Sower and the Soils, has an important warning for all of us.

'The seed that fell among the thorns represents others who hear God’s word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things, so no fruit is produced.' (Mark 4.18-19)

In the run up to Christmas, we are bombarded on every side with the commercial pressures to buy, consume, lured by the attractiveness of possessing more stuff, and what Jesus describes as the desire for other things. 

In the parable itself, Jesus described the effects of the jungle of thorns and weeds on the vulnerable growth of the precious seed. 'Other seed fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants so they produced no grain.' (Mark 4.7)

Unless we take deliberate avoiding action, today and every day, to weed out the longing for more and more material things, we shall find ourselves 'Caught Out!' by our own greed and worries. 

HSBC have had to pay a large fine.

We will pay a much higher price, in that our spiritual lives will be fruitless. 

Jesus warned his followers of the dangers of being taken up with the trivia of the worldly obsessions. 'And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?' (Mark 8.36-37)

Instead of living a life which brings glory to God and blessing to those around us, and wasting the one life we have, Jesus warns us to make sure we are not 'Caught Out!'

Today may be a time for decisive and relentless action to pull up some weeds and thorns!
Best wishes,

Richard

Good Crowd

The Nativity Service at St. Andrew's was attended by a good crowd. I think there were more people and chairs than ever before - with some sitting on the floor, and others standing all through.

I was so impressed by the hard work and careful preparation that had gone into the presentation by the Guides, Brownies, Rainbows, their leaders and parents. And I was so thankful for the seriousness with which the Nativity Story was set forth for us. 

I recall that Jesus was often surrounded by Good Crowds of people, and he taught by stories, to get people to think more deeply about what he was saying. 

In particular, the Parable of the Sower (or the Soils) tells us that not everyone in a good crowd listens carefully and wisely!

Once again Jesus began teaching by the lake shore. A very large crowd soon gathered around him, so he got into a boat. Then he sat in the boat while all the people remained on the shore. He taught them by telling many stories in the form of parables, such as this one: 

“Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seed. As he scattered it across his field, some of the seed fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate it. Other seed fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seed sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow. But the plant soon wilted under the hot sun, and since it didn’t have deep roots, it died. Other seed fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants so they produced no grain. Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they sprouted, grew, and produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted!” Then he said, “Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.” (Mark 4.1-9)

My prayer is that over this Advent season, with opportunities to engage with crowds of people, some at least who come along will be those in that last category  -who produce a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted!”

To his disciples, Jesus explained who they would be. 'And the seed that fell on good soil represents those who hear and accept God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!” (Mark 4.20)

"Lord, please send us those who will hear and accept God’s word and produce a harvest."

Best wishes,

Richard

Attention Grabbing?

When I mention Heston's Hidden Orange Christmas Pudding, is your attention grabbed?

After years of not bothering with any advertising, the John Lewis Partnership have made great efforts to be noticed. They succeeded with Heston's Hidden Orange pudding, because, last year, it sold out, and was being traded on eBay for ridiculous sums. Their 'Attention Grabbing' mission  was a success with that product, at least. 

Today, St. Andrew's is attempting to grab some attention, by singing Carols outside Waitrose, from 6.30pm. Daniel will be leading the assembled singers - so please join the crowd of singers, if you possibly can. Not only do we want to sing this evening, but we want to invite people to our own Christmas events. Please become an 'Attention Grabber!

We are in good company when we try to grab people's attention, in order to share the story of Jesus.

' While Zechariah was in the sanctuary, an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the incense altar. Zechariah was shaken and overwhelmed with fear when he saw him. But the angel said, “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayer. Your wife, Elizabeth, will give you a son, and you are to name him John.' (Luke 1.11-13)

And then, 'In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David. Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, favoured woman! The Lord is with you!” (Luke 1.16-18) Sending angels was God's method of grabbing attention then. These days, He send people like us!

The God who sent Jesus to our world is longing to grab the attention of people of all sorts. As we re-tell this story, please pray that some people will take seriously His offer of love and mercy, and find in Jesus the gift beyond all price. 

That is why we try to be Attention Grabbers'. Please share in this great adventure.

Best wishes,

Richard

Music and Singing

Music and singing are an increasing feature of our lives.

Some people seem to listen to music almost all day, with headphones attached to whatever gadget they have with them. It seems that music and singing have become an essential life-support system. Why is that?

Do you remember the old Heineken advert slogan? 'Heineken refreshes the parts that other beers cannot reach?' As a Heineken virgin, having never tasted the stuff, I can't vouch for the truth of that claim. But it stuck in my mind. 

I think it is true that music and singing often reaches parts of our lives which other expressions cannot reach. Football crowds sing, huge crowds gather for concerts for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, or the Olympics, and enormous interest is taken in the X Factor and such like. Somehow, a great performance of a good song moves us more deeply than we could imagine.

Which is why we sing Christmas Carols! 

The story to which the carols refer is a great story - God stepping into our world, to rescue and redeem us. And singing the story for ourselves, rather than letting someone else do it for us, leads us into worshipping the God who made the universe!

And of course, within the story, there is a heavenly choir of angels. Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and singing, “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.” (Luke 2.13-14) 

In the Book of Revelation, John glimpses the worship of heaven on a number of occasions, and every time he hears singing crowds. For instance, 'And they sang a new song with these words:

“You are worthy to take the scroll
    and break its seals and open it.
For you were slaughtered, and your blood has ransomed people for God
    from every tribe and language and people and nation.
 And you have caused them to become
    a Kingdom of priests for our God.
    And they will reign on the earth.” (Revelation 5.9-10) It appears that we shall be singing throughout eternity, so we might as well get into the habit now!

As approach the Christmas season, with all the ridiculous commercialism, we can become more deeply immersed in what God has done for us, as we use music and singing to express our worship and adoration. It may be, too, that others who merely "come along for a good sing" find themselves caught up in the deeper significance.

On Friday evening, Daniel Natnael and others from St. Andrew's have been invited to sing Carols outside Waitrose, from 6.30pm onwards. P{lease come along if you are available.

Many thanks,

Richard

A Royal Baby!

Attention focuses on a pregnant mother, struggling with morning sickness. 

Many 'best wishes' arrive for Kate and William, and the pundits tell us about the assorted heirs to the throne. No doubt, many mothers who have themselves struggled with their pregnancies may have a wry smile at the level of interest and fuss, or is that only me?

How interesting, at the start of Advent, that our attention focuses on another royal birth!

The angle's announcement to Mary made it quite plain that her child would be in the royal line. 'You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!” (Luke 1.31-33)

At the time, there had not been a descendant of David as King of Israel for hundreds of years. We don't know what Mary made of this promise, though we do know that she took on her responsibility will trusting obedience. 'Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” And then the angel left her.' (Luke 1.38)

While the shops may play assorted Christmas jingles, to get us in the mood to spend money, I guess most of us may want to look more deeply at this familiar story again. 

Today's news reminds me that Jesus is the one who is reigning over my life. That means that when I pray, with others or on my own 'Your Kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven', I am deliberately saying that I am determined not to implement my will and wishes, but I am joyfully determined to be under Jesus' will and wishes.

It looks easy in principle, but putting this determination into practice is a daily battle.

So let's hear it for the Royal Baby - Jesus, our Lord and King. May we live for Him today.

Best wishes,

Richard

A dying Health Service?

Hospitals are "full to bursting" in England, creating a potentially dangerous environment for patients, according to Dr. Foster, a significant medical research project, published today. The situation is so bad, according to its carefully researched work in 145 hospital trusts, that too many basic health care practices don't get done. You can watch more about this in tonight's Panorama at 8.30pm. Many of us, from local experience, can see this happening all too often.

Isn't it ironic that the very places where we go when our health is poor are now so sick themselves that both the institutions and the patients are dying?

The very people who wish to bring hope and health are too busy that they cannot deliver the fruit of their skills, training, experience and passion to care.

If we think of our Church as a 'spiritual Health Service', we too can make the same mistakes. If we are too rushed off our feet, then quality falls, and we fail to be the sort of people who bring life and hope to those around us. Are we also a dying Health Service?

Our mission statement, 'To know Jesus better, and so to make Him better known', makes the point that our first priority must be to have Jesus as the focus and centre of our lives. St. Paul, facing his own death and reviewing his life, makes this point most powerfully. 'Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with him.' (Philippians 3.8-9)

We often sing songs such as 'Jesus be the centre', which may inspire us to want to put Jesus FIRST in our lives, but we need daily to apply this, to the small and big decisions in our lives. 

For St. Paul, this led him to say,' I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead.' (Phil. 3.10) So his relentless ambition was changed from putting himself first, to putting Jesus first. 

'I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.' (Phil. 3.12-14)

Instead of being under pressure from the culture of our days, shaped by the relentless obsessions of the Christmas season, we could choose to press on towards knowing Jesus better. 

Then we would be able to bring to others, in our lost and weary world, the Good News of life in Christ. That is my prayer for us all, during this Advent season.

Best wishes,

Richard