Yesterday was the third Sunday in Advent and so today I want to explore the theme of 'joy'. [In week 1 we looked at hope, and last week we looked at peace.]
When the angels came and spoke to the shepherds they claimed to have good news of great joy for all the people - that a saviour had been born. Next week at our Carol Service we will be singing the traditional version of 'Joy to the world'. But one of my favourite versions of this song is Chris Tomlin's 'Unspeakable Joy' from the album 'Glory in the Highest'.
Last week I took a Carol Service and used a great piece of writing by Bob Hartman entitled 'A Christmas Eve service for those who don't feel like celebrating' in which various participants take offence or question the possibility of the peace or the joy of the shepherds' message and through which we are encouraged to recognise and to pray for those who don't feel like celebrating this Christmas - whilst at the same time acknowledging that hope, peace, joy and love are available because of the baby who was born.
Personally this Christmas is going to be different. Many of you will know that in the summer, my sister, Carol died after a long on-off battle with cancer. And this Christmas will be the first time that we are all together again as a family since Carol's funeral and thanksgiving service. And along with many many families this Christmas as we spend time together we will be acutely aware of those who are no longer here. And so in amongst the joy of the season there will be sadness and no doubt a few tears.
But the joy of Christmas that the angels spoke about isn't dependant on presents, or good food and a celebratory drink. It's not even about time together with family. It's about being right with God, and the promise that Jesus is coming again. It's the joy that comes from knowing new life now and the hope of the resurrection to come.
Monday, 14 December 2015
Thursday, 10 December 2015
Want to read the Bible in 2016?
Although many of us are so busy getting ready for Christmas that we've not had a time to pause and think ahead to 2016, it will soon be that time of year when we are encouraged to do so. Are there habits we need to cut out of our lives in the new year? Are their things we want to bring in to our lives in the new year? And whilst we can make these changes at any point often the transition from 31 December to 1 January is an encouragement to change.
I know from my own experience and the experiences of many I talk to that when it comes to spiritual disciplines such as prayer and Bible reading such reflection often generates the response 'could do better' and an added encouragement to start again or start afresh on 1 January.
If you're looking for something new and challenging in 2016 here's a year long Bible reading programme from the people over at The Bible Project. I'll let them tell you all about it - they'll do a much better job at it than me.
As they acknowledge, reading through the whole Bible in a year is quite a challenge, but a worthwhile one. I'm sure their short videos and an understanding of the bigger picture will help and encourage people to keep going. But my experience is that when I have attempted something like this with other people I am most likely to make it through Leviticus and Lamentations and eventually arrive in Revelation.
It is also exciting that they are encouraging us to read the Psalms in the way they are supposed to be read - as the prayer book and the song book of God's people.
So if you are looking for a Bible reading scheme for next year - here's a great one. But can I also encourage you to go on that journey with others.
I know from my own experience and the experiences of many I talk to that when it comes to spiritual disciplines such as prayer and Bible reading such reflection often generates the response 'could do better' and an added encouragement to start again or start afresh on 1 January.
If you're looking for something new and challenging in 2016 here's a year long Bible reading programme from the people over at The Bible Project. I'll let them tell you all about it - they'll do a much better job at it than me.
As they acknowledge, reading through the whole Bible in a year is quite a challenge, but a worthwhile one. I'm sure their short videos and an understanding of the bigger picture will help and encourage people to keep going. But my experience is that when I have attempted something like this with other people I am most likely to make it through Leviticus and Lamentations and eventually arrive in Revelation.
It is also exciting that they are encouraging us to read the Psalms in the way they are supposed to be read - as the prayer book and the song book of God's people.
So if you are looking for a Bible reading scheme for next year - here's a great one. But can I also encourage you to go on that journey with others.
Tuesday, 8 December 2015
Watch again and catch up
A couple of weeks ago the young people led the service and showed a video on prayer. In case you missed it or want to catch it again here it is.
Here's one of the songs we sang on Sunday that I haven't been able to get out of my head...
Here's one of the songs we sang on Sunday that I haven't been able to get out of my head...
Sunday, 6 December 2015
Advent - week 2
This morning we will light the second candle on our Advent wreath as we continue this season of preparation, waiting and anticipation which many in the church know as Advent. [See last week's reflection here].
This week I will be taking an Advent assembly in a local Church of England primary school - so I have been swotting up on the various traditional themes for Advent - week 2 (relying on those ever reliable and accurate sources: Google and Wikipedia).
A common theme for the second week in Advent is 'Peace', which, given events over the past weeks seems very appropriate and much in need. As we read the papers, watch the television, browse the internet and listen to the radio, peace is one thing that seems in very short supply in our world. Whether it's civil war, terrorist atrocities, civilians caught up in a refugee crisis, laser guided bombing campaigns, domestic violence, stabbings or shooting on our streets - it seems as though peace is something we could all do with this Christmas.
This week, following on from events in Paris, the news here has been full of the decision taken by MPs to extend air strikes to sites within Syria. Much has been said and broadcast on both sides of the debate this week. But it seems to me that there are many who see the options as either bombing or doing nothing. As if the only response to what we've seen in Paris and in other cities around the world is a military option. And if you don't fight back you're you're accused of doing nothing or even worse - accused of being in sympathy with those who seek to bring fear through violence. It's as if everything we tell our children about their behaviour in the playground no longer applies when it comes to the world stage.
[If you want to think a bit more about how we should be thinking about our response to what's going on in Iraq and Syria here is a very interesting article written by Alan Storkey.]
Advent reminds us that the good news didn't begin and end with the birth of a special baby. The story goes back much further than that, and it moves forward to involve the life of this baby who became a man. A man who suffered a violent death. But even his death, or resurrection, isn't the end of the story. Even a casual reading of this life, this story, opens up to us the possibility of an alternative to hostility. For Jesus was continually surprising his opponents (and his followers). Repeatedly his opponents engineered situations which they hoped would force Jesus into one of two responses - only for him to take an alternative they had not even thought of.
Whilst we may not personally find ourselves in a situation where we are having to consider and then vote on whether or not to drop bombs, we will certainly find ourselves in situations where we have choices to make which may or may not lead towards peace and reconciliation. Whether it's something we say or something we do - will our actions escalate or defuse? Let's ask God for his wisdom in knowing how to act so that we are peacemakers this week. May God also give us wisdom in knowing how to stand up and protest in ways that are non violent when we see inaction and injustice in our community and in our world.
This week I will be taking an Advent assembly in a local Church of England primary school - so I have been swotting up on the various traditional themes for Advent - week 2 (relying on those ever reliable and accurate sources: Google and Wikipedia).
A common theme for the second week in Advent is 'Peace', which, given events over the past weeks seems very appropriate and much in need. As we read the papers, watch the television, browse the internet and listen to the radio, peace is one thing that seems in very short supply in our world. Whether it's civil war, terrorist atrocities, civilians caught up in a refugee crisis, laser guided bombing campaigns, domestic violence, stabbings or shooting on our streets - it seems as though peace is something we could all do with this Christmas.
This week, following on from events in Paris, the news here has been full of the decision taken by MPs to extend air strikes to sites within Syria. Much has been said and broadcast on both sides of the debate this week. But it seems to me that there are many who see the options as either bombing or doing nothing. As if the only response to what we've seen in Paris and in other cities around the world is a military option. And if you don't fight back you're you're accused of doing nothing or even worse - accused of being in sympathy with those who seek to bring fear through violence. It's as if everything we tell our children about their behaviour in the playground no longer applies when it comes to the world stage.
[If you want to think a bit more about how we should be thinking about our response to what's going on in Iraq and Syria here is a very interesting article written by Alan Storkey.]
Advent reminds us that the good news didn't begin and end with the birth of a special baby. The story goes back much further than that, and it moves forward to involve the life of this baby who became a man. A man who suffered a violent death. But even his death, or resurrection, isn't the end of the story. Even a casual reading of this life, this story, opens up to us the possibility of an alternative to hostility. For Jesus was continually surprising his opponents (and his followers). Repeatedly his opponents engineered situations which they hoped would force Jesus into one of two responses - only for him to take an alternative they had not even thought of.
Whilst we may not personally find ourselves in a situation where we are having to consider and then vote on whether or not to drop bombs, we will certainly find ourselves in situations where we have choices to make which may or may not lead towards peace and reconciliation. Whether it's something we say or something we do - will our actions escalate or defuse? Let's ask God for his wisdom in knowing how to act so that we are peacemakers this week. May God also give us wisdom in knowing how to stand up and protest in ways that are non violent when we see inaction and injustice in our community and in our world.
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