December 2012 Vol. 34. No. 12

Dear Friends

At this time of year lots of people attend carol services and concerts.  Some carols are played and sung every year.  Much as I love many traditional Christmas carols, I have other favourites which are less well known.  One of these is “God’s Surprise”.  We sing it to the tune “Scarlet Ribbons”.  The birth of Jesus is a surprise for a number of reasons.  In Bible times there was the expectation that God would send the Messiah (that’s a Hebrew word meaning “anointed” – the Greek equivalent is “Christ”).  First century Palestine was occupied by the Romans, and the Jews were anticipating a leader sent from God who would deliver them from their enemies.  There were various ideas about the kind of leader this would be, but a king who would lead them into battle was what many were looking for.  So the birth of a baby to a couple far from home, who found no room at the inn and who had to take shelter among the animals was not what they were expecting.

When that baby grew up he attracted followers, but upset many of the religious leaders, with all his talk of forgiving enemies and praying for those who hate us, not to mention healing people on the Sabbath.  The Roman rulers were upset too, because they feared Jesus would lead a revolution.  Jesus came to show a different way to be great, and to save us all, not from occupying armies but from the consequences of human sinfulness.  He came to bring about a revolution all right – a revolution in people’s hearts, to turn us right around from going our own way and to turn us back to God.  Some understood his message, but many missed the point – just as many failed to notice that God had come among human beings that first Christmas in the form of a tiny baby, wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.  Those who did see and believe were just a handful of shepherds who saw a vision of angels, and some wise men who followed a star.  I wonder how many people who celebrate Christmas this year will see the sign of God’s love in the baby in the manger, and receive him into their hearts and lives, and how many will miss the point.

To quote a couple of lines at the end of each verse of that carol, “God surprises earth with heaven, coming here on Christmas day.”  Are you ready to be surprised by God this Christmas?

With my love and prayers for a blessed and peaceful Christmas,

Glynis Hetherington

November 2012 Vol. 34 No. 11

Dear Friends

I asked some young people what they thought about when I said the name of their church.  There were some interesting responses including ‘the stained glass windows’, a favourite worship song, and ‘people going up to the altar for the bread and wine’.   The last answer led us into thinking what the Church really is – a building, what goes on in the building, or the people who use the building as a place to meet.  We went on to think about the Church as a family.  When I baptise an infant I talk to the parents about being born physically into a family, and baptism as a symbol of spiritual birth and being welcomed into the family of the Church.  Some families are close and meet often, so that warm and loving relationships grow and there is always help, support and encouragement and a deep level of commitment and sharing.  Family members are there for each other and from that secure family base each member can grow and flourish.

Other families don’t see much of each other and members drift apart.  I find that sad.  The same can happen with the Church family.  There are many who belong to the Church through baptism, yet who rarely meet with their Christian brothers and sisters for worship and prayer. The Parish Church is there to serve people in the community, whether or not they have any involvement in its life and worship, but some of our smaller congregations have concerns about how much longer they can fulfil that role. Maybe the Church of the future will be centred on the larger towns and villages. The faithful few in small villages might meet in one another’s homes, as happened in New Testament times.  Our relationships with God and each other are more important than buildings, and yet, if one day some small churches have to close, I wonder how many people will regret not sharing in the life of their Parish Church when they had the opportunity.

Staying connected to our families provides a network of friendship and support, and the same goes for the Church family.  In our individualistic society it is important to foster relationships and a sense of belonging.  Together as we grow in our relationships within the Church family we can also grow closer to God, helping one another in our quest to discover meaning and purpose for our lives.  For Christians, Jesus shows us what God is like, and demonstrates in his own life and teaching, and in his sacrificial death, God’s unconditional love and forgiveness. As children of the same heavenly Father it is important that we stay connected to each other.  Those who are already committed to meeting regularly would be delighted to welcome newcomers, or to welcome back members we haven’t seen for a while.

 

With my love and prayers

Glynis Hetherington