Christmas is a time for giving and rejoicing. But more than that, it is a time for marvelling, standing back in amazement to marvel at what God has done in sending his own son, Jesus Christ, to become one of us.
There was no notice on Twitter, no live video feed, no Sky News headline to announce his coming. His arrival, in the form of a baby wrapped up in swaddling clothes, wasn't announced to the King, or to the important rulers of the temple. It was simply declared to a few shepherds, whose reaction must have been one of sheer amazement. Tonight's display conveyed a sense of that amazement. A single shepherd, surrounded by his sheep, standing and gazing towards the cluster of square, oriental-looking buildings that formed the little town of Bethlehem.
It was a simple scene, yet one full of meaning. God had chosen this particular moment in time, to reveal himself in a place where nobody was expecting him to come - in a manger on the margins of the town, to a marginalised people.
Tonight, along with that shepherd, we stood in amazement. We marvelled at what God had done. That is what this is all about!
Thursday, 17 December 2015
Wednesday, 16 December 2015
DAY 16 - ANGEL
Today, an angel appeared at St Mary's vicarage. As the photograph shows, this evening's display was dominated by an angel standing before a shepherd and two sheep. The light of the angel illuminated the entire scene.
It was an awe-inspiring scene, by any standards. I never cease to be amazed at the way in which the first thing angels say when they speak to men and women in the Bible, is something like: "Don't be afraid..." Who wouldn't be terrified by the sight of an angel appearing without warning and shining in dazzling glory? I often reflect on Zechariah, a humble priest whose job it was to serve in the temple of the Lord. We read about him in Luke 1. One day, as the incense burned and the assembled worshippers prayed outside, Zechariah was attending to his duty when, suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared. Poor Zechariah was startled and gripped with fear. Yet the first thing the angel said was: "Don't be afraid...", then proceeded to announce the imminent birth of John the Baptist, who preceded Jesus Christ himself.
"Don't be afraid" sounds a strange way for an angel to begin a conversation, particularly when the sheer suddenness of the appearance of such radiant light is likely to sweep anyone off their feet.
Yet there is a calmness and dignity about the way the angel speaks. And while the shepherds were probably gripped with terror, the angel speaks to them gently and proclaims "good news of great joy". Suddenly, other angels joined in and sang "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those he favours!". They don't appear to have stayed very long and disappeared as quickly as they had arrived. As they disappeared, you can imagine how the shepherds looked at each other and determined instantly to go into the town to tell of this wonderful event.
Don't be afraid - that is a good and comforting message to many during this Advent season. The angels proclaimed good news of peace, which overcomes fear. There may be lots of reasons to be afraid - and some of us may be experiencing that right now. But the message tonight is that God's perfect love overcomes fear - and that, surely, is the best possible news.
It was an awe-inspiring scene, by any standards. I never cease to be amazed at the way in which the first thing angels say when they speak to men and women in the Bible, is something like: "Don't be afraid..." Who wouldn't be terrified by the sight of an angel appearing without warning and shining in dazzling glory? I often reflect on Zechariah, a humble priest whose job it was to serve in the temple of the Lord. We read about him in Luke 1. One day, as the incense burned and the assembled worshippers prayed outside, Zechariah was attending to his duty when, suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared. Poor Zechariah was startled and gripped with fear. Yet the first thing the angel said was: "Don't be afraid...", then proceeded to announce the imminent birth of John the Baptist, who preceded Jesus Christ himself.
"Don't be afraid" sounds a strange way for an angel to begin a conversation, particularly when the sheer suddenness of the appearance of such radiant light is likely to sweep anyone off their feet.
Yet there is a calmness and dignity about the way the angel speaks. And while the shepherds were probably gripped with terror, the angel speaks to them gently and proclaims "good news of great joy". Suddenly, other angels joined in and sang "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those he favours!". They don't appear to have stayed very long and disappeared as quickly as they had arrived. As they disappeared, you can imagine how the shepherds looked at each other and determined instantly to go into the town to tell of this wonderful event.
Don't be afraid - that is a good and comforting message to many during this Advent season. The angels proclaimed good news of peace, which overcomes fear. There may be lots of reasons to be afraid - and some of us may be experiencing that right now. But the message tonight is that God's perfect love overcomes fear - and that, surely, is the best possible news.
Tuesday, 15 December 2015
DAY 15 - NO ROOM IN THE INN
At tonight's ADVENTure display in Ellenbridge Road, we were taken again to the Little Town of Bethlehem. The display beautifully modelled the narrow streets and eastern-style buildings of the town, complete with a "Census Office" and a sign to "Register Here". Opposite the office was the "Bethlehem Inn" over which a sign had been hung: "No Room". Adjacent to that was a stable, in which the manger scene was laid out.
Simple, yet profound. Of course, we cannot know with certainty about the place where Jesus was born. Was it an inn as we know it? Quite possibly not. The original Greek word used by Luke suggests that the reference was to a guest-room, a place of rest. It could be that the place where Joseph and Mary sought a night's lodging was some kind of guest chamber provided by the community. Either way, what is clear is that: "...there was no room" and that was the message of tonight's display.
The Jewish culture of offering hospitality to strangers makes it all the more difficult to comprehend why this descendant of King David could not be accommodated with some decency and respect in David's home town! Yet there was apparently "no room". And the child was pretty quickly rejected by King Herod, to boot.
But the shepherds tending their flocks welcomed him (and, yes, the Sanderstead sheep have now crossed into Ellenbridge Road!). They "made haste" to greet him and give him the honour that no-one else would give.
In today's upwardly mobile society, most people have little - if any - room for Jesus Christ. Yet the real message of Christmas, which we are seeking to share through these displays, is that the Christ for which the world had "no room" has ample room himself for those who believe and put their trust in him by faith. That's a bit different from the commercial, tinsel-and-glitter festival that surrounds us this Christmas-time, isn't it?
Simple, yet profound. Of course, we cannot know with certainty about the place where Jesus was born. Was it an inn as we know it? Quite possibly not. The original Greek word used by Luke suggests that the reference was to a guest-room, a place of rest. It could be that the place where Joseph and Mary sought a night's lodging was some kind of guest chamber provided by the community. Either way, what is clear is that: "...there was no room" and that was the message of tonight's display.
The Jewish culture of offering hospitality to strangers makes it all the more difficult to comprehend why this descendant of King David could not be accommodated with some decency and respect in David's home town! Yet there was apparently "no room". And the child was pretty quickly rejected by King Herod, to boot.
But the shepherds tending their flocks welcomed him (and, yes, the Sanderstead sheep have now crossed into Ellenbridge Road!). They "made haste" to greet him and give him the honour that no-one else would give.
In today's upwardly mobile society, most people have little - if any - room for Jesus Christ. Yet the real message of Christmas, which we are seeking to share through these displays, is that the Christ for which the world had "no room" has ample room himself for those who believe and put their trust in him by faith. That's a bit different from the commercial, tinsel-and-glitter festival that surrounds us this Christmas-time, isn't it?
Monday, 14 December 2015
DAY 14: SHEPHERDS...AGAIN!
I suppose it isn't a huge surprise that shepherds have featured frequently and strongly in our ADVENTure displays. After all, they are quite central to the narrative - in Luke's account, at any rate!
Tonight's display in Norfolk Avenue showed shepherds gathering around the warm, red glow of a fire. In the skies above the angel was hovering. Marc Smith clearly has a gift in creating shepherds - one of them was built on a mannequin, but the other was perfectly formed without so much as a frame (built, I believe, around a chair!).
So perhaps I'm running out of things to say about shepherds and sheep. But Nick Baines, Bishop of Leeds (and formerly of Croydon) has written a wonderful piece in the latest edition of Radio Times, in which he draw attention to the fact that it was groups of people who first came to see Jesus - and presumably, that meant that they could talk about it all when they went away. So, he says, shepherds had an encounter on the hills with choirs of angels - "no-one-on-one experience" for them, observes Bishop Nick. His point is that shared experience is always more powerful than private browsing.
I think that is the point of what we are doing in ADVENTure - it is about shared experience. We Christians have good news to tell. We could keep it behind the closed doors of our garages, along with all the other stuff we keep there. But we've chosen to throw open our doors and share the good news with friends, neighbours and local residents. The shepherds couldn't keep the good news to themselves - they went about sharing it. Neither can we keep it to ourselves - the good news of Emmanuel, God with Us, is something that deserves a proper airing!
Tonight's display in Norfolk Avenue showed shepherds gathering around the warm, red glow of a fire. In the skies above the angel was hovering. Marc Smith clearly has a gift in creating shepherds - one of them was built on a mannequin, but the other was perfectly formed without so much as a frame (built, I believe, around a chair!).
So perhaps I'm running out of things to say about shepherds and sheep. But Nick Baines, Bishop of Leeds (and formerly of Croydon) has written a wonderful piece in the latest edition of Radio Times, in which he draw attention to the fact that it was groups of people who first came to see Jesus - and presumably, that meant that they could talk about it all when they went away. So, he says, shepherds had an encounter on the hills with choirs of angels - "no-one-on-one experience" for them, observes Bishop Nick. His point is that shared experience is always more powerful than private browsing.
I think that is the point of what we are doing in ADVENTure - it is about shared experience. We Christians have good news to tell. We could keep it behind the closed doors of our garages, along with all the other stuff we keep there. But we've chosen to throw open our doors and share the good news with friends, neighbours and local residents. The shepherds couldn't keep the good news to themselves - they went about sharing it. Neither can we keep it to ourselves - the good news of Emmanuel, God with Us, is something that deserves a proper airing!
Sunday, 13 December 2015
DAY 13 - ONCE IN ROYAL DAVID'S CITY
At All Saints' Rectory this evening, we were treated to a profoundly atmospheric display of a cluster of small houses surrounded by hills, overlooked by a bright star and attended by angels.
At first sight, I wondered whether this was the "little town of Bethlehem" - and in a way, it was. But we were reminded, too, that this was the place of King David's lineage - hence, the carol: Once in Royal David's City.
It is worth doing a bit of homework tonight, and taking a look at the genealogy set out in the first chapter of Matthew's gospel. You'll find some interesting features there: three groups of fourteen, at the end of each of which a significant event took place; mention of four women (Tamar, Rahab, Ruth and Bathsheba - each quite extraordinary in their own way!); and an ancestry which begins with Abraham and traces forward to Jesus. Contrast this with the genealogy in Luke which traces Jesus' ancestry beginning with Joseph, working back as far as Adam and emphasising Christ's kingly descent!
Bethlehem was, of course, the place of King David's roots. For a people who yearned for a return from exile, this town was always going to be of momentous significance. Here, in Bethlehem, where David had been called to be king in the first place, was born the great successor to King David, born to be king in the very same place!
Like so many carols, this one - written by Mrs Cecil Alexander in the late 1840s - has strongly christianised the biblical narrative. There are some points where you pause, however, and wonder whether the reality was quite as she wrote it. For example, she writes: "And through all his wondrous childhood, He would honour and obey" - yet we can recall of one occasion when, far from doing his parents' bidding, he wandered away from his parents and was found in the temple teaching the leaders! And whilst it is surely commendable that "Christian children all must be, mild, obedient, good as He", we should also remember that Jesus was not always meek and mild - as the money changers in the temple could surely testify!
Yes, we need child-like faith to trust in Jesus Christ - of course we do! But let us also remember that Jesus the King is the all-powerful Son of Almighty God and, in the closing word of this song, "He leads His children on, to the place where He is gone".
At first sight, I wondered whether this was the "little town of Bethlehem" - and in a way, it was. But we were reminded, too, that this was the place of King David's lineage - hence, the carol: Once in Royal David's City.
It is worth doing a bit of homework tonight, and taking a look at the genealogy set out in the first chapter of Matthew's gospel. You'll find some interesting features there: three groups of fourteen, at the end of each of which a significant event took place; mention of four women (Tamar, Rahab, Ruth and Bathsheba - each quite extraordinary in their own way!); and an ancestry which begins with Abraham and traces forward to Jesus. Contrast this with the genealogy in Luke which traces Jesus' ancestry beginning with Joseph, working back as far as Adam and emphasising Christ's kingly descent!
Bethlehem was, of course, the place of King David's roots. For a people who yearned for a return from exile, this town was always going to be of momentous significance. Here, in Bethlehem, where David had been called to be king in the first place, was born the great successor to King David, born to be king in the very same place!
Like so many carols, this one - written by Mrs Cecil Alexander in the late 1840s - has strongly christianised the biblical narrative. There are some points where you pause, however, and wonder whether the reality was quite as she wrote it. For example, she writes: "And through all his wondrous childhood, He would honour and obey" - yet we can recall of one occasion when, far from doing his parents' bidding, he wandered away from his parents and was found in the temple teaching the leaders! And whilst it is surely commendable that "Christian children all must be, mild, obedient, good as He", we should also remember that Jesus was not always meek and mild - as the money changers in the temple could surely testify!
Yes, we need child-like faith to trust in Jesus Christ - of course we do! But let us also remember that Jesus the King is the all-powerful Son of Almighty God and, in the closing word of this song, "He leads His children on, to the place where He is gone".
DAY 12 - HOLLY AND IVY
Tonight's display in Wyn Collis' garage presented us with another beautiful nativity scene, but to get there we walked up a drive bedecked with holly and ivy, reminding us of the traditional folk carol that dates back to the early 1800s.
We are very familiar with holly and ivy, which have been used for Christmas decorations since the mid-fifteenth century. Henry VIII wrote a love song "Green growth the holly" which speaks of the green hue of holly and ivy which stays even in the face of fierce winter chills. And there is certainly something enduring about these plants.
Whilst this song may well have pagan origins, there is a pronounced Christian emphasis in the words we sing. One version contains the words: "Holly beareth berries, berries red enough" which some have linked to the blood of Jesus Christ shed on the cross. Whether this was ever the intended meaning is hard to tell - what is perhaps more clear is that "the running of the deer" is a reference to the custom of hunting in the forest after the long night of the Winter Solstice. Another modern verse refers to "the playing of the merry organ" which seems like another rather ham-fisted modernisation which neither rhymes not fits the rhythm!
A slightly strange song, then, but a wonderfully festive one reminding us of the joy of the season. And the images conjured up by the song undoubtedly have resonance as we reflect on the journey that Jesus Christ took while dwelling among us. So, for example, the plant has sharp points which may remind us of the crown of thorns; bitter bark may speak of Christ's death; red berries remind us of Christ's blood; and the white flower may speak to us of his resurrection. Indeed, the more you think about it, the more descriptive and significant it may be!
We are very familiar with holly and ivy, which have been used for Christmas decorations since the mid-fifteenth century. Henry VIII wrote a love song "Green growth the holly" which speaks of the green hue of holly and ivy which stays even in the face of fierce winter chills. And there is certainly something enduring about these plants.
Whilst this song may well have pagan origins, there is a pronounced Christian emphasis in the words we sing. One version contains the words: "Holly beareth berries, berries red enough" which some have linked to the blood of Jesus Christ shed on the cross. Whether this was ever the intended meaning is hard to tell - what is perhaps more clear is that "the running of the deer" is a reference to the custom of hunting in the forest after the long night of the Winter Solstice. Another modern verse refers to "the playing of the merry organ" which seems like another rather ham-fisted modernisation which neither rhymes not fits the rhythm!
A slightly strange song, then, but a wonderfully festive one reminding us of the joy of the season. And the images conjured up by the song undoubtedly have resonance as we reflect on the journey that Jesus Christ took while dwelling among us. So, for example, the plant has sharp points which may remind us of the crown of thorns; bitter bark may speak of Christ's death; red berries remind us of Christ's blood; and the white flower may speak to us of his resurrection. Indeed, the more you think about it, the more descriptive and significant it may be!
Friday, 11 December 2015
DAY 11 - SHEPHERDS, WATCHING
Yet more sheep today - but this time they had crossed into Beechwood and miraculously expanded their numbers! Not only that, but this time they were joined by a real live local shepherd dog who quietly crept into the display and lay among them - almost as if to keep order and prevent them from running astray.
Today's carol was: "While shepherds watch their flocks by night". King David, of course, had been a shepherd out in the fields near Bethlehem - possibly in these self-same fields - when he was first called to be King. But on the night of Jesus' birth, shepherds were told not to become kings, but to go and be the first to welcome the Christ-child.
So they went "with haste" to see what God was showing them, and were so amazed they couldn't help going around the town and telling everyone about the good news of the birth of Messiah.
There is a sense of that "bursting to tell out good news" that has driven us to create these lovely displays throughout Sanderstead this year. We are doing it to tell out the good news and to proclaim the real truth about Christmas.
"And glory shone around..." is an amazing statement - almost as if heaven had opened up to reveal the glory of God, and these shepherds were being given a small preview of the awe and majesty of God. What an amazing sight that must have been!
As we journey through Advent, this season of preparation and penitence, let us pray that God will reveal Himself in all His glory. Let God amaze you with His glory! And create time and space to allow yourself to pour out your treasures in response to His awe and majesty this Advent-time!
Today's carol was: "While shepherds watch their flocks by night". King David, of course, had been a shepherd out in the fields near Bethlehem - possibly in these self-same fields - when he was first called to be King. But on the night of Jesus' birth, shepherds were told not to become kings, but to go and be the first to welcome the Christ-child.
So they went "with haste" to see what God was showing them, and were so amazed they couldn't help going around the town and telling everyone about the good news of the birth of Messiah.
There is a sense of that "bursting to tell out good news" that has driven us to create these lovely displays throughout Sanderstead this year. We are doing it to tell out the good news and to proclaim the real truth about Christmas.
"And glory shone around..." is an amazing statement - almost as if heaven had opened up to reveal the glory of God, and these shepherds were being given a small preview of the awe and majesty of God. What an amazing sight that must have been!
As we journey through Advent, this season of preparation and penitence, let us pray that God will reveal Himself in all His glory. Let God amaze you with His glory! And create time and space to allow yourself to pour out your treasures in response to His awe and majesty this Advent-time!
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