As we approach the beginning of Christmas week we come to a point in time when we begin to focus more deeply on the true depth of meaning of this lovely season.
Our morning meeting yesterday was led by Don Hall and began with song 56 from the Salvation Army Song Book followed by scripture from Luke 1:26-38. ‘Who is He?‘ is a favourite of many and this led to prayers and a time for the youngsters (Christmas Chess) followed by ‘Mary’s Boy Child‘. ‘Christmas Chess was an illustration, using chess pieces, depicting how the various pieces all conspire to protect the king whereas the birth of Jesus has heralded a situation where Christ (the King) protects a us all.
The Singing Company brought ‘The Camel Song’ and ‘A Starry Night’ before Rod Tranah and daughter sang and played (flute) ‘From the Squalor of a Borrowed Stable‘. More scripture, this time from Luke 1:39-45, introduced a video entitled ‘Mary’s Song.
Trish Hall gave the sermon (No Ordinary Child) and said:
What is today’s date? Has anybody still presents to buy or wrap? What is your focus today? Christmas is about celebrating Jesus’ birthday. We celebrate our own in many different ways but Jesus was no ordinary child and his circumstances were not ordinary either. Far from it!
Let’s look back at Isaiah 7 where his birth was foretold. Every child is a precious gift but this one was even more so. A virgin birth is not the normal method of conception and Joseph was concerned to the extent of contemplating divorce until the angel reassured him. This was no ordinary conception. Can you imagine what coverage it would have got by today’s media? So many circumstances could have been different but this was God’s plan. They were not what we would have expected. Jesus was born with the express purpose of saving us from our sins and changing things for ever. His greatness is based on his nature and we celebrate that God came to us in this way. Many of our Christmas carols remind us of this (examples, ‘Glory to the new born King’, ‘Veiled in flesh the Godhead see’, ‘Hail the incarnate deity’, ‘God with man is now residing’). Ordinary people like you and me were involved in his coming. hos birth is a call to worship not just at Christmas but every day of pour lives.
The Songsters brought the meeting to a close with ‘Emmanuel’.
Trish & Don
Our evening meeting took the form of a united carol service with our Anglican friends and was held at the Emmaus Church Centre where we have been holding our Sunday evening activities since last May. Led by Major Alec Still this followed the more traditional format of ‘Lessons and Carols’ and we began with ‘Once in Royal David’s City‘ (soloist Jessica Boughton).
Jessica
Other carols used (in order) were ‘Child in the Manger‘, ‘O come, O come Emmanuel‘, ‘It came upon the midnight clear‘, ‘O little town of Bethlehem‘, ‘See him lying on a bed of straw‘, ‘While shepherds watched‘, ‘Silent Night‘, ‘Hark the herald angels sing‘ and ‘O come all ye faithful‘.
The readings were taken from Genesis 3:8-12 and 16-19, Genesis 22:15-18, Isaiah 9:2 and 6-7, Isaiah 60:1-6 and 19, Micah 5:2-5, Luke 1:26-38, Luke 2:1-7, Luke 2:8-20, Matthew 2:1-11 and John 1:1-14.
The Band and Songsters each brought musical contributions with ‘Who is he? and ‘One quiet moment’ respectively.
Yet again we have to bring sad news, this time that John Wood, brother of Peter, Pat and Jean passed away on Tuesday at Cardiff University Hospital following a long illness. John was, at one time, a member of our own corps band, playing bass trombone. We extend our sympathy to all the family and assure them of our prayers at this time.
Why not join us for Christmas Day worship at the Emmaus Church Centre, Clover Street, at 10am (Tuesday of course).
Hey-ho, the reindeer are rested and ready to go!!