kneel in wonder at heaven touching earth» Christmas

Make your home among us

Paul Sibley — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 09:00:15 +0000

Today is the feast of The Presentation of Christ in the Temple, often known by the Church as Candlemas. The story of Christ being presented in the Temple can be found in Luke 2:22-40. In days of yore Christians used to bless a year’s supply of candles at Candlemas, which is, I guess, where the name comes from.

Candlemas marks the end of the Christmas season, and the beginning of the build-up to Good Friday and Easter. Many Churches will be dismantling their Christmas cribs in the next day or so, and storing the figures away for another year. I always feel a little sad to see the crib go; but it would soon lose its appeal if left up all year.

The phrase, “make your home among us”, I chose from today’s Collect, was chosen because of the hope it offers us. The hope for a better world. I’m sure the world would be a better place if everyone lived as though Jesus had made his home among us; especially if they also believed that he was God with us in human form. Now I know you and I probably believe those to be so, but there are millions around the world who don’t.

The hope is a world without war, … without crime, … without poverty, … without suffering: a world where peace and joy abound, … where the light of our Lord Jesus Christ reigns supreme: a world where we are made pure and holy.

An impossible dream? Maybe. Maybe if it were to ever happen we Christians would be too busy arguing the detail for the utopia to last. But there’s no harm in dreaming, in hoping, for that perfect world. Is there?

Lord Jesus Christ,
light of the nations and glory of Israel:
make your home among us,
and present us pure and holy
to your heavenly Father,
your God, and our God. Amen.

Additional Collect for The Presentation of Christ in the Temple
is Copyright © The Archbishops Council

Find him in those in need

Paul Sibley — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 09:00:47 +0000

The picture with this post is a part of one of my favourite windows at Godmanchester Church. We are fortunate enough to have some really good Victorian stained glass in the church. This particular one is above the St Ann altar, which we tend to use for most of the midweek Communion services, so it’s a window I see quite a lot.

When I read words such as I’ve picked out of the Collect for today, the Second Sunday of Christmas, “find him in those in need”, I’m reminded of that window, and the Bible passage it depicts. You can read the full passage from Matthew’s Gospel here: Matthew 25:31-45, but here are a couple of verses to serve as a reminder:

I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.

Matthew 25:35-36

We should be caring for those in need simply because they are in need and we’re in a position to help. But we, as Christians, have an even greater incentive than that. We know that when we feed the hungry; give the thirsty a drink; welcome the stranger; clothe the naked; care for the sick; or help anyone in need, no matter who they are; we know that we’re helping more than them, we’re helping Christ himself.

“Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.”

Matthew 25:40

Now, if only I could always remember that when I see the person in need, rather than thinking about what I could have done afterwards. I want to do the right thing all the time, not just when my awful memory works at the right time.

It’s good for me to be reminded of these things, especially in the Christmas Season. When those in need will have felt their need even more than normal, and those with an excess will have been celebrating it even more than normal.

God our Father,
in love you sent your Son
that the world may have life:
lead us to seek him among the outcast
and to find him in those in need,
for Jesus Christ’s sake.

Additional Collect for The Second Sunday of Christmas
is Copyright © The Archbishops Council

Kneel in wonder at heaven touching earth

Paul Sibley — Sun, 25 Dec 2011 09:00:10 +0000

Kneel in wonder at heaven touching earth. These are the words that started this blog four years ago. They come from our Collect for this most wonderful of days, Christmas Day.

Heaven touches earth at the birth of the Christ-child, whenever we celebrate it, and however we celebrate it.

Heaven touches earth in dramatic ways. We see it in Isaiah’s vision of light, peace, and liberty to the world that has too long dwelt in darkness, turmoil and bondage (Isaiah 60.18-61.6). We see it in the angel choir, through which we glimpse the joy of heaven overspilling into human time and space (Luke 2.8-18). And we see it later later still, in the star that drew the magi from the East, when the very fabric of the universe proclaims ‘Christ is born’ (Matthew 2:1-6).

But heaven also touches earth in the humble, in the very human. Once the angels have gone, the shepherds are left with something considerably less majestic: a long night-time walk through the back-streets in search of a newborn baby lying in an animal feeding trough, along with a couple of very tired parents. Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6) – yes, maybe, but not only that. Also a child, weak, fragile, and dependent.

Heaven touches earth: in the grand and the majestic, and in the small and humble, they are all God’s grace breaking into the world.

Heaven touches earth when any one of us responds to God’s outstretched hand, and clasps it. Heaven touches earth when any one of us prays, ‘Be near me, Lord Jesus’. So let’s dare to clasp the hand of the tiny child in the manger, and allow him to pull us out of darkness into his marvellous light.

Lord Jesus Christ,
your birth at Bethlehem
draws us to kneel in wonder at heaven touching earth:
accept our heartfelt praise as we worship you,
our Saviour and our eternal God.

Additional Collect for Christmas Day
is Copyright © The Archbishops Council

† † †

May the joy of the angels,
the eagerness of the shepherds,
the perseverance of the wise men,
the obedience of Joseph and Mary,
and the peace of the Christ-child
be ours this Christmas;
and may the blessing of God Almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be among us, and remain with us always.

A Christmas Blessing,
from Common Worship: Times and Seasons
is Copyright © The Archbishops Council

Father Christmas Visits Godmanchester

Paul Sibley — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 09:00:20 +0000

This great little video has been made to go with Shakin’ Stevens’ “Merry Christmas Everyone”. I think it was made by a guy called Steve Bengree — I came across it through Facebook. The 3d models give a real feel of what Godmanchester is like.

A happy and blessed Christmas to all.

God is to be found right before our eyes

Paul Sibley — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 09:00:48 +0000

I had the pleasure of taking Holy Communion to one of the retirement homes in Godmanchester on Wednesday. There were six of the residents at what turned out to be, for me, a very moving service. As it was likely to be the only service some, or even most, of them would get to over Christmas, I made it a Christmas service for them. I also did a short homily, which they appreciated. Here is more or less what I said:

God is to be found right before our eyes
Readings: Isaiah 62:6-12 & Luke 2:8-20

An appealing freshness
There’s always an appealing freshness about the Christmas story. We never tire of hearing how the infant Jesus lay in swaddling clothes in a manger at Bethlehem.

The shepherds guarding their flocks on the nearby hillside were filled with awe as the chorus of angels broke the silence of the night with their joyous song of praise: ‘‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace”.

The great feast of the nativity celebrates the closeness of God to us, born into our ordinary life. It’s a mystery which stretches our minds beyond their limits, moving us towards that horizon where time touches eternity. We’re amazed and surprised that God should come among us in such humble circumstances.

The simplicity of it all challenges us to get rid of falseness and pretence, otherwise we’ll never realise our need for a Saviour, who will open a door and give us a fresh start with glorious possibilities. To make this new beginning we need to rediscover our lost innocence, and acknowledge our dependence on God.

We are not alone in our struggles
Christmas is the promise that we’re not alone in our struggles. Christ didn’t remove himself from the brokenness of our human condition, but experienced our poverty.

From his birth in a stable as one who was homeless, to his death on the cross as a common criminal, Jesus always identified with the spiritually, physically, and materially poor of this world. The child who drew his first breath on a covering of straw in Bethlehem, was the Christ of Calvary who gave his life, so that we might have everlasting happiness.

Many of us are disappointed, because in our search we tend to look for God in the spectacular, but the Christmas story tells us that God is to be found right before our eyes, in the ordinary, in the people and situations we take for granted.

Above all, we can experience his presence in our hearts, providing we make room for him by removing the barriers and obstacles that get in his way. God often visits us, but most of the time we’re not at home.

If the glory of God that comes to us as a child in the manger is not to be lost, we must ask God for the grace to do things his way. By softening our hearts and sharing what we have with the needy, we lessen the gap between what we are, and what we should be.

Forgiveness
Forgiveness is the hallmark of Christmas. As well as expressing sorrow for our sins, we must rid ourselves of bitterness, and open the doors of forgiveness to those with whom we need to be reconciled. This is a time for healing rifts, for mending broken friendships, and for letting bygones be bygones.

Spare a thought for those who’ve been bereaved. The pain of loss always surfaces during this feast of the family.

Whatever we do out of love for God will not be lost, and the joyful peace of Christmas that descends on us, will never be taken away.

Mr Bean — Nativity Scene

Paul Sibley — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 09:00:19 +0000

Here is another Nativity sketch. In this one, Mr Bean recreates the nativity using toys in a shop at Christmas. It comes from Merry Christmas Mr Bean. Rowan Atkinson, as Mr Bean, is guaranteed to raise a smile on my face.

The video I originally linked to has been changed to ‘private’ — hopefully this new one will play for a while.

Who Started This Christmas Stuff?

Paul Sibley — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 09:00:33 +0000

This little story dropped into my inbox recently. I thought it was a good, and timely, reminder of what Christmas is about; something it’s all too easy to lose sight of as we rush headlong into it.

Who Started This Christmas Stuff?

A woman was out Christmas shopping with her two children. After many hours of looking at row after row of toys and everything else imaginable; and after hours of hearing both her children asking for everything they saw on those many shelves, she finally made it to the lift with her two kids.

She was feeling what so many feel during the holiday season time of the year — overwhelming pressure to go to every party, every house-warming, taste all the holiday food and treats, getting that perfect gift for every single person on our shopping list, making sure we don’t forget anyone on our card list, and the pressure of making sure we respond to everyone who sent us a card.

Finally the lift doors opened, and there was already a crowd in it. She pushed her way into the lift and dragged her two children in with her and all the bags of stuff. When the doors closed, she couldn’t take it any more and she stated, “Whoever started this whole Christmas thing should be found, strung up and shot.”

From the back of the lift, everyone heard a quiet, calm voice respond, “Don’t worry, we already crucified Him.”

For the rest of the trip down in the lift, it was so quiet you could have heard a pin drop.

This year, don’t forget to keep “the One who started this whole Christmas thing” in your every thought, deed and words. If we all did it, just think of how different this whole world would be.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life” (John 3:16).

It’s Christmas

Paul Sibley — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 09:00:39 +0000

I thought it was about time I added another joke on here — the last one was quite a while ago. This is one of those clever jokes, which I particularly enjoy. Hope you enjoy it as much as me.

It’s Christmas

The manager of the seaside hotel was delighted. Every year he welcomed the chess tournament and Christmas party for the region. But not only did he make sure the great hall was well arranged for the tournament games, and that the dining room was well decked for the feasting, he paid just as much attention to the wonderfully spacious lobby. There were areas where large and small groups could gather, from decent circles of chairs round coffee tables, to small intimate armchairs in twos and threes. The great central area of the foyer was kept open for larger gatherings.

Warmed by drink, and enthused by the games, the tournament goers made full use of the magnificent lobby. In the central area, around the coffee tables, and in the quiet armchair corners they gathered and reminisced about games they had played and won. Naturally the quality of their own game play grew in the telling. The remarkable skill by which they had outwitted their opponents became more remarkable with each glass of mulled wine. The strength of the opposition that they had nonetheless overcome was, sad to say, somewhat exaggerated. Their pawns had demonstrated the strength of queens.

The manager surveyed this benign yet prideful pandemonium in his lobby, and turning to the receptionist said, “I always feel it’s really Christmas when this conference starts. Nothing says Christmas to me like the sight and sound of chess nuts boasting in an open foyer.”

You sent John the Baptist to prepare the way

Paul Sibley — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 09:00:05 +0000

Today is the Third Sunday of Advent. It’s a day when we, traditionally, think about John the Baptist preparing the way for Jesus’ coming at Christmas — now just two weeks away!

John the Baptist was a bit of a mystery man. He suddenly appeared in the wilderness, and nobody knew where he’d come from. He proclaimed a challenging message, telling people to make a fresh start. “Don’t rely on having been born a Jew,” he said in effect. “Repent” — which means change your attitude; “be baptised” — which means begin your life again as a child in the family of God. Then he warned them about a coming judgement, and told them to make up their minds before it’s too late. Who was he?

In the days when processions travelled at walking pace, a king would send someone running ahead to tell people they were coming. He was called the forerunner. “Get ready,” he’d cry. “The king’s coming, only about an hours travel behind me.” John said he was just a forerunner for Jesus: “Jesus is coming,” he cried out, “I’m just a voice telling you to get ready. And hurry up, there’s not much time left before he comes.” That’s who the mystery man was.

Perhaps we’ve got it all wrong about Christmas. It’s just two week away, and what have we done to get ready? Shopped until we’ve dropped? Bought expensive presents and decorations, and more food and drink than is good for us? And we probably haven’t finished yet!

Of course, if we believe that the Son of God came down to earth at Christmas to give his life to save us, we’ve really got something to celebrate, and giving things to other people is a good way to do it. But with that ought to go the spiritual preparation.

What’s John the Baptist saying to you and I today? “Make a fresh start. Don’t rely on having been born a Christian. Repent, change your attitude. Begin your life again as a child in the family of God. Make up your mind before it’s too late.” That’s how to get ready for Christmas. That’s how John the Baptist is, still today, preparing the way for Jesus to come into our lives afresh at Christmas. Are we listening?

God for whom we watch and wait,
you sent John the Baptist to prepare the way of your Son:
give us courage to speak the truth,
to hunger for justice,
and to suffer for the cause of right,
with Jesus Christ our Lord.

Additional Collect for The Third Sunday of Advent
is Copyright © The Archbishops Council

Bethlehemian Rhapsody

Paul Sibley — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 09:00:22 +0000

This delightful parody written by Mark Bradford and directed by Darla Robinson tells the Christmas story in a new….and UNIQUE….way that will touch the hearts of generations to come. Enjoy!