Now let your servant depart in peace" - to what and why?

Now let your servant depart in peace" - to what and why?

Simeon - Old, pious and just was drawn
to wait for Israel's consolation
as a watchman awaits the dawn.

Anna, she offered her widow's mite
praying and fasting in adoration
for many a day and many a night

Now I uncertain, frail and alone
Long to remember his favour and grace
As I humbly kneel before his throne.

So God calls me to put my dreams in his hands
releasing the grip that once held them
forever surrendering my plans

And as I lay them down at his feet
I turn not knowing
How, when I may be complete

So as I leave this place
and pray like Anna in hopeful expectation
that I this Advent may see your face.

Epiphany

When Jesus was born in the village of Bethlehem in Judea, Herod was king. During this time some wise men from the east came to Jerusalem  and said, “Where is the child born to be king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.” When King Herod heard about this, he was worried, and so was everyone else in Jerusalem. Herod brought together the chief priests and the teachers of the Law of Moses and asked them, “Where will the Messiah be born?”They told him, “He will be born in Bethlehem, just as the prophet wrote” Matthew 2:1-5

Readings:

Isaiah 60:1-11 

Matthew 2:1-9

Reflection

“Come and worship, come and worship, worship Christ, the newborn King.” Those words, written in the early nineteenth century, capture what these wise men, these magi from the east, were doing two thousand years ago -as recorded in the Matthew text. They came to worship this newborn King. This is what God’s people have been doing ever since— worshipping at the feet of the King of kings, the Lord  of lords.

During Advent we have been encouraged to take a journey, not unlike the magi, moving towards Jesus, at the same time he has been coming to us. We have pondered the history, the mysteries of the incarnation and mind-boggling ideas of Jesus leaving heaven to become a tiny vulnerable baby. Music and poetry give us insights into all of this. We have travelled (in our minds at least) and worshipped, and now all we can offer are our own treasures. Our own thoughts, memories and lives, the Shepherds offered a “ the lamb”,  the magi “the gifts” and us....... What do we offer?

Prayer 

Lord, be like treasure to me this Christmas.
Let me be willing to listen when I'm told of your glory.
Take away my fear and bring me peace.
Whatever else I may receive let me be glad to accept you into my life and to share you with those around me.

Let the greatest gift of all simply be you. Amen.

Boxing Day

When the council members heard Stephen’s speech, they were angry and furious.  But Stephen was filled with the Holy Spirit. He looked toward heaven, where he saw our glorious God and Jesus standing at his right side. Then Stephen said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right side of God!” The council members shouted and covered their ears. At once they all attacked Stephen  and dragged him out of the city. Then they started throwing stones at him. The men who had brought charges against him put their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. As Stephen was being stoned to death, he called out, “Lord Jesus, please welcome me!” He knelt down and shouted, “Lord, don’t blame them for what they have done.” Then he died.

Readings:

Psalm 40

Acts 7:51, 54-60
Revelation 21:1-6

Reflection

It seems quite strange that the church marks the feast of St Stephen, the first Christian martyr, immediately after, the joy of Christmas day,  yet perhaps it does make sense in a broader sense. Alongside joy is often suffering and, for many, Christmas and the closing of a year marks a time of reflection and remembrance. Celebration or laments may exist alongside each other as both are essential and inevitable parts of our lives. As we advance towards Candlemas and The Presentation of Christ in the Temple. Today may be the end of Christmas for the shops and the start of the sale of Christmas goods but is something altogether different for us. For us, it is just the beginning.
Let us not be “stiff necked people” but let us, amidst the torn wrapping paper, left over mince pies and unwanted gifts remember it is the purposes and will of God that matter. 

Prayer

 

Comforting and restoring God help me again to sing your praise.

Help me to learn from past, embrace the present and hope in the future. Amen

Christmas Day - God with Us

Christ is exactly like God, who cannot be seen. He is the first-born Son, superior to all creation. Everything was created by him, everything in heaven and on earth, everything seen and unseen, including all forces and powers, and all rulers and authorities. All things were created  by  God’s Son, and everything was made  for him.  God’s Son was before all else, and by him everything is held together. He is the head of his body, which is the church. He is the very beginning, the first to be raised  from death, so that he would be above all others. God himself was pleased to live fully in his Son.  And God was pleased for him to make peace by sacrificing his blood on the cross, so that all beings in heaven and on earth would be brought back to God.  Colossians 1:15-20

Readings:

Isaiah 9:2,6-7, 

John 1:1-5

Colossians 1:15-20

Reflection

“Joy to the World” is one of my favourite songs to sing during Christmas, and really all year long, though we often avoid it. The opening lines reveal an incredible, almost

inconceivable truth – “The Lord is come, let earth receive her King.” We have the
wonderful advantage of looking back on that event, whereas our ancestors in the faith longed for that event to take place—they too had their advent, of waiting, longing and anticipating. Who would have thought that the promise of a Messiah would be fulfilled by God humbly descending to us—to you.......you? But this is exactly what God’s plan was from the beginning. So what, dear friend are you waiting and longing for—may you this day know the delight and joy of the Lord.

Today, amidst it all, we pause to celebrate the day when the Word of God became flesh, when light stepped into darkness, and when true joy entered into the world. Joy to the world, the Lord is Come!

Prayer

We shout and sing for you have come to us
Angels dance as creation bows to the Lord of all.
God bring us Christ’s peace
Christ’s light
Christ’s love

Amen

Christmas Eve

Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;  rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.  And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!  Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name,  that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,  and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:6-11

Readings:

Luke 2:1-7,
Philippians 2:6-11,
Titus 3:4-8

Reflection 

Have you ever given up anything? I am sure we have given up chocolate or cake at some time or another. But have you ever really laid down something truly sacrificially?

One of the most profound aspects of Christmas to me is the fact Jesus gave up heaven to come to earth. We all have some picture of what heaven will be like and it usually centres on how life would be, if everything were perfect. Perfect relationships and perfect health. Whatever our thoughts of heaven, I am convinced it will be better than we can think possibly imagine, and Jesus gave it all up to come ,dwell and die among us. He willingly left heaven with all of its perfection and took on flesh with all of its limitations, for us here on earth. Because of that willingness of Christ, we come and worship our Lord, we come and kneel in homage.  May we join with all of heaven in rejoicing over the One who took on flesh and dwelt among us. As the song proclaims, “O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord!”

Prayer 

Lord Jesus light of the world
Born in David’s city of Bethlehem
Born in a stable that we may have a mansion
Born like David to be a King that we may be heirs
Be born in our hearts
Be King of our lives today.
Amen