Zetland Park Methodist Church Pastoral Letters
29th November 2009
I've noticed something which has been missing for a few years ……..
There's been a 'sea change' it would appear in someone's thinking, or was it public pressure, or a realisation that 'political correctness' had gone a rye?
Had a Christian 'lobby' been successful and brought folk back to 'their senses', or was it something else?
A public display in a large city; a shop window in a large commercial centre each made reference to "CHRISTMAS".
I for one am absolutely delighted that 'the season celebrating the coming of God among us' is back in the public eye……. the TRUE reason for the season.
Our own community has enlisted 'Seasons greetings' which really is not as bland as some folk make it out to be. We are to celebrate a 'season', and since that 'season' is as important to us as Christians, should we not be LEADING that 'celebration'? In other words, let us take EVERY opportunity to make Jesus known.
We begin this
week-end, not with a massive shopping spree, but with the knowledge that the
'time of preparation' is upon us: ADVENT.
So what is this 'preparation' to
consist of?
There is a 'journey' to be undertaken, not like the one for Lent, but a 'journey through the historical pages of Scripture' where our worship should be reflecting the working out of God's promises to His people: made long, long ago, but revealed through Christ and remembered in bread and wine.
'CRADLE, CROSS and
CROWN'
These are the words to remember for they are inter-twined in the story and
through our lives, for each reacts to the other, and each has impacted, in some
way, on our lives.
It reveals a story of HOPE as the birth of every new child gives: it unmasks a tragedy leading to a CROSS even before the birth event; it proclaims 'the coming of God's Kingdom' and the CROWN, initially of thorns, which will be placed on Jesus' head.
As we travel to Bethlehem, there is much more
underlying the story …. the inn; the shepherds; the foreign visitors; the
disturbed ruler and the excited young couple, all make their mark, but there is
more …………….. Let's open the Book and marvel
again at God's generosity and willingness to meet His people face to face,
wherever that might lead.
'In the beginning was the Word
………….'