I know there is a plethora of information, reflections, services etc online today either here on the blog or also on ghcp church, do dip into what you fancy as much or as little as may be convenient.
On the blog we have:-
The Advent calendar "through the window" at any time of day
A Reflection with carols
Services for Christmas Eve and a reflection for Christmas Day - At the crib
Midnight readings in Welsh and English and a Blessing in a candlelit church porch
There are also, on ghcp.church crib services, an online Midnight Mass and other things which might just tickle your fancy!
+ In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
Croeso! Welcome to our reflection today.
Prayer
In hope, in love, in anxiety, and in peace
We come to you here and now
In trust, in faith, in bewilderment and in waiting
We are together now and we stay together.
In word, in music, in disappointment and in knowing
We share a common life together now and always.
God of stories stay with us as the shadows develop and deepen throughout this day
as door are kept shut and lights blaze all day.
As our neighbourhoods are quietened and traffic lessened
In the wind and rain
In frost and sun
In the sand and stones,
the trees and fields
In the noises of countryside, home and birdsong,
Be with with us as we worship you on this Christmas Eve. Amen
Prayer
On this special day we bring before you our worries and concerns,
The pain of our words at times,
The pain of our silence at times,
The pain of putting our left foot in it when we meant not too
The pain of our lack of care for our community and world
The putting our needs first before those of others.
Forgive us and hold us,
Cherish us, and calm us
Let us be ourselves, but open us, to be aware and sensitive
remind us of who we are in you.
Forgiven and loved. Amen
Reading
Luke 2:1-14NRSV 2 In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 All went to their own towns to be registered. 4 Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. 5 He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. 8 In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: 11 to you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is the Messiah,[a] the Lord. 12 This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host,[b] praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favours!”
Homily
Who could ever have guessed this time last year what a strange happening for the festival of Christmas we would have in 2020? Who would have known about the worries, anxieties, fears of everything around us and even in our own homes? We could never have guessed churches would be again shut, children not able to be with Father Christmas and so many people have died.
Christmas stripped back, isn’t a glistening, glitzy event. It isn’t just a nice warm feeling, but an opening our eyes to what went on about 2000 years ago, maybe at this time of the year, but more likely March or even September. Christmas is hardship for so many, homelessness, loneliness, abuse, refugee and fear for so many, and maybe in one sense for us all this year. We can’t mix, socialise, we are unable to buy what we might have wanted ordinarily, we cannot be with family and loved ones for long and maybe not at all. Just a dictated one day and even that we are warned we shouldn’t really consider doing.
St Luke tells the story well, starting by telling us this is when it happened, when Quirinius was governor of Syria. Telling us where it happened in Bethlehem, the city of David and who was there and why, Mary and Joseph, because Joseph was of the house and family of David. There isn’t much to read about Jesus’ birth – just that he was born and wrapped in swaddling bands and later we learn Jesus was laid in a manger as there was no room in the inn.
Now I know this was long ago, but would you have gone off travelling many miles without some preparations if your beloved was about to give birth? Would you not have tried to be there early enough to get a bed or even two? Taken the necessaries should the baby arrive unexpectedly? But, like in the pandemic we are journeying through, things were different, panicky perhaps and well made plans just didn’t happen. We couldn’t buy flour, hand sanitiser or pasta, along with other basics only a few months ago and again supermarkets are limiting supplies again. People in the greatest needs were left lonely, without food and not knowing how to get essentials or help even. I certainly had many cries for help in this area. Mary and Joseph were amongst strangers, cast out in a shed, no doubt frightened, worried hungry, dirty and exhausted. This was God’s revelation of his Love to the world forced into darkness, the cold and without. We have a romanticised view of the Nativity sweet smelling, clean and cosy, fitting in with our lives and routines, kindly innkeeper, sweet smelling animals to keep all warm, but, strangers welcomed into the disarray and chaos of a strange land as migrants.
Nothing about the Pandemic has been straight forward at all, especially now as we try to experience our Christmases in our own way – the same food, routines, even more decoration and lights to cheer ourselves up. We "do" Christmas in our way and whatever happens we shall still do it that way, I have heard repeatedly this year! The news that Covid, particularly the new variant, is in our communities, churches and even homes, hits hard and countless households have not been able to meet up and be together. Christmas has been reduced, smashed open and even our own celebrations in church have been different to put it mildly!
Mary and Joseph were equally in a situation which must have grated against the more normal of a birth in that day and age. We of course don’t know what happened and only have the varying accounts of the Gospels to lean on, but do have the knowledge that in difficult circumstances, not in a nice tidy manner God has entered our humanity in the form of a helpless and vulnerable infant. God’s entry into His own world and amongst his own people was one where he wasn’t welcomed, was a stranger, an outsider, a political refugee, homeless and comfortless. God in Christ was turned against by his own people and we are told his first visitors were humble shepherds from the fields around Bethlehem.
Maybe we have more in common with the story of the Nativity this year than we have experienced previously, as we too are vulnerable in many ways and thus can re-read the story with eyes opened in a new ways, feel the isolation, associated with God as his Son was seemingly rejected by those whom He loved. Let us reach out in this stripped back and unglitzy celebration of Christmas in our honesty, love and integrity, and indeed let Christ enter into us, into our homes and societies. What a difference there would be then for us all! Nadolig Llawen pawb! Happy Christmas to you all!
Loving Jesus,
you were born in a stable, but worshipped by the angels.
Be with all who are lonely, fearful and frightened this day,
and with all who feel distant and removed from celebrations of Christmas because of lockdown and Covid.
Be for us a living hope that lightens their hearts as well as our own hearts.
Amen.
The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you throughout Christmas Season and for evermore.
