THIRD SUNDAY IN ADVENT - JOY

We had another great service this morning at Church today on the Third Sunday in Advent when the Candle of Joy was lit by a young couple who have recently become members of our Church.  They have a little girl, who is about 18 months old and Ross, the father said, before lighting the candle : “More than just a baby - as many in the fellowship will be able to testify, a baby brings change.  Finding joy in the changes of life is sometimes easy and sometimes challenging.  As we look to Christmas, we remember the JOY that Jesus brought into the world.”

Changes happen all through our lives, and I guess the way to stay content is to look for the JOY that each experience brings to us.  For those of us who are Christians, in this period of Advent we remember various things, as each candle is lit, and although today’s candle reminds us of JOY, not everything in our life brings that, but at least if we have the certainty of our faith in Jesus, then it helps us through difficult times as we look for that JOY.

Joy for me today was found when I drew back the curtains and saw the beautiful sunrise - something I haven’t seen for some time - and as I looked out of the window, I was filled with JOY and wondered what this new day would bring.

My joy quickly turned to dismay, when I went downstairs, opened the fridge and realised that the chicken breasts that I was about to marinate for our evening meal had “gone off”.  But then I thought that if that was the worst that happened today then it could quickly be put right - by taking them back to the shop and getting some more.  For some people, the experiences they go through can’t just be put right by doing that - and those are the times that we need to get alongside them and help in any way we can - which is one of the reasons many of us volunteer at the Community Fridge each week - to get alongside those going through difficult times and to help in any way we can.

Clive, our speaker this morning, preached an excellent sermon.  He spoke about how Christmas is sanitised and made out to be all warm and cosy and wonderful, whereas the reality was very different.  The reality of that first Christmas was that it was dirty, smelly and cold, in a stable, with animal excrement that was bacteria-ridden all around, with no food or water.  It was very unsafe for childbirth, and if we had to go through what Mary and Joseph had to endure, then we would be very unhappy.  Clive showed us some pictures and as he said, many Christmas cards depict the stable as something quite different to how it actually was - but I guess if it was depicted any other way, the cards wouldn’t sell!  

As Christians we believe that Jesus was the light and that light was Immanuel - God with us - which is what we sing and speak about each Christmas and throughout the year.  At the end of the service we shared in Communion - to remember the reason that Jesus came into the world - to seek and to save those who were lost - and as we remembered his life, death and resurrection, we were thankful.  

Many people will go to church, perhaps for their “once a year” visit at this time of year, and that is fine;  if they come to our Church, they will be welcomed.  However, we all know that there are conflicts around the world and there will be countless thousands who are homeless and living in refugee camps so our Christmas project is to help those in Burundi, in East Africa, a very poor country where 60% of young children are chronically malnourished, which has a lifetime impact for them, so we are seeking to raise £5,000 to help with a Tear Fund project.

Of course, there were the usual Christmas jumpers worn today, so two of our young boys were happy to pose for me - sadly Mr. HCB and I don’t possess one - and even if we bought one now, at our age, we probably wouldn’t get full use out of it!  

Have a great week and be blessed.  M xx  

P.S.  If you are wondering why the organ is in my collage, we rarely use the organ now, which is sad, but I had noticed that the top was very dusty, so found a duster and made sure it looked much cleaner - my nod to DG-ing, as I don't normally do housework on a Sunday.  I then sat on the organ stool to dust all round and thought that it would make a good photograph!  Wish I could have played it, but although I can type very fast - still - I don't profess to be an organist!