|
I
write this immediately after the train crash near Reading (there always
seems to be a disaster of some sort shortly before Christmas) and the
beginning of the attack on Falluja in Iraq. This year has been another
troubled year with atrocities carried out in various parts of the world not
least in Iraq, Israel and Russia..
It
is against this turbulent background that Christians (themselves under
threat either by indifference in the Western world or by actual hostility in
the Muslim world) celebrate Advent and Christmas. Advent when we look
forward to the coming of Jesus. Christmas when we celebrate the fact that
God intervened in human history ‘when Julius Caesar was emperor of
Tiberius’.
God
came in His Son Jesus to reveal the nature and extent of His love for the
human race. The world in no longer a mindless and meaningless entity but the
world is a creation of a loving God who calls us to cooperate with Him ‘in
drawing all things to Himself’. I am reminded of some words quoted by Sir
David Steel
‘My
own Christianity is encapsulated in my father’s address as Moderator in 1974
to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland “The Church and Christians
are given too much to easy moralising and too little to the task of
converting individuals and reforming society….until the Church takes the
ethic of the New Testament Communism of the early Christians, according to
which possessions and goods are given to all people as every person has
need, the Church itself will not be taken seriously by the world.’
As
we fill our lives and those we love with more possessions at Christmas time
do these words of 1974 still have any relevance? Is not much of the
underlying tensions within our society and the world in general fuelled by
the unevenness of wealth distribution between the rich and the poor?
Certainly
some of these issues were addressed in ‘Talking
Points’. We do well to remind ourselves of this dimension to our
celebrations because it would please the heart of God as spoken in the
bidding prayer for 9 lessons and carols
‘And
because this of all things would rejoice his heart, let us at this time
remember in his name the poor and the helpless, the cold, the hungry and the
oppressed; the sick and those who mourn; the lonely and the unloved; the
aged and the little (unwanted) children.’
Advent
Bible Studies - Prayers
in the New Testament
Details of these are in
the magazine and on the pew sheets. Please just come and bring a bible.
There will be a study, a break, and then discussion. From 8-00 pm until
9-30 pm at the Vicarage on 1st, 6th, 15th,
& 20th December.
Parish Carol Singing
Come
and Sing and Raise money for Crisis, Wednesday 22nd
December 7-00 pm
Wimbledon
Chase Station
We
shall be singing around the parish on this date. You can see which area of
the parish we are likely to cover. Not enough people came last year so I
hope you will join us this year. We have been invited once again to John
and Megan’s house in
Sheridan Road for some seasonable refreshments at the end of our singing.
Jan
joins with me in wishing all our readers a joyful and peaceful Christmas
Your priest and friend
Tom
Leary
Top of page |
