Sunday 20th December 2009

Please enjoy the singing group singing a clip from, "A ray of hope." May this Christmas you discover everything you need in Jesus.

Christmas 2009

We live in a world in which many feel powerless and forgotten. The story of Jesus brings great strength and comfort to those who feel like this. He was not born in a palace but a stable. He didn't grow up among kings and princes but as a refugee in Egypt. He didn't walk the corridors of power but the road to the cross. He wasn't wealthy or of high .social status; instead He mixed with tax collectors and prostitutes. This Jesus didn't just get alongside the powerless: He actually knew what it was to be marginalized by society.
Jesus' own ministry was a demonstration of servanthood. The Lord of all creation came to earth in 'the very nature of a servant- His life was lived in complete obedience to the will of His Father This can speak poignantly to those who feel powerless, reassuring "them that whatever their circumstances Jesus, the bringer of good news to the poor, is with them just where they are. We, His followers are called to walk the same road. “Your attitude should be the same as Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 2:5)

Hail, the heaven-born Prince of Peace!
Hail, the Sun of righteousness!
Light and life to all he brings,
Risen with healing in his wings.
Mild he lays his glory by,
Born that man no more may die,
Born to raise the sons of earth,
Born to give them second birth:

As we celebrate Christmas let us do so in the knowledge that the Christ of Christmas is available to us all through the Holy Spirit. Let us each one bow before him in our hearts and resolve to live our lives reflecting him in everything we do.

Sunday 6th December 2009 - 2nd Sunday in advent

If looking after us is such a hard job, why do you think God bothers with us?
God loves us and he desperately wants to be our friend.
He wants to help us. He wants us to look to him for help...to guide us though this life. The Bible puts it like this: John 8:12 “When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."
Think about what it means?
It kind of means that life is a little bit like trying to find your way on a dark night… You’ll struggle if you don’t have any light to see where you are going.
In John 8 we are told that Jesus is like a light. He will help us to find the path in the darkness.
Maybe you feel lost in the dark, struggling to find your way in life, wondering what life is about, if that is you then all I want to say to you, is that God wants to show you the way, he wants you to get to know him.
It is advent we are entering the time of the year when we remember Jesus coming into the world as a baby. We sing the carols, we read the Christmas story, we over indulge in food. We buy presents.
Isaiah 9:2, “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.”
Isaiah 9: 6-7, “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. “
I wonder what you need Jesus to be for you today, a wonderful counselor, might God, everlasting Father, prince of peace. Lord of your life.

Christmas was the beginning, Easter the culmination of Jesus’ life on earth, the resurrection, totally amazing. Each one of us can begin again allow the light of the world to infiltrate every bit of our lives, If we want him to.