A bit after the fact but am posting my Christmas sermons here from 2022. Includes, café carols, Candlelit carols, Midnight Mass (Christmas Day I used the chocolate nativity as posted elsewhere!) – just scroll down to find what you want!
Café carols
A few years back I went to a carol service at one of my children’s schools, and it was really lovely, in a wonderful chapel, 9 lessons and carols, cute kids doing the readings…. It was just beautiful. And at the end a lady in front of me turned to her friend, and said ‘I’ve been to so many carol services over the years but that was the nicest carol service I’ve ever been to’
I thought, gosh that’s so lovely, what a nice thing to say.
Then she turned back to the friend and said ‘of course it’s because there was no sermon!’
Well I’m sorry you do get me sharing a few thoughts today but I will be brief!
This is my 4th carol service this week, having not been to any for 3 years thanks to Covid. Last December my son was the first to catch Omicron in our area – a fact that got him thousands of likes on Tik Tok, a small blessing in the circumstances, which meant we all isolated for pretty much the whole of December.
So it is lovely to be able to share with you today.
I think there is something about coming to a carol service that makes us ‘feel Christmassy’, the candles, the carols, the reminder of the Christmas story, the tradition. And I hope you all feel that some of that tonight.
The Christmas story doesn’t change, we hear it year after year and yet if we think about it a little deeper, it’s a pretty strange old story isn’t it?
Mary, a teenager, miraculously pregnant, the angel appearing in light to tell her this gob smacking news.
Then having to trek to a place miles away, and away from family, while massively pregnant, and then giving birth in a place where animals lived – lovely.
And not only that but then lots of strangers turn up having seen more angels in light, insisting on seeing the new baby. And the first lot – the shepherds – well they came straight from the fields, smelly and dirty. Just what you want around a new baby!
And then a bit later some astrologers rock up having followed a bright star in the sky – google sky map would have been easier I am sure.
And finally Mary and Joseph have to escape the evil murderous king Herod.
But you know this scene has struck me: that God actually chose this time and place for Jesus to come to earth. God chose the surprise for Mary, the difficult journey, the giving birth in the hay and straw – the angel did not tell her that in advance did he?? I think I might have had a few more questions for the angel before saying: yes ok, I am your servant Lord…
And the Shepherds, approaching this new baby, this Prince of Peace, King of heaven: grubby and smelly, straight from the fields – and welcomed in because that’s what Jesus does, welcomes us all in, no matter who we are or the baggage we carry.
And then the more educated wise men seeking a fabulous new king, find one in a tiny new baby, because God is revealed to us in all sorts of unexpected places and people.
All of this around a new family.
It’s all a bit messy and unlikely, isn’t it?
I don’t know if anyone else obsessively watches xmas movies? But on that basis, I reckon it would make a pretty good Disney Christmas movie.
But God chose Jesus to come into the mess of our lives too. This picture of the crib scene is exactly what the kingdom of God is like. Everyone and anyone is invited to this, to know Jesus for themselves, to be led by his light and to come and worship at his manger.
I love it when you see kids nativities with random parts like Superman, or a fairy, or first lobster or as in Love Actually, because it makes the scene more inclusive – we all make up this messy scene together.
And there are times and points that remind us of this, the lights in the darkness – here the angels shining in glory, the star, perhaps for us this carol service tonight?
I know, we all know, it has been a dark few years, for many of us it remains so – we have lost loved ones, we are struggling to stay afloat with our bills, perhaps even with our wellbeing. We all have our own stories of the last few years,
and within that sometimes it can be hard to see the moments of light in our lives.
But as we heard in our reading from John, Jesus as the light shines in the darkness and the darkness cannot overcome it.
So I want to remind you all tonight to keep looking for those moments of light to lead you through the darkness.
I want to let you know this church is just like that nativity scene, an unlikely, sometimes messy, hopefully not smelly, community – but we’re here because Jesus has called us here, and I want you to know any one of you are welcome here at any time. That we might be a light giving you hope when you need it.
And I want you to know that that star leading the way to know Jesus is still shining out it’s invitation for you.
Amen
And so we are going to spend a moment to respond to this and you were given a star on the way in.
And I want you to think about someone who really needs some light in their lives now, perhaps facing something tough.
Or it might be you, you might be feeling in darkness. I just want you to write their name or a few words and then during the song we will hang them on our trees here and then pray for them all. Just come forward whenever you are ready…
Prayer
Loving Heavenly Father
We thank you that sent your son Jesus to be light in the darkness for us. We lift up all these named here to you now and we pray that they would know you with them, in comfort, on strength, in courage, in healing, in love, in hope and in whatever they need. Pour out your blessings upon them.
In Jesus name, Amen
Candlelit Carols
A few years back I went to a carol service at one of my children’s schools, and it was really lovely, in a wonderful chapel, 9 lessons and carols, cute kids doing the readings…. It was just beautiful. And at the end a lady in front of me turned to her friend, and said ‘I’ve been to so many carol services over the years but that was the nicest carol service I’ve ever been to’
I thought, gosh that’s so lovely, what a nice thing to say.
Then she turned back to the friend and said ‘of course it’s because there was no sermon!’
Well I’m sorry you do get me sharing a few thoughts today but I will be brief!
This is my 4th carol service this week, having not been to any for 3 years thanks to Covid. Last December my son was the first to catch Omicron in our area – a fact that got him thousands of likes on Tik Tok, a small blessing in the circumstances, which meant we all isolated for pretty much the whole of December.
So it is lovely to be able to share with you today.
I think there is something about coming to a carol service that makes us ‘feel Christmassy’, the candles, the carols, the reminder of the Christmas story, the tradition. And I hope you all feel that some of that tonight.
The Christmas story doesn’t change, we hear it year after year and yet if we think about it a little deeper, it’s a pretty strange old story isn’t it?
Mary, a teenager, miraculously pregnant, the angel appearing in light to tell her this gob smacking news.
Then having to trek to a place miles away, and away from family, while massively pregnant, and then giving birth in a place where animals lived – lovely.
And not only that but then lots of strangers turn up having seen more angels in light, insisting on seeing the new baby. And the first lot – the shepherds – well they came straight from the fields, smelly and dirty. Just what you want around a new baby!
And then a bit later some astrologers rock up having followed a bright star in the sky – google sky map would have been easier I am sure.
And finally Mary and Joseph have to escape the evil murderous king Herod.
But you know this scene has struck me: that God actually chose this time and place for Jesus to come to earth. God chose the surprise for Mary, the difficult journey, the giving birth in the hay and straw – the angel did not tell her that in advance did he?? I think I might have had a few more questions for the angel before saying: yes ok, I am your servant Lord…
And the Shepherds, approaching this new baby, this Prince of Peace, King of heaven: grubby and smelly, straight from the fields – and welcomed in because that’s what Jesus does, welcomes us all in, no matter who we are or the baggage we carry.
And then the more educated wise men seeking a fabulous new king, find one in a tiny new baby, because God is revealed to us in all sorts of unexpected places and people.
All of this around a new family.
It’s all a bit messy and unlikely, isn’t it?
I don’t know if anyone else obsessively watches xmas movies? But on that basis, I reckon it would make a pretty good Disney Christmas movie.
But God chose Jesus to come into the mess of our lives too. This picture of the crib scene is exactly what the kingdom of God is like. Everyone and anyone is invited to this, to know Jesus for themselves, to be led by his light and to come and worship at his manger.
I love it when you see kids nativities with random parts like Superman, or a fairy, or first lobster or as in Love Actually, because it makes the scene more inclusive – we all make up this messy scene together.
And there are times and points that remind us of this, the lights in the darkness – here the angels shining in glory, the star, perhaps for us this carol service tonight?
I know, we all know, it has been a dark few years, for many of us it remains so – we have lost loved ones, we are struggling to stay afloat with our bills, perhaps even with our wellbeing. We all have our own stories of the last few years,
and within that sometimes it can be hard to see the moments of light in our lives.
But as we heard in our reading from John, Jesus as the light shines in the darkness and the darkness cannot overcome it.
So I want to remind you all tonight to keep looking for those moments of light to lead you through the darkness.
I want to let you know this church is just like that nativity scene, an unlikely, sometimes messy, hopefully not smelly, community – but we’re here because Jesus has called us here, and I want you to know any one of you are welcome here at any time. That we might be a light giving you hope when you need it.
And I want you to know that that star leading the way to know Jesus is still shining out it’s invitation for you.
Amen
And so we are going to take a moment to respond to this.
You were given stars on the way in – a paper one and a wooden one’
The wooden one is for you to take home, a star to hang on your tree, to remind you of the light in the messiness, in the darkness. It has the verse from Isaiah that we heard in our first reading,
And the other we are going to use now. I want you to think about someone or perhaps it’s yourself, who really needs some light in their lives now, perhaps facing something tough. Or it might be you, you might be feeling in darkness.
I just want you to write their name, your name, or a few words and then during the song we will hang them on our trees here and then pray for them all. Just come forward whenever you are ready…
Prayer
Loving Heavenly Father
We thank you that sent your son Jesus to be light in the darkness for us. We lift up all these named here to you now and we pray that they would know you with them, in comfort, on strength, in courage, in healing, in love, in hope and in whatever they need. Pour out your blessings upon them.
In Jesus name, Amen
Midnight Mass
Readings: Isaiah 9:2-7, Luke 2:1-20, Matt 2:1-12
I don’t know about you but I feel like I have spent a lot of the last few years angry, or upset, or frustrated, or in despair. And it just blends into one, doesn’t it, because we lurch from one thing to another. Every time I think things can’t get any darker, something else happens!
You know people often say the church shouldn’t be political but politics is about people, people’ lives, and as the church we are at the forefront of supporting people. And Midnight Mass seems to be the service where clergy go all out, so…
Covid has seemed never ending for example and I read in the news this week of yet another person getting rich of it, while still there are those in my own congregation who are vulnerable to this virus.
The rising cost of energy prices while fuel companies still rake in profits is frankly, morally reprehensible. We here are supporting the local foodbanks and charities in all they are doing to help people.
Personally I’m a sea lover and seeing our local waters filled with raw sewage regularly because water companies haven’t invested in the infrastructure while still paying out to share holders – It’s criminal.
The war in Ukraine – war in Europe. A Russian megalomaniac responsible for thousands of deaths, thousands displaced, refugees fleeing across Europe, some here to Burgess Hill.
The “mini” budget, The Taliban, terrible flooding in Pakistaan, workers striking simply to get fair pay, Jeremy Clarkson…
It’s all about people’s lives
And then just when things are calming down, Matt Hancock goes on I’m a Celeb! Is nowhere sacred!!??
It has been a dark few years hasn’t it? for many of us it remains so – we have lost loved ones, we are struggling to stay afloat with our bills, perhaps even with our wellbeing. We all have our own stories of the last few years,
and within that sometimes it can be hard to see the moments of light in our lives.
And it is so important that we do look for the light so we don’t get overwhelmed by all that is going on around us.
You know our readings tonight span over 700 years. Isaiah as we heard in our first reading, was speaking way before Jesus was born but he too was in dark times.
Isaiah was an old guy who wrote this in a time of massive uncertainty and darkness, He was a prophet (that’s someone God spoke to clearly) writing in 700 BC. The lands around him had been at civil war and, there had been some really bad rulers, there were constant threats from other nations. And lots of people turned away from God in that time. They were in despair, wondering where there was any hope?
Not that dissimilar to the times we are living in.
And yet, it was Isaiah who amidst all of this darkness said – come on – look to the future, & he pointed out God’s plans, and it was him who told people that Jesus would come. The Hope of the future.
He said:
The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light;
those who lived in a land of deep darkness— on them light has shined. V2
>>Because Jesus is born –
and he is, he says in vs 6
a Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
He has authority and upholds justice, with righteousness, and there will be endless peace.
Isn’t that a beautiful picture of how life could be?
Isaiah tells the people this is what God is going to do, things will be different in the future. It’s an encouragement to hold on to, to give hope and light in a dark time just as I hope my words might bring hope this evenig.
And that future he prophesied, he said would happen, we heard about in our Luke reading. Jesus was born.
We see Mary receiving this news, alone, a gigantic angel appearing and telling her what is going to happen to her. A light in the darkness…
And yet Jesus was born into a dark time too. Roman rule threatening everyone’s way of life, imposing their rules and laws, The census forcing people to travel miles from home and wider family; and an evil despot of a king wanting to kill all male babies,
That first Christmas. Mary & Joseph, travelled through the darkness to desperately find somewhere to stop, and to have the baby. We can’t imagine the anguish, the pain, the despair.
And then the light of a kindly innkeeper led them to an animal’s stall. Poorly lit, smelly, dirty, but it must have lifted their hopes.
And Jesus arrives into this darkness, this unlikely place of birth, into the mess and dirt.
But this light, his light draws people out of the darkness, in unlikely places too.
People rock up to see Jesus don’t they. Curious, unsure, but also wanting to know more. They are drawn by the light of a star in the darkness, and the light of the baby – Jesus.
The Shepherds come dirty and smelly from the darkness of the fields. And then they go and share the light they have seen, being so full of it, bringing light to others’ darkness.
And that light is there for us all in our own darkness. In our own situations, in unlikely places and people. Jesus is there for us all.
We might be afraid, fearful – understandably, but
Just as the angel said to Mary, to the shepherds: Do not fear
You know one of the things that is repeated most of all in the bible is: do not be afraid.
This week was the longest night, the shortest day – the winter solstice. This is a turning point in the year. From here on in it will be lighter.
I went up on the downs for a solstice walk with the dog. It was so misty the clouds so low, I was walking in darkness but as I turned around to make my return, the clouds began to blow over, there was just a glimmer of sunset on the horizon a little bit of light guiding me back, reminding me that the darkness is not overcome as it says in John 1.
Perhaps we feel like we have been or are going through the longest night? One thing after another. One more thing to be angry or in despair about. But let me tell you in all my anger, the light that has drawn me out of it is Jesus. A God of hope, of love, who is there for everyone. EVERYONE.
Jesus is the light that when we turn to him, he can drive out our despair, our fear, our darkness. And turn it to hope. Just as the people of Isaiah’s time hoped for a better future, for Mary & Joseph as they hoped for a good future for their son.
We too I am sure, hope for a better future. And I can tell you it is found in Jesus Christ.
Amen
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