St Peter’s Alton Nine Lessons and Carols
December 2015
Christmas is for Children
Christmas is really
for the children.
Especially for children
who like animals, stables,
stars and babies wrapped
in swaddling clothes.
Then there are wise men,
kings in fine robes,
humble shepherds and a
hint of rich perfume.
Easter is not really
for the children
unless accompanied by
a cream filled egg.
It has whips, blood, nails,
a spear and allegations
of body snatching.
It involves politics, God
and the sins of the world.
It is not good for people
of a nervous disposition.
They would do better to
think on rabbits, chickens
and the first snowdrop
of spring.
Or they'd do better to
wait for a re-run of
Christmas without asking
too many questions about
what Jesus did when he grew up
or whether there's any connection.
for the children.
Especially for children
who like animals, stables,
stars and babies wrapped
in swaddling clothes.
Then there are wise men,
kings in fine robes,
humble shepherds and a
hint of rich perfume.
Easter is not really
for the children
unless accompanied by
a cream filled egg.
It has whips, blood, nails,
a spear and allegations
of body snatching.
It involves politics, God
and the sins of the world.
It is not good for people
of a nervous disposition.
They would do better to
think on rabbits, chickens
and the first snowdrop
of spring.
Or they'd do better to
wait for a re-run of
Christmas without asking
too many questions about
what Jesus did when he grew up
or whether there's any connection.
Have you been to see Star Wars yet?
I went last night and if you have not seen it yet, you
are in for a real treat.
The big motif of course is
a very familiar one that has echoed throughout all the ages.
We heard the very same
motif in our reading from John’s Gospel.
The
one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the
world. (1.9)
Many homes are festooned
with lights both inside and out at this time of year. Towns, cities and some
villages are lit up with all kinds of light.
There is something deep
within our human make-up in the depth of winter, which wants to banish the
darkness even if for a moment, for a few days, to bring us hope of brighter
days to come.
However, our current
darkness is caused by much more than the weather.
We have the darkness of
the deformed ideology of IS or whatever name you care to give them. Whose
bloody tyranny has embroiled most of Europe as we have seen countless thousands
fleeing their ancient homelands in fear for their lives and violence and
carnage brought to the streets of Paris.
In our own country, we
continue to have the dark scourge of Food Banks and the scandal of them
becoming normalized. Moreover, we are seeing the return of some previously
eradicated diseases such as cholera, scarlet fever, rickets and malnutrition.
We have the refugee family
fleeing into Egypt to get away from a brutal, tyrannical leader.
We have the same leader
ordering the slaughter of innocent children.
Arising from this story, we
have that incredibly poignant phrase, originally from the book of the prophet Jeremiah…
"A
voice is heard in Ramah, mourning and great weeping, Rachel weeping for her
children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more."
Rachel still weeps, weeps
over every child slaughtered whether knifed to death in a gang fight in London
or Bristol, or killed in one of the many war zones around the world or by a
terrorist attack.
Jesus
said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in
darkness, but will have the light of life."
However, for that to
happen we need to consider that this child in the crib will become the Christ
on the cross; it is only a matter of time!
Let me read to you another
short poem called Ex-Mass.
EX-MASS
Christmass
parties,
Mince pies,
Carols,
X number of
shopping days to Christmass,
School
Nativity play,
And out of a
dark and dusty corner of the church
the crib is found.
Baby Jesus
(blond hair, white face and blue eyes)
Is placed
once more with dignity
In a place
of honour surrounded by tinsel
Fairy lights
and Father Christmass
The babe of
God slips into the world,
And into the
hearts of all who love babies.
(Even
Herod’s are kept quiet today)
Then back
goes the representation of Jesus,
Along with
all the other trimmings,
Back to a
dusty corner in people’s lives.
Jesus
Christ, Son of God, Perpetual Babe
Save us from our madness.
© Gordon Banks 8/12/83
Is that what you will do –
finish with Jesus on the twelfth night?
You will enjoy all the fun
and festivities, all the lights and the joy and there is nothing wrong in any
of that at all.
For at this time of year
we often get a tiny glimpse of how things should be, how God intended things to
be.
We know that it is stupid
and ridiculous to kill, maim or injure another human being.
We know that adultery is
wrong and child molestation is wrong, that robbery is wrong. We know
instinctively that families ought to be happy, loving and caring for each
other.
We know this and get such
a tiny glimpse and glimmer of hope as we focus, for all to brief a moment, on
the Light of the World squeezed into human form and coming to live as one of
us.
But what if you took a
longer view?
What if you did not put the
baby Jesus away along with all the other trimmings on the twelfth night?
What if you tried to make
the connection between the child in the crib and the Christ on the cross -made
the connection between Christmass and Calvary.
What might happen in your
life and in the life of those around you?
The winter darkness will
eventually slip away, however the darkness in our world and across our towns,
cities and villages will continue.
People will continue to
sleep on our streets because they have no home of their own. People will
continue to be killed, bombed, blown up and maimed, continue to be trafficked
and stabbed and shot.
All of this will continue
to happen.
However, however, however
– Jesus came to save us from our warring madness by showing a different way. He
demonstrated that until the very breath was beaten out of his body on the cross.
But death was not the end
and death was defeated as in glorious triumph we celebrate God raising Jesus
from death.
And just in case you are
struggling to follow this I am still talking about baby Jesus – only now grown
to manhood.
In our reading from John,
we hear of John the Baptist of whom it was said…
He
himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.
Jesus followers continue
to bear witness to the light. The dark
side will not prevail.
Again, from John’s Gospel ‘The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never
extinguish it.’
Therefore, here is a
challenge.
Will you take one of these
cards and write on there your contact details. Email is best.
(You will not be contacted
by C of E PLC and bombarded with numerous offers!)
The challenge is that you
pledge to walk alongside God’s people for one year so that you can hear the
full story, to help you make the connections.
You will be contacted a
few times throughout the year and invited to come and be alongside God’s people
as they remember some of the key points of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection.
Or, you can simply wait
for a re-run of Christmass without asking too many questions about what Jesus
did when he grew up or whether there is any connection.
Jesus
said, "The Light is with you for only a little while. Walk while you have
the Light so that darkness does not overtake you. Those who walk in the
darkness do not know where they are going.
As long as you have the Light, believe in the Light so that you might
become people whose lives are determined by the Light."
Walking in the Light or stumbling around in the dark - it's your choice!
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From the Crib to the Cross - it is only a matter of time...
Listen to this fabulous modern Christmass worship song that makes the connection...
https://youtu.be/YksTeR61O1I
