Great Lumley Methodist Church

glmc Social Starts at 6.00pm on Saturday 25 January with a Beetle Drive followed by bring-and-share food. After that daft games which will have you in stitches. Anyone of any age can come and you’re guaranteed to have a great time. It'll be all over before 9.00pm.

“The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighbourhood. We saw the glory with our own eyes, the one-of-a-kind glory, like Father, like Son, Generous inside and out, true from start to finish.” John 1:14 (MSG)
We all prepare for Christmas in different ways. We all have different traditions: reading a Christmas story, listening to Christmas music, watching our favourite Christmas films. But do we all make room for the real meaning behind Christmas - the birth of a b...aby, the Saviour of the world? A child born to love, born to die, born to give life.
As the first witnesses to the birth of his son, God chooses the marginalised, the poor, the unorthodox, and the old. From shepherds in fields close by, to wise men from a far off land, all were chosen for a reason - to tell us of the nature of God’s kingdom. Like these individuals, Jesus invites us to come and encounter him.
At every moment he is standing at the door and knocking, knocking on the doors of our hearts; inviting us to open the door and let the light come streaming in; inviting us to receive the gift of Himself, so that through Him, we may become children of God.
Are you waiting for some precious promise to be fulfilled? Do not despair - God always keeps His word. Whilst it may not appear in the manner or time you suppose, have faith, for God has greater plans than you can imagine, as the Christmas story reminds us.
So this Christmas, may His light shine in your life, and may you reflect his light in the world.
In the words of Pope Francis: “May we be in this world a ray of that light which shone forth from Bethlehem, bringing joy and peace to the hearts of all men and women.”
Dear God, As we celebrate the birth of your son we ask for vision that amongst the busy rush we can find you as a focus for our activity and hope for our future. We ask for the faith of Mary who was blessed for believing she would bear your Son. For joy, to be as astonished as the shepherds by the angels message that Emmanuel has come, For humble hearts to be selfless like the Wise Men, bearing gifts across the miles to bow low before the King. But we confess that Christ’s birth often goes unnoticed, so help us to make room for Your Son in our day to day lives. Gift-giving God, forgive us, as you help us to live our lives as you have called us to live. Amen.
🎶 Glory (Let There Be Peace) by Matt Maher https://youtu.be/QW4c6DcxgGc
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After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, ‘Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.’
On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshipped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. Matthew 2:1-2, 11
... For many people, one of the joys of Christmas is the giving and receiving of gifts. We hope that someone who knows us well will have picked up the hints, and got us that thing we’ve always wanted. We hope there will be something more exciting than yet another pair of socks.
At the same time there is the challenge of buying gifts for others. We want to buy the perfect gift, but what do you get for the person who has everything?
The gifts given by the wise men have been the source of many jokes over the years. One frequent joke is based on the idea that the gifts are not much use, and that wise women would have chosen much more sensible items to give to a new-born baby and his parents. But what do you buy for the person who really does have everything?
The wise men don’t choose their gifts in order to meet the baby’s needs, but to show who the baby is. Their gifts are precious, and filled with meaning, but we often miss their most important gift: themselves. They travel long distances and endure many hardships in order to see for themselves the God who came to earth.
In the words of Pope Leo the Great: “If…we wish to see how their threefold kind of gift is also offered by all who come to Christ with the foot of faith, is not the same offering repeated in the hearts of true believers? For he that acknowledges Christ the King of the universe, brings gold from the treasure of his heart.”
Lord I thank you for what you have given me – so many blessings that I cannot begin to count them. Give me, I pray, a giving heart; a generous and grateful heart. Develop in me a heart that is filled with thanks and praise to you, for all that you have done for me. Amen
🎶 In the Bleak Midwinter by Harold Darke https://youtu.be/vbbkAqZpbTQ
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“Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout… It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah.” Luke 2:25-26
“There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old… Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.” Luke 2:36-38
... In Luke 2:22-38 we encounter Simeon and Anna. These elderly individuals have both been promised by God that they will see the Messiah, and are both in the temple when Mary and Joseph bring Jesus to Jerusalem for the first time. Instantly recognising what they see, they experience both a beginning and an ending in coming face to face with the new-born Christ, the Saviour and Messiah they have waited for.
Speaking first, Simeon expresses his overwhelming joy that his life’s purpose is fulfilled. “Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples. (Luke 2:28-32).”
Simeon speaks of the future he has longed to see. He sees salvation’s purpose: Christ has come to show us the way, so that all who believe in his name shall receive eternal life. Simeon’s words also contain a hard truth, that salvation will come at a personal cost for both Jesus and Mary through Jesus’ death on the cross.
Anna is the next to see Jesus. She also recognises Jesus as Messiah, and without hesitation she gives thanks to God and speaks about Jesus as a Saviour to everyone who has been waiting for one. Like the disciples who will follow her, Anna bears witness to what she has seen, speaking her vision aloud in words of praise.
As people with the gift of visionary, prophetic voices, both Simeon and Anna knew the importance of sharing what they had seen. Today may their voices speak to you and all who long for redemption. Are you ready to use your gifts to help those around you?
In the words of Leo Buscaglia: “Your talent is God’s gift to you. What you do with it is your gift back to God.”
Dear God, Help me to make room in our lives for Your Son Jesus Christ, Help us to have the confidence to share the Good News with others, and to remain true to your Word and promises. Amen.
🎶 We Have a Saviour by Hillsong Worship https://youtu.be/_Q96IiuvjVU
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After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, ‘Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.’ When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. Matthew 2: 1-3
Every story has its heroes, and also its villains. The Christmas story is no exception, and the principal villain in this story is King Herod.
... Herod was a clever and efficient ruler, as well as being a renowned builder, but he was also a cruel and ruthless tyrant. The Jewish people didn’t accept him as their legitimate king, and this infuriated him.
Herod was a jealous and suspicious king, always on the lookout for plots to overthrow or discredit him, which even led to him executing his own wife and some of his sons.
When Herod learned of the birth of Jesus, his jealousy and fear caused him to seek to kill Jesus, and in his rage he ordered the murder of several innocent children.
Herod reminds us that Jesus was born into a world that was just as troubled and dangerous as our world today. When God came to make his home on earth, it wasn’t in safety and in luxury, but right there in the middle of the action, with evil and violence all around.
Herod is also a reminder of our own insecurities; of our struggle to accept God as the rightful ruler over our lives. Herod’s great mistake was to see Jesus as competitor rather than companion, and in doing so he missed out on all that God could offer.
In the words of Jerry Bridges: "The cure for the sin of envy and jealousy is to find our contentment in God".
I am no longer my own but yours. Put me to what you will, rank me with whom you will; put me to doing, put me to suffering; let me be employed for you, or laid aside for you, exalted for you, or brought low for you; let me be full, let me be empty, let me have all things, let me have nothing: I freely and wholeheartedly yield all things to your pleasure and disposal. And now, glorious and blessed God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, you are mine and I am yours. So be it. And the covenant now made on earth, let it be ratified in heaven.' The Methodist Covenant Prayer
🎶 Surrender by Marc James https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N3luRYRRx ig
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“When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshipped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.” Matthew 2: 10-11
The Bible tells us that the Wise Men came from the ‘East’, most likely from Persia. As such, they would have been familiar with the writings of the prophet Daniel and the prophecy of Balaam. Daniel 9:24-27 provides... a timeline for the birth of the Messiah, whilst in Numbers 24:17 Balaam’s prophecy mentions a “star coming out of Jacob.”
Having been guided to look for the Son of God by a miraculous stellar event - “the star of Bethlehem” (Matthew 2:2), the Wise Men followed God’s guidance joyfully. Upon arrival they worshipped the child, presenting Him with costly gifts which reflected their understanding and belief in the scriptures: gold to represent kingship, frankincense as a symbol of healing and myrrh as a symbol of mortality.
But the real gift of the Wise Men was their worship. In giving their time, their energy, their vision and wisdom, the Wise Men are a great example of how to be faithful followers of Christ: of listening to God and taking action; of reading and believing in God’s Word.
What gifts might we bring in our worship? How might we, like the Wise Men, become faithful followers of God?
In the words of Henry B. Eyring “You can give a great and wonderful Christmas if you remember the gifts God has given you and, as best you can, offer them to others as He would.”
Father God, Help me to walk in the way of the Wise Men, To be a faithful follower of Your Word, To be generous with the gifts You have given me, And have the courage to share the Good News. Amen.
🎶 Wise Men by Allen Krehbiel https://youtu.be/pppy7thsK08
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“So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born.” Luke 2:4-6
Why does anyone begin a journey? Some may just set out into the unknown, but most will have a motive; an idea of where to go and of what they will f...ind when they reach journey’s end.
Luke’s Gospel tells us of the journey that Mary and Joseph make to Bethlehem. That long and difficult journey would have given plenty of time to reflect on the extraordinary events of the past few months: from the visit of the angel, to the journey to see Elizabeth. With all of these memories and the unborn Son of God on the way, they must have felt great hope and wonder, but at the same time great uncertainty and fear of what might lay ahead.
To journey is to project into the future and to imagine the future in this way is an important part of Christian life. Advent is no exception. It’s a time when God calls us to set out to meet Him in Jesus Christ.
For Luke, Christ is the anointed one, come to proclaim the Good News, bringing freedom to the oppressed and sight to the blind (Luke 4:18). He is the one who is here to guide and protects us, so that all who believe will receive eternal life.
How does the journey of Mary and Joseph connect to our own faith journeys? How will we prepare for and set out on this journey?
In the words of Pope Francis, “Advent is a journey towards Bethlehem. May we let ourselves be drawn by the light of God made man.”
God of hope, Be with us in our Advent journey, In our meeting and travelling together, In our worship and praying together. In the busy times and the quiet times, In the light times and in the dark. As we journey to the stable and beyond, may we take with us a tender, caring heart as our gift to the Saviour. Be with us on our Advent journey. Amen.
🎶 See him lying on a bed of Straw by Michael Perry https://youtu.be/W1UI5Ko34XQ
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Christmas events and services at Great Lumley Methodist Church... all are welcome so come along.
Sunday 22 December at 4.00pm Carol and Nativity Service (no other services this Sunday)
... Tuesday 24 December at 5.00pm Christmas Eve Holy Communion Service
Tuesday 24 December at 6.00pm Carols with the glmc Brass Band with mince pies and ginger wine
Wednesday 25 December at 9.30am Christmas Day Family Service (A service with lots of fun)
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“Instructed by the king, they set off. Then the star appeared again, the same star they had seen in the eastern skies. It led them on until it hovered over the place of the child. They could hardly contain themselves: They were in the right place! They had arrived at the right time!” Matthew 2:9-11 (The Message)
I am the star, shining high above, marking the way for the journey of the Wise Men.
... I’ve been guiding them for many miles now, lighting their paths and pointing them in the right direction. Having travelled together, these Wise Men will soon reach their goal and come face to face with the Son of God, the everlasting light.
Giving up everything they knew, they put themselves in God’s hands, with me as their guide, not knowing where I would lead them or how long the journey would take.
Yet with all their wisdom, they understand so little, believing their own knowledge to have shown them the meaning of the star. As my bright, shining light draws them ever forward, they still believe that I am simply a star. I so long for the day when they will embrace the truth and kneel down in worship. When they will look deeper, and behold with awe and wonder, face to face with God - set out before them in the form of a human child.
Having been created by God to guide them to the Christ-child, my mission is finally complete as they enter the house where the Son of God is. They have reached their destination. As I descend, and the house is covered in God’s glory, the sign of God’s presence is no longer just represented by a star. Now it is a fire given to the heart of every man, woman and child who believes.
The light of God’s presence now shines from the eyes of the Christ-child, as overwhelmed with joy the Wise Men bow down to him in worship.
As it says in John’s gospel: “The Word gave life to everything that was created, and His life brought light to everyone.” - John 1:4
Dear God, As the star led the Magi to worship Your Son Jesus Christ, We pray that your perfect light will guide us towards you, Illuminating our hearts and reflecting in our words and deeds. Help us to learn to know you better, Now and forever. Amen.
🎶 Holy Night by Adolphe Adam. Sung by Katie Melua https://youtu.be/s8eXdOgGdcY
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And Mary said: ‘My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant.... From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me. Luke 1:46-49
Mary was one of those people who thought deeply about things. If Mary were alive today she would almost certainly have kept a diary or written a blog. The Bible says that she treasured the memories of the things that happened to her, and pondered them in her heart.
As she thought about all that God had done and was going to do in her life, Mary composed a wonderful song of praise in which she recognised one important truth: God is on our side. The story of Christmas is that God is with us, but also that God is for us. He acts on our behalf.
We might get things wrong, make a mess of our lives, hurt other people and damage the world around us, but somehow God is still for us. God still wants to help us and acts to put things right.
“But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved!” (Ephesians. 2:4-5)
In the words of Karl Barth “ ‘God with us’ means more than God over or side by side with us, before or behind us... It means that God has become man in order to take up our case… At the very point where we refuse and fail … forfeiting our right, losing our salvation and hopelessly compromising our creaturely being—at that very point God Himself intervenes.”
Gracious God, even as you are for me, I pray that I might be for you. May I live my life for your purposes and glory. May I seek to honour you in all that I do. Amen
🎶 Magnificat (All That I Am) by David Haas https://youtu.be/3zIIWVioh-Q
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“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has looked favourably on his people and redeemed them. He has raised up a mighty saviour[g] for us in the house of his servant David,
... He has shown the mercy promised to our ancestors, and has remembered his holy covenant, the oath that he swore to our ancestor Abraham. Luke 1:68-69, 72-73
Have you ever had to wait in silence, desperate to speak, but forced to hold your tongue?
Perhaps you have memories of a sponsored silence, or maybe you’ve been ill and lost your voice for a few hours or a few days.
When Zechariah is told that his elderly wife is going to have a baby, his cynicism and disbelief causes the angel Gabriel to render him speechless for the next 9 months! That gave him plenty of time to think and reflect on what God was up to.
When he finally opened his mouth, he burst into song, telling everyone the amazing news that God was fulfilling his promises. God was going to save his people.
In the time of silence in which Zechariah was unable to speak, something changes within him. He is transformed, and where once was doubt, there is now praise. The silence creates space for Zechariah to discover God in a new way.
This Advent, let us make time for silence, and allow God to speak to us. In the quiet, God is still at work. Like Zechariah, we must learn to trust in what he has to say.
In the words of Tim Keller: You cannot judge God by your calendar. God may appear to be slow, but he never forgets his promises. He may seem to be working very slowly or even to be forgetting his promises, but when his promises come true (and they will come true), they always burst the banks of what you imagined.
Dear Lord, thank you that you love to speak to your people, and that your promises are true. Help me make time to listen in silence, and allow me to hear your voice. Then, through your message, transform my life, increase my faith, and turn my disbelief into praise. Amen
🎶 Speak to me by Kari Jobe https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zxIZOlWfc cA
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“...Where is the baby born to be the king of the Jews? We saw his star when it came up in the east, and we have come to worship him.” Matthew 2:2
“This is what the Lord says, he who appoints the sun to shine by day, who decrees the moon and stars to shine by night, who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar - the Lord Almighty is his name:” Jeremiah 31:35
... Matthew’s Christmas narrative is one of journeys. Focusing heavily on the Wise Men, it demonstrates that in order to find Jesus we all need direction; a direction that God provides and in which nature plays a key role.
Throughout the Bible and in our daily lives God communicates with us through nature. From the skies above, and the oceans below, to the plants and animals all around us. As Paul wrote in Romans 1:20 “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities - his eternal power and divine nature - have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.”
But do we always see these signs in this way?
In understanding the purpose of their natural sign, the Wise Men were led to Jerusalem via a star. Upon arrival, they heard about the scriptures, telling them where to find the Christ. The sign and the word were clearly working together.
Unlike the chief priests and teachers of the law, the Wise Men not only understood the scriptures, but acted upon them. In other words, their hearts were opened to God’s gift, after which they were never the same again.
As we celebrate the birth of Christ this Christmas season, may we be like the Wise Men. May we acknowledge His presence in the wonders of nature, and act upon His word.
In the words of Martin Luther: “God writes the Gospel not in the Bible alone, but also on trees, and in the flowers and clouds and stars”.
Creator God, As we look in awe and amazement at the natural world around us help us to recognise your presence and to care for all you have made. Amen.
🎶 Joy to the World by George Frideric Handel. Sung by Rend Collective https://youtu.be/k7iPgWgeNsk
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On Sunday 15 December at 1.00pm we will hold a Blue Sunday Service. Christmas can be difficult for many people. If your mood doesn't fit what you're supposed to feel, Blue Sunday is for you. Whether it's bereavement... separation... lostness... failure... or just feeling down please come along to Blue Sunday where it's ok to be yourself.

We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; Isaiah 53:6
Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; ... we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Psalm 100:3
As a small rural community, Bethlehem would have been home to many people who made their living from the land, through crops or livestock. Flocks of sheep grazed the surrounding hills, protected from predators by groups of shepherds.
In the Bible sheep are often used as a symbol of God’s people, particularly because of their habit of wandering off and getting themselves lost, or into danger.
From a young age, sheep learn to follow the older members of the flock, and they’ll follow even when the leader makes bad decisions, such is the strength of their following instinct. In 2005, in eastern Turkey, over 400 sheep died because the first sheep tried to cross a 15 foot ravine, and when it fell to its death, the other sheep simply followed it.
Human beings can be just the same. We wander off, or get ourselves into trouble, both on our own or in crowds. Yet the Bible says we are God’s flock, and He never abandons us or leaves us lost and alone. Jesus made this point himself, in the parable of the lost sheep, which reminds us how God cares for us enough to come and look for us, and bring us safely home.
In the words of A. Tozer: ‘The only safe place for a sheep is by the side of his shepherd’
My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think that I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road, though I may know nothing about it. Therefore will I trust you always, though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone. Amen (Thomas Merton)
🎶 The Lord’s my Shepherd by Stuart Townend https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-eIQQayhp ak
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“And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths a...nd lying in a manger’.” Luke 2: 8-12
Advent is a season of the unexpected, a time of great joy, when the ordinary becomes extraordinary. For the shepherds, the birth of Christ was ordinary; a night like any other, until a group of angels appear delivering a message of glory to the new-born king.
Their response? Eager to see the new-born baby they run to the animal shed. Being there every day, they know where to go and where to look. And it is here, amidst their everyday, that the wonder of God is revealed to them.
“So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them”. Luke 2:16-18
For the shepherds, who are the first to visit the baby Jesus, it was a time of wonder and excitement, so much so that they are inspired to share the Good News with others. To put it simply they are the first evangelists.
In the words of John Piper: “The gospel is the good news that the everlasting and ever-increasing joy of the never-boring, ever-satisfying Christ is ours freely and eternally by faith in the sin-forgiving death and hope-giving resurrection.”
Dear God, Thank you for sending Your Son as the good shepherd to keep me on the right path, To stay beside me to defend me, Before me to lead me, And behind me to guard me. Amen.
🎶 Do You Hear What I Hear by Noël Regney and Gloria Shayne Baker. https://youtu.be/tmCrDC0fxcI
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The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God, as it is written in Isaiah the prophet: ‘I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way’ – ‘a voice of one calling in the wilderness,... “Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.”’ Mark 1:1-3
I don’t know what you are like at getting ready for things. Perhaps you are one of those well organised people who seem to ready for every situation. You know the type; the sort of people who carry a sewing kit and a screw driver in their handbag ‘just in case’. People who start buying their Christmas presents in January and have ‘spare presents’ tucked away in case someone they haven’t bought a resent for calls unexpectedly.
Or perhaps you are one of those people who does everything at the last minute. The sort of person who shops on Christmas Eve, and only gets on the aeroplane after their name has been called 3 times.
Whatever you are like at getting ready, it’s always nice to have a bit of notice about things isn’t it? That way you’ve got time to prepare if you want to. You’ve got time to put things in order.
John the Baptist, born a few months before Jesus, was a messenger whose job was to tell people to start getting things in order. His way of getting people ready was to say ‘Repent’. ‘Come and confess your sins. Ask God to forgive you. Be baptised and have a fresh start’.
As we prepare for Christmas, John’s words still call to us, inviting us to get ready for Jesus to enter into our lives.
In the words of J.C. Ryle: “True repentance is no light matter. It is a thorough change of heart about sin, a change showing itself in godly sorrow and humiliation - in heartfelt confession before the throne of grace - in a complete breaking off from sinful habits, and an abiding hatred of all sin. Such repentance is the inseparable companion of saving faith in Christ.”
Lord, as John the Baptist came to prepare the way for your coming, may we also seek to prepare the way for you to come into our lives and the lives of others. May we, like John, be prophets for our own time, and by our witness and example offer an alternative way of life. May we be forerunners for your kingdom of love, justice and peace. Amen
🎶 Make Room by Jonathan McReynolds https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Vs_1wpwV RY
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In memory of Mark Shaw, we invite any families (or individuals) who have been recently bereaved to gather to remember loved ones as Christmas approaches. Christmas can be a difficult time for many. This simple service will be an occasion to acknowledge that along with others in similar circumstances.
The root causes of those blue feelings are many and varied... loneliness... loss... break up... It's ok to be blue at Christmas. Come and light a candle in memory of someone you loved and lost or just reflect on things. You are not on your own.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways... and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:8-9
Have you ever wondered what it would have been like to be a fly on the wall at the planning meeting for the very first Christmas? Today, the story is familiar to many of us through nativity plays and Christmas cards, but imagine hearing it for the very first time.
Imagine God looking down at the world he created, and the people he loved, and his heart breaking at the mess the world was in. Imagine his sorrow as he saw the greed, the jealousy, the hatred, and the evil that gripped people’s hearts. Imagine, in that moment, God deciding to do something about it.
Imagine God beginning to explain his plan to a crowd of gathered angels. Imagine hearing that his plan to solve all the world’s problems is to send just one person to sort it all out. Then imagine hearing that this one person won’t be a trained diplomat, a mighty warrior, or a successful business leader, but a new-born baby!
Imagine this baby being born to unknown peasants, in an animal shelter, in a little-known town, and then having to flee the country when a jealous king tries to kill him.
This was a plan that nobody would have expected, but it was also the plan which worked.
Today we can still find God present in the unexpected – in places we might overlook, in people we might dismiss, at times when we are not looking. Where might you find the God of the unexpected this Christmas?
In the words of Dietrich Bonhoeffer: “God travels wonderful ways with human beings, but he does not comply with the views and opinions of people. God does not go the way that people want to prescribe for him … He chooses people as his instruments and performs his wonders where one would least expect them. God is near to lowliness; he loves the lost, the neglected, the unseemly, the excluded, the weak and broken.”
God of the unexpected, We thank you for the surprises which you spring on us! Surprise us again with the Christ who believes in us and the grace which is made perfect in human weakness. Amen
🎶 How many kings? By Downhere https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ga_n2_TBG mo
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