21st December 2022
A thought from George Ford
‘This is how God showed his love among us: he sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that God loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.
(1 John 4: 9-12)
Reflection
Love came down at Christmas – God’s love! St Paul tells that love is patient, kind, does not envy or boas, it is not proud, rude, or self-seeking. It is not easily angered and keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, trusts, hopes, and perseveres . Love never fails. (1Cor.13:4-8) This is the love that came from heaven into the world in the form of a baby born in Bethlehem 2,000 plus years ago. Who grew up to show us the extent of God’s love for us by allowing Him to die on a cross (a criminals gallows) that we would know just how much the God who created us loves us, forgives us, and want for us live life in all it’s fullness (John 10:10) May His perfect love be born in each one of us, for all to see, this Christmas.
Prayer
Heavenly Father we praise and thank you for your precious gift of love. For your love of us seen in Jesus dying for us that might know your love and your forgiveness and have that life in all it fullness he came to bring this Christmas time and for evermore. Amen.
Worship
‘O little town of Bethlehem how still we see thee lie! Above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by. Yet in thy dark street shineth the everlasting light; the hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.
How silently, how silently the wondrous gift is given! So God imparts to human hearts the blessings of His heaven. No ear may hear His coming but in this world of sin, where meek souls will receive Him still the dear Christ enters in.
O Holy Child of Bethlehem, descend to us we pray: cast out our sin, and enter in; be born in us today. We hear the Christmas angels the great glad tidings tell; O come to us abide with us Our Lord Immanuel!!’
(Philip Brookes, 1835-93)
