Third Sunday in Advent

The Candle of Peace.

This candle reminds us that Jesus comes to bring Peace into our hearts and into the world.

'And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High;
for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him,
to give his people the knowledge of salvation
through the forgiveness of their sins,
because of the tender mercy of our God,
by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven
to shine on those living in darkness
and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the path of peace."

Luke Ch 1 v 76-79

Today I was sent for in a panic by the Sunday School Teacher part way through the Service, so I missed the Sermon.

The Tax-collector and Angel Gabriel were refusing point blank to take part in the Nativity, the teenage helper was trying to oust 'Elizabeth' and play her herself, two older Shepherds had told the younger Shepherds that they had to be sheep and they were lustily rebelling, and Joseph was refusing to dress the part for the day...I guess I was the riot police?

There were only eleven children in the room but tempers were high! Lengthy negotiations followed and all was sorted by the time parents came to retrieve their off-spring. Actually it was all quite surreal...but a regular part of Christmas for many of us I guess! (One year we had a Wise Man and all he would say was 'Moo!')

I've often thought that nothing demonstrates the Lord's humour better than the fact that He allows the Nativity to be re-enacted year after year down the centuries. And such is His power that even through the histrionics and disasters, His love and compassion for us still shine through.

What a God we have!