Who's coming for Christmas ?

Christmas is about 'gathering'. The coming together of generations of families to celebrate the Holy Family.

Advent is about anticipation and waiting with expectation.

There is a romantic notion that Joseph and the heavily pregnant Mary made a lonely way to Bethlehem across windswept plains and through lonely streets. This is depicted in film and on cards - the stranger born in a manger.

I suspect that the truth was quite different - Joseph was heading to Bethlehem because there was a census to be held. Everyone had to be registered in their 'own town' so the whole family made their way to Bethlehem. Parents and children would have gathered en route to travel together to the placebos census. Every step bringing conversation and expectation of meeting up with those in the family who had not been seen for a long time. The Roman imposed census had presented the very family oriented people with an opportunity to get together. 

Christmas still does that - we have an opportunity to gather together once again, generation with generation, brother and sister, cousin, grandparent - even those who are unrelated are welcomed in...

Every year across the world the Advent of Salvation is acted out in our homes. And we miss the significance!

When Jesus came he came into community, he created community.

When we gather together unwittingly we are doing the same - we are recognising family bonds, the love that holds us together and, at the same time, welcoming in those who have no bloodline with us but share a relationship.

Christ's coming was for the family of the Jewish nation - and ultimately embraced the whole community of humankind.

Who are you welcoming into the community of your family this advent? 

Pentecost in the Park

What a great day at my Corps yesterday, the worship was relevant and meaningful - at least it was to me - others felt the same and expressed it. Afterwards we all went to the local park and played games and chatted in the rain!! People around came and joined with us and when the rain was too heavy to stay out in we all went back to the hall - local families as well and played some frankly ridiculous games, drank tea and coffe and built something very special - relationships: within the fellowship and more especially with those who came with us from the community.
I really think it was a reflection of what the church is like when it's done properly - not being so precious about it's rituals and forms that it can't let it's hair down and do what the great commission says 'GO!'
I led evening worship - same building different congregation. They tell me it was a good service. We sat around tables and did theology together, we thought about unity of mind and spirit, we considered that the church is to be built only under the fire of the spirit and we can only have a part of that when we immerse ourselves in him. We prayed specifically for people that we wanted to come to know Jesus and we pledged to continue praying for those people both within and outwith the church. We even had a little fire in the building to demonstrate.

Oh and of course we ate!!