Despite a very cold evening, the ‘Churches Together’ community carol service took place tonight at the parish church in Goldthorpe. It was lovely to be able to sing of the hope we have in Christ through the many carols and to hear traditional readings reminding us of the first coming of Jesus as a baby born in Bethlehem.
Garry reading Isaiah’s prophecy foretelling the birth of Jesus:
Alison spoke (with visual aids!) of the journey to Bethlehem by different characters in the Christmas journey and how so often we journey through life feeling weighed down and burdened, but how Jesus (who made the greatest journey of all from heaven to earth) can lift those burdens and help us through life. Mary and Joseph travelled and found nowhere to sleep except among the animals. The shepherds and wise men had to negotiate Roman rule and Herod’s antipathy to find Jesus. Journeying is not always easy, but God is with us (‘Immanuel’) to help us negotiate every stumbling-block and difficulty in life.
Our thanks to Father Schaefer and all his helpers for hosting the carol service, especially those who provided refreshments afterwards.