Nelson Mandela said, ‘There can be no keener revelation of a society’s soul than the way it treats its children.’ This has always been the case.

Many like to view the Christmas story in a saccharine way: a sweet little baby boy who never cried, a beautifully slim Madonna looking glamorous in a stable, angels singing in the heavens and gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. The problem we have is that we take elements of the Christmas story and add our own embellishments to them or we ignore other parts of the story because we don’t like them. Herod’s Slaughter of the Innocents (Matt 2:16-18) is a case in point. This massacre of children under 2 is an integral part of the Christmas story, but if we talk about it (as the very funny scene in ‘Nativity’ shows!), people are outraged. Such things offend them and are seen as not being ‘relevant’ to Christmas, when in actual fact, the behaviour of Herod is a vital part of the narrative and demonstrates Satan’s desire to thwart God’s salvation plan at the very start.

How we treat children – whether before they are born or afterwards – is hugely important. Jesus welcomed children (Luke 18:15-17) and urged us to have child-like faith. (Matt 18:3) The sorrow and desperation of exile (when children were eaten in a bid to stay alive, see Jer 19:9, Lam 4:10) is recalled by Matthew as he quotes Jer 31:15, and we do well to ponder on the injustices and desperation in many parts of our world today as we prepare for Christmas.

Our consumerism and materialism are as nothing if we do not treat children with respect and love. Why not use this time to help those who are less fortunate than ourselves? Charities like Samaritan’s Purse with their Christmas shoebox appeal offer practical ways we can support children who have nothing. It’s also good to teach our children to help others and to think of those who are in need. We can never start too young in caring for others.

Today was the Parent & Toddler Christmas Party, with the toddlers coming in their different Christmas outfits (as did some adults!)

We had some lovely food to eat, thanks to Diane and Bev!

 Mark organised a variety of party games.

We also had a visitor with presents for all the children:

The party is part-funded by members’ generosity in donating raffle prizes and buying raffle tickets, so the adults enjoy getting presents too!

Our thanks to all who helped with the party,especially to Diane whose organisation and skill make this an annual event to be remembered!

Life is a charity whose mission is ‘to create a just society which has the utmost respect for all human life from fertilisation.’  It works in many different areas, offering counselling and support to those who are pregnant, education about life before birth, advice on many issues concerning fertility, abortion and euthanasia, as well as running hospices for children with disabilities (Zoe’s Place, in Coventry, Middlesbrough and Liverpool) because it recognises that it’s not enough to campaign on pro-life issues without offering practical help to those who face extremely difficult times if they choose to continue a pregnancy which others would end. The testimonials given on their website from women and families who have found alternatives to abortion remind us vividly that whilst we cannot help everyone, the practical help we can offer to individuals makes a huge difference.

Often, we feel overwhelmed by statistics. 2017 has seen the 50^th anniversary of the 1967 Abortion Act, which legalised abortion in the UK. The statistics about abortion in the UK are almost too much to take in. [1]

• In 2015, 185,824 abortions were carried out on women and girls in England and Wales. That was 1,253 (0.7%) more than the 184,571 performed in 2014, and the largest number since the 189,931 carried out in 2011.
• Only 3,213 abortions were approved because the foetus had a medical condition. In almost half of these cases it was a congenital malformation, for example of the nervous or cardiovascular system, and in 689 cases the foetus was found to have Down’s syndrome.
• 70% of the women who had abortions in 2015 were married or with a partner.
• 40% of the abortions were on women who have had at least one abortion previously.
• 50 women in 2015 had each had 8 abortions.
• In 2015, 1,853 under-16s had an abortion, including 509 who were under 15 and 79 who were under 14.

The challenge for us is to see beyond the statistics to the individuals involved and to work with those who offer practical help, advice and support. At the very least (and I happen to believe this is not ‘least’), we can pray for people: for nurses and doctors, for counsellors, and most of all for the people who feel overwhelmed, rather than overjoyed, by the idea of new life. God takes human life seriously. So should we.

[1] https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/may/17/abortion-rate-england-and-wales-five-year-high

The framework for psalms of lament is a form involving a direct address to God, a description of the situation in which help is needed, a confession of trust, a petition for help and a vow of praise (with sometimes a curse on the enemies perceived to be causing the suffering). This form provides a structure for suffering which so often is needed: these times of bewilderment leave us reeling, disoriented and afraid because of the uncertainty engendered in us, and having some structured form to guide us in prayer can be very helpful.

Communal psalms of lament remind us also that suffering is not simply individual: it is part of the human condition and part of the life of a community of faith. Perspective and hope can be restored as God’s faithfulness is realised (Ps 44:4-8, Ps 60:6-8), and there is a need for the journey through the staging posts of grief, denial, anxiety and acceptance. These psalms walk us through every stage of the journey and allow us to remain whole, even when we are broken by tragedy and grief. Each of these psalms may shout out with loss and grief, but there are ‘echoes of mercy, whispers of love’ (‘Blessed Assurance’) in each one. Lament is a vital part of life (as the book of Lamentations, with its tightly controlled acrostic framework, makes plain), but it is only one part of life. Paul urges us to ‘rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.’ (Rom 12:15) May the Psalms frame our ability to rejoice and mourn in Biblical ways, never losing hope, always trusting God to be with us, no matter what our situations.

What do we do when we feel unfairly treated – not only by other people, but by God? How do we handle questions without answers? What do we do when life is difficult and all our previous certainties and assurances about and from God seem to have dissolved like melting snow? How do we grieve as a community and lament corporately?

The Psalms of Lament give us answers to these questions, articulating for us the many questions and feelings of bewilderment, hurt, confusion and deep sorrow which life brings, as well as giving us ‘climbing pegs’ or anchor points on which we can put our weight as we climb through life’s challenges.

Psalm 44 looks at the sense of abandonment by God (Ps 44:9-16) which defeat brought to Israel. What makes this worse for the people is their sense of innocence (Ps 44:17-22), the sense that this punishment is not deserved. Disaster is viewed as coming directly from God (Ps 60:1-3, Ps 80:4-6) and rejection as hard to bear (Ps 74:1). Tragedies such as the invasion of Israel and the desecration of the temple form the theme of some communal psalms of lament (e.g. Ps 74, Ps 79), with a sense of heaviness and burden caused not only by the situation and sin, but by the mocking of unbelievers (Ps 79:10) and a longing to see others acknowledge the might and majesty of God (Ps 79:10-13).

These psalms encourage us to voice our questions and bring our woes directly to God. So often, we take these things to everyone else or else we squash them, repressing the feelings and internalising our grief, failing to address God directly. It does us no good to refuse to acknowledge the doubts and fears which erode our faith. Instead, these psalms show us how to be honest with God.

These psalms also show us that even in the midst of doubt and pain and questions, there is a willingness to hold on to known truths about God. Ps 44:1-3 acknowledges God’s mighty actions for Israel in the past. Psalm 74:12-17 acknowledges God’s creative power and might. Psalm 80:1-2 looks at God as Shepherd and guide (see also Ps 23) and acknowledges God’s might and power: ‘You sit enthroned between the cherubim’, cf Ps 99:1, Is 37:16). Psalm 85:1-3 looks at God’s restoration, forgiveness and cessation from anger in the past, with later verses (Ps 85:10-13), focussing on God’s love, faithfulness, righteousness, peace and provision. Our tendency is to let these truths slip through our fingertips like sand when the stormy times hit, but the psalmists show us that doubt and faith, questions and trust, pain and rejoicing, sorrow and joy can indeed co-exist side by side.

It’s quite possible that some of you may be thinking I have painted an incredibly rosy picture of pregnancy and life so far. What about those who suffer illness during pregnancy? The condition hyperemesis gravidarum (suffered by the Duchess of Cambridge in her pregnancies) can be life-threatening and is certainly debilitating and difficult to deal with. What about children conceived because of rape? How can the mother be expected to give birth in those circumstances? What about disabilities discovered before birth? Surely it’s unreasonable to expect us to give birth in these circumstances and abortion is the kindest solution to life’s injustices and difficulties?

What we believe about the sanctity of life has to be worked out in the messy realities of life, but our behaviour will never be determined by circumstances alone. What we believe has profound consequences as to how we live. It is impossible to stress this enough and we have to ensure that our beliefs are founded on God’s Word and not simply on our circumstances or own understanding. We have to live, not by what we feel, but by the truth God’s Word reveals. (‘East To West’, Casting Crowns)

The birth of Jesus was not ideal. Mary was a virgin, probably only about fourteen years old, when she received the news that she would give birth to the Saviour of the world. The shame of being an unmarried mother would have been great. Even Joseph had his doubts about her! (Matt 1:19) Her story of an immaculate conception would have received derision and ridicule. She was not in a good place, realistically speaking.

It costs to live according to God’s Word, but Mary’s response gives us the clue as to how we can do this: ^‘“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.”’ (Luke 1:38) In the messiness of life, in the ‘not ideal’ circumstances we find ourselves in, we have to hold on to God and believe His promises can be fulfilled and good can even come from evil if we will only trust Him.