Read Psalm 119:161-168.

Shepherds were minding their own business, tending sheep, when angels appeared to them, bringing the message of a Saviour’s birth which would forever change their lives. This ‘good news of great joy’ was for all the world (Luke 2:10), a message to banish fear and bring ‘peace to men on whom His favour rests.’ (Luke 2:14) The shepherds would not probably have described themselves in those terms, but as far as God is concerned, He wants all people to be saved. (2 Pet 3:9)

God’s Word reveals to us that we are all highly favoured, that this good news applies to the ‘whosoever’ will believe. The old hymn says ‘whosoever surely meaneth me’ (J. Edwin McConnell) and the psalmist experienced similar joy: ‘I rejoice in Your promise like one who finds great spoil.’ (Ps 119:162) We are like those who strike it rich (lottery winners?) when we realise God’s promises apply also to us!

This does not mean a trouble-free life: ‘rulers persecute me without cause.’ (Ps 119:161) However, it does bring a peace that passes understanding (Ps 119:165, see also Phil 4:6-7), a sense of wellbeing that isn’t dependent on external circumstances.

The psalmist’s whole life is focussed on God (‘seven times a day I praise You for Your righteous laws’ Ps 119:164) and obedience is a key part of that (Ps 119:167-168). Just as Mary learned to treasure in her heart all that happened to her (Luke 2:51), we have to learn the secret of waiting expectantly for God’s salvation and doing what He tells us in the meantime. (Ps 119:166, The Message)

At the start of the service, we had a reading from Is 9:1-7 and then heard a song ‘Unto Us’ based on that Scripture. Children were also involved in colouring pictures based on that Scripture:

We also were given ‘goody bags’ containing leaflets giving us messages of hope and peace from God’s Word as well as sweets. God’s Word gives us hope for the future and we were encouraged to use these resources to ‘pass on’ life-giving words to friends, family and neighbours over this Christmas period.

We also had a birthday to celebrate:

One of the newer carols we sang at the carol service tonight is called ‘God Has Come To Earth‘ by Aaron Shust. In that song, we sing of how Jesus came ‘clothed in a garb of flesh and blood,‘ how He clothed Himself with frail humanity even though ‘worlds on worlds are Yours alone.’ One of the activities in the service involved ‘clothing’ willing volunteers to make them snowmen!

Two teams competed to ‘dress’ their team member to make the most effective snowman:

There was chance for a second round, though Stephen ended up being a snowman twice!

Well done to both teams, though none looked quite like Olaf!

Mark spoke tonight at the carol service about the reason God came to earth in the person of Jesus Christ. Reading from Matt 1:18-2:8 and Luke 2:8-15, he talked about how the birth of Jesus was announced to both shepherds (working-class, ordinary Joes) and wise men (rich men – judging from their gifts – who were obviously intellectual and academic). God chose different ways to speak (using hosts of angels to announce the good news to the shepherds and a star which guided the magi to their goal), but took the initiative in wanting all people to know that He was ‘Immanuel – God with us.’

In the ‘Star Wars’ series of films, one of the most iconic moments comes when Darth Vader reveals himself as the father of Luke Skywalker in a famous scene where he says ‘I am your father.’ Some people practised saying those words in the style of Darth Vader:

In essence, ‘I am your father’ was the message Jesus came to bring to all people: He came to show us not only that God was His father, but that He longs to be ours too. Jesus lived as a normal man, empowered and inspired by God, showing us that we can become part of God’s family (see John 1:12). God wanted to restore that family relationship with us, and Christmas, so often proclaimed to be a time ‘for the family’, was the means by which He chose to come to earth so that we could have the opportunity to know Him personally. Jesus grew to become a man who demonstrated His family likeness with God and who died to bridge the chasm between us and God caused by sin. Now we can be part of God’s family, knowing God as our father.

In a traditional nativity scene, there are usually a range of features, including Mary and Joseph, shepherds and animals, angels and the star and, of course, the baby Jesus, pictured in a manger, which seems a most unusual place for any baby to be placed, let alone one who is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Luke 2:7 tells us that he was born in this place because there was no room for him at the inn, and Matthew’s account of the visit of the Magi shows us a more expected destination, with the Magi calling at the palace in Jerusalem because they knew they were looking for a king… and where else would you find one?! (see Matt 2:1-8)

Ps 118:22 is a prophetic psalm which reminds us that the stone the builders rejected became the cornerstone (see also Luke 20:17, Acts 4:11), and the very fact that Jesus was placed in a manger shows there was no room for Him in the world; the manger shows man’s initial rejection of Him at His birth. A manger was a feeding trough for animals, a smelly place as far removed from a salubrious palace as possible, definitely not the place we would have expected God to appear in human form.

Throughout His life, Jesus had no place to lay His head (Matt 8:20); the rejection initially seen at His birth continued throughout His life and in many ways continues today as He is dismissed as irrelevant and unnecessary by so many. For those who believe, however, the fact that He was laid in a manger reminds us that He is the bread of life (see Jn 6:57) and the one who feeds on Him will never be hungry. For us, the manger reminds us of humility and lowliness, how Jesus showed us how to live through His example of servanthood and becomes a place of spiritual nourishment.

Don’t forget the carol service tonight at 6 p.m. on the theme ‘God Has Come To Earth’.

We’ll be singing carols old and new, joining in activities, hearing from the Word of God and munching refreshments after the service! Do come and invite friends and family to join you at this event!