We have two services on Sunday 17 December (at 10.30 a.m. and 6.00 p.m.) Our evening service at 6 p.m. is our carol service, featuring our children as Nativity characters singing songs from ‘Bethlehem Ballroom’ by Tom Kirkham and Matthew Crossey. So if you want to see the shepherds salsa, come along at 6 p.m! Refreshments will be served after the service.

On Wednesday 20 December we have our Parent & Toddler party between 9 and 11 a.m. and we have our Christmas afternoon tea fund-raising event between 1.00 and 2.30 p.m. There are still places for this available, so book in by contacting Julie on 07729 421405 or emailing julie@gpcchurch.co.uk. Adults cost £5 and children £1.50.

On Thursday 21 December we have our final Bible study of 2023 at 7.30 p.m. We won’t be having a midweek sesrvice on 28 December, but have the opportunity for food and fellowship at Garry and Julie’s house between 4 and 7 p.m.

Please note there will be no evening services on 24 or 31 December but there will be morning services on both dates at 10.30 a.m.

We will also have a Christmas Day service on Monday 25 December at 10.30 a.m.

In a world of misery and anxiety, the Christmas story points to joy: ‘good news that will cause great joy for all the people,’ as the angels told the shepherds. (Luke 2:10) God leads us to joy, joy that is not dependent on circumstances. That first Christmas involved much fear and anxiety: hearing the angels’ news of a baby to be born to a young mother who was not married, travelling to Bethlehem with Mary in a state of advanced pregnancy, finding no lodgings there… all these circumstances were not ideal for joy! But the Christmas story is a joyful one because it tells us that God has taken steps to solve our alienation from Him; He has sent a Saviour!

The name ‘Jesus’ means ‘Jehovah is salvation’, and this is good news for us, because we could not save ourselves. On the third Sunday in Advent, we ponder God’s salvation and can only, therefore, be joyful. Paul tells us to ‘be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.’ (Rom 12:12) This is the key to overcoming.

Jesus told His disciples, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) We may well feel there is little peace in our lives. We may be facing family breakdowns, problems at work and financial anxieties, not to mention the worry caused by ‘big issues’ in the news like wars, climate change, cost of living crises and so on. We may feel that peace is a nice ideal but that it is not possible to know peace in our daily lives. This verse from John’s Gospel is a great encouragement to us if we feel like that.

Jesus tells us that peace is found in Him. We may never find peace in relationships, work, with neighbours or with other situations, but in Him, we may have peace. It is His gift to us, a peace that transcends all understanding and guards us. (Phil 4:6-7) Secondly, He reminds us that He has overcome the world. All the issues that trouble us now are temporary and transitory. He has dealt with all issues, and we can take heart; we can be confident in the long run. (2 Cor 4:16-18)

Paul writes about revenge and living at peace with people: ‘Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. ¹⁸ If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.’ (Rom 12:17-18)

Here, he sets out our role, and also points out the limits of what we can do. Our part is not to repay anyone evil for evil, to eschew revenge and to be confident that God will sort out justice for us as He sees fit. Our part is ‘as far as it depends on you’ to live at peace with everyone. That will mean going the extra mile at times and certainly means living in a counter-cultural way, not wanting revenge, not seeking the harm of other people. But he is realistic. No matter how much we try to live at peace with everyone, not everyone will be peace-loving towards us.

We cannot be responsible for the attitudes and actions of other people. All we can do is to live in a peaceful way, not antagonising people, not seeking revenge. The rest, we must leave to God.

If we want to cultivate peace in our lives, we need to pray for wisdom. James tells us, ‘The wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. ¹⁸ Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.’ (James 3:17-18)

James is clear that godly wisdom is very different from the world’s wisdom, which is fuelled by envy and selfish ambition. We need wisdom to know the difference. Today, we must ask ourselves if we are motivated by envy and selfish ambition or by pure, peace-loving, considerate, submissive, merciful attitudes. The Bible tells us that we reap what we sow (Gal 6:7), so it is vital that we sow good and godly things in order to reap a harvest of righteousness and to live in peace.