Angels announced the First Advent of our Lord, as they will the Second.
We too join in the singing and the Joy of their God's-Spell announcements.
Music - Laurie Barber
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So we’ve come to the serious waiting time that is Advent as we long for the joys of Christmas, the memories, inspiration, spirit and impetus of Christmas.
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The words of this beautiful Christmas song were written by Margaret Rose, and the music by Michael Head.
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Someone to enlighten our darkness
Someone to help in our distress
Someone whose presence warms on coldest nights
Walking close beside us on our Journey
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Thoughts on the Birth of Christ from St. John Chrysostom --
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The gift of Christmas in all the elements of the gift-wrapping and packaging of Bethlehem in Judea, in fulfilment of ancient prophecy. -- 'born this day a Saviour Who is Christ - the Lord!'
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Epiphany! - The Light of Christ dawns on the whole world, every nation, every person.
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We never know, can never fathom fully, the lasting power of our actions, the staying power of our words - even one little sentence, one little phrase; one little word.
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The photo is from the Albert and Victoria Museum in London, England.
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I've been thinking about how, in John 12 - when the Greeks come and say: 'Sir, we would see Jesus' - that that starts the time-clock of our Saviour moving deliberately towards the Cross.
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A Lenten Resource: The Journey
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What can I bring Him – poor as I am? If I were a shepherd, I would bring a Lamb, If I were a wise-man, I would do my part; Yet what I
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Hebrews 2:11 – “Both the one who makes mankind holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers.”
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Year ago now, British author Dorothy Sayers wrote a murder mystery of this title - 'Whose Body?'. That title helps us also, to explore the doctrine of the incarnation.
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Christmas Eve draws near and with it, for me at least, come memories of the years when as family we gathered in anticipation of the coming glorious Morn - of Christmas Day.
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Click on picture/movie and listen as you read.
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Poets’, preachers’ letters, words —
Strong and weak, inspire to share,
Dull shepherds, mighty angels’ chantry:
Stories lift like birds in air.
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Real worth is found in the Babe of Bethlehem, in the Christ of Glory!
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Prudentius Clemens Aurelius lived between 348 and 410 AD. A lawyer by training he was for many years employed in the civil service of Spain.
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Sometimes, somehow, despite the business of the Season, there can be a strange calm that settles upon us, even upon us last-minute, late-evening shoppers.
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I love all the Christmas music -- the cantatas, the carols. I also really like some old Christmas poems. Here’s one by Christopher Fry” -
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In many cold climes Advent days are short and cold.
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They say one can never really go home again - that to go home is to find that all has changed, that everything has become very different from how you remember it.
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John 1:11 - "He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him."
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We are always thrilled to hear of the birth of the baby. Conflicting emotions of joy and sorrow well up within.
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God told Job that at the creation of the world "the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy."
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Our planet is but a small spec in a galaxy which is itself part of billions of stars and planets. And yes, from a distance it seems so beautiful, so ordered, peaceful and calm.
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Is there a more poignant and powerful carol than: ‘Joy to the World’ ? Well actually, I love them all, all the carols.
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I like the fact that Christians 'keep score' and 'tell time' in another way besides the usual bottom line(s) of life and the mere chronology of the passing hours and days.
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