It’s Quiz time! How many Wise Men visited Jesus in Bethlehem? Our Gospel doesn’t tell us. What it does say is that they brought three gifts. Now if the Wise Men were British, we could be fairly certain that there were three of them, because if there had been four Wise Men they would have brought four gifts with them. And through the centuries, in all the countries that Matthew’s Gospel has been read they have come to the same conclusion. Question 2 - what were the three gifts? Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh. The three gifts have always been seen in a symbolic way. Each one is a prophetic statement about the child Jesus, because the Wisemen believed that this child was so totally special that they had travelled about one thousand miles. An Arabian Camel can manage 40 miles a day, which means that it would take at least 25 days travelling non-stop to see Jesus, but would probably have taken two to thee months to complete the journey, with the visit to Jerusalem were they met with King Herod. The gift of Gold is a symbol of Kingship - Jesus is to be the King of the Jews, not in an earthly sense but in a Divine sense. The gift of Frankincense is a symbol of priesthood - Jesus is to be High Priest. The gift of Myrrh is a symbol of death, it is one of the spices that is placed around a corpse - Jesus’ death was to be not just important but something which was to change the world. All of these symbols can be misunderstood. Many Jews wanted Jesus to be their king and lead an uprising against the Romans who occupied their country. Others wanted Jesus to be the High Priest who got rid of the Pharisees and Sadducees and run their country. Even the disciples wanted to stop Jesus going to Jerusalem at the end of his ministry because they knew that the Pharisees and Sadducees would join forces and kill him. As we follow the ministry of Jesus we learn that these gifts of Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh do tell us about Jesus, but that the way of Jesus, the way of God is totally different because in each area, Kingship, Priesthood and death, the Divine way is always about Love, Care and Compassion, and that life and death is about service; that life is about giving not receiving. The Revd Father Andrew Lane SSL
We have no doubt celebrated the arrival of some lovely Christmas presents. We will now be living our lives in the light of our new Smartphone, our new laptop, our new teddy bear, our new slippers. . All this giving has been in the light of the most amazing Christmas present – the gift of God in Jesus, who has changed the world.Our Epistle reading from Galatians reminds us that Jesus came at just the right time in the history of the world. The Romans had subdued so much of the civilised world. Roman roads had made travel and communication much easier as Roman troops guarded them. The Greek language and culture had united society and Greek thoughts on God had made a mark. But people were spiritually hungry, longing to know God`s guidance.Verses 4 and 5 of Galatians 4 detail all that we inherit through the baby in the manger, as followers of Christ. God sent his Son that we might know the status of being a son, as special to God as Jesus. He has given us the Holy Spirit, that we might speak to him in prayer and relate to him as a child of God. As his heir, we inherit all the wonders of heaven. That friendship is reflected in our regularly affirming `Our Father who art in heaven . . .`In our Old Testament reading, Isaiah speaks of our relationship with God. The Kingdom that God would be of great beauty, like a bride dressed for her wedding, called by a new name, and like a beautiful crown for the Lord. God delights in us his children and invites us into friendship with him. When you and I have our `down` days, we need to lift our thoughts and be enabled to be strengthened in his love.Our Gospel reminds us that the first Christian converts were ordinary people. It was the shepherds, fearful and confused by a vision of angels. They are prepared to go and examine the truth. They are enthusiastic about telling other people what they have heard and seen, and to sing the praise of God. They had a story to tell. We all have a story to tell which is about an encounter with Jesus, about his presence through the storms, about the reality of answered prayer, about a friendship begun, continued and ending in Him. As we enter a new year, we give thanks that God delights in us and leads us on.Today is New Year`s Eve. There has been much written about the passing of an old year and the beginning of a new one. The poet Tennyson spoke of it in terms of the ringing out of bells, in his poem entitled `In Memoriam: Ring out, Wild Bells`. The poem was written at a time of great sadness for Tennyson as he mourned the death at only 22 of the young man who had been due to marry his sister. It takes up many of the themes we might link with at new year. Each verse ends with mention of the positive good for which we all yearn. The repeated call to ring out and ring in the bells encourages us that things can change. There are Christmas bells but the hope is for `a thousand years of peace` and for `the Christ that is to be`, not simply as a child in the manger but as the ruling sovereign of the end times. You and I are entrusted with the passing on of that good news, here in Sheringham and in all the places God has put us to minister in his name, in this new year. Let`s be inspired by the poem:-`In Memoriam: Ring out, Wild Bells` by Alfred, Lord Tennyson (1809 – 1892)Ring out, wild bells, to the wild sky, The flying cloud, the frosty light; The year is dying in the night; Ring out, wild bells, and let him die.Ring out the old, ring in the new, Ring, happy bells, across the snow: The year is going, let him go; Ring out the false, ring in the true.Ring out the grief that saps the mind, For those that here we see no more; Ring out the feud of rich and poor, Ring in redress to all mankind.Ring out a slowly dying cause, And ancient forms of party strife; Ring in the nobler modes of life; With sweeter manners, purer laws.Ring out the want, the care, the sin,The faithless coldness of the times; Ring out, ring out my mournful rhymes, But ring the fuller minstrel in.Ring out false pride in place and blood, The civic slander and the spite; Ring in the love of truth and right, Ring in the common love of good.Ring out old shapes of foul disease; Ring out the narrowing lust of gold; Ring out the thousand wars of old, Ring in the thousand years of peace.Ring in the valiant man and free, The larger heart, the kindlier hand, Ring out the darkness of the land, Ring in the Christ that is to be.(Revd.) Pat Hopkins
Lord, direct our thoughts, and teach us to pray. Lift up our hearts to worship you in spirit and in truth, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.‘Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise him in the heights! Praise him, all his angels; praise him, all his host!’ (Psalm 148:1-2)Hymn: Ding! Dong! merrily on high...Isaiah 61:10-62:3; Galatians 4:4-7The sun of righteousness has dawned with healing in his wings. Let us come to the light of Christ, confessing our sins in penitence and faith:Most merciful God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, we confess that we have sinned in thought, word and deed. We have not loved you with our whole heart. We have not loved our neighbours as ourselves. In your mercy forgive what we have been, help us to amend what we are, and direct what we shall be; that we may do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with you, our God. Amen.May the God of love bring us back to himself, forgive us our sins, and assure us of his eternal love in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.Prayer for the day: God in Trinity, eternal unity of perfect love: gather the nations to be one family, and draw us into your holy life through the birth of Emmanuel, our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.Luke 2:15-21Please see the Christmas Message from the Minister.Let us join in prayer, asking for the light of the Lord to be known to everyone:We pray for the Church throughout the world, that people will be drawn together by the love of our Lord, and that this season will be a special time for all;We pray for our planet, that the Earth and all of its creatures will thrive, and that all people will work together in peace;We pray for our friends, families and neighbours - may we all share the love of Christ and build relationships;We pray for people who are sick or suffering, especially for those on our hearts and minds today, that they will know our Lord’s healing presence;We pray for the departed, remembering all who mourn.Let us pray for the coming of God’s kingdom in the prayer that Jesus taught Peter and all of us: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done; on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory for ever and ever. Amen.Hymn: Praise, my soul, the King of Heaven...May Christ the Sun of Righteousness shine upon us, scatter the darkness from before our path, and make us ready to meet him when he comes in glory; and may the blessing of God Almighty who is Father, Son and Holy Spirit rest upon us and remain with us always.Let us go in peace to love and serve the Lord, in the name of Christ. Amen.
