Many institutions have slogans, strap lines, or mission statements. Coca Cola is remembered for the ‘It’s the real thing’ slogan, and TripAdvisor’s mission statement reads, ‘To help people around the world, plan and have the perfect trip’. The Church of England also has, what might be called a mission statement, a statement of Christian faith, called the Nicene Creed. The Nicene Creed was established at the Council of Nicaea in 325AD. At this time the Christian church was wounded and scattered, but there was a deep desire to live faithfully as disciples of Christ. One important statement of the Nicene Creed comes right at the beginning and refers to God as ‘creator’. It reads, ‘We believe in one god, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen’. It can be challenging, but as Christians we believe that although God cannot be seen by human eyes, he can be seen through his creation. Theophilus of Antioch, who wrote in the second century, likened this to the pilot of a large ship. Although from a distance you may not see the pilot, you can see the ship being guided, and so God guides the world, his creation. Creation is given to us from God, but as human beings we often neglect this precious gift. We can be ignorant to the suffering of both the world and the people in it. So, we call on you today; to reflect on what small action you might take to ensure God’s creation is a special place to live in.
The Christmas Story, or nativity, that we are now so familiar with is told in the gospels of Luke 2: 1-21 and Matthew 1: 18-25 and 2: 1-12. Over the years we have woven these differing accounts into one magical Christmas story, with shepherds, Wise men, angels, animals, a stable and an angry King. Christmas is a wonderful and magical time for children, but as adults we mustn’t lose the magic, or ignore the Christmas message either. The deeper message of Christmas, that Christ is the Light and love of God, and he is Emmanuel, God with us. The birth of Jesus brings a spark of new light, the offer of new possibilities, the opportunity, that when we commit to faith in Jesus, the Holy Spirit can nurture and transform us. The greatest gift that God gave to the world was his son Jesus Christ. And in the troubled, and uncertain times that the world finds itself in we invite you to re-visit the accounts of the birth of Christ that are recorded in the bible and discover for yourself the ‘Kingdom of God’. We look forward to seeing you at St. Margaret’s, Fletton at one of our Christmas services. All are welcome.
Ash Wednesday is a holy day of prayer and fasting which signifies the start of Lent. Church services are held where churchgoers receive ash on their foreheads. The wearing of ashes is seen as a sign of repentance. The ashes are prepared by burning palm leaves from the previous year’s Palm Sunday service. Psalms for Ash Wednesday Psalm 50: ‘The Mighty One Calls’ ‘All go to the same place; Psalm 51: ‘A Psalm of David’ all come from dust, Psalm 58: ‘God Judges the Earth’ and to dust all return’. Readings for Ash Wednesday Ecclesiastes 3: 20 Joel 2: 1-2, 12-17 Isaiah 58: 1-12 2 Corinthians 5: 20b-6, 10 Matthew 6: 1-6, 16-21 Hymns and Worship Songs for Ash Wednesday Alas Thou Didst My Saviour Bleed My Song is Love Unknown Change My Heart, Oh God Again We keep this Solemn Fast Love Divine, All Love Excelling O For a Heart to Praise My God To Dust You Shall Return Dear Lord and Father of Mankind Kum ba yah Take My Life and Let it Be Will You Come and Follow Me All That I AmAsh Wednesday Activity Go on a walk with friends or family. Along the way find a stick and draw a cross in the earth. Make a Lenten paperchain. Each day during Lent remove a chain and do a small task for someone else in kindness and love. Light a candle as a reminder that Jesus is the light of the world. Plant a bulb or seed as a reminder that Jesus brings hope and joy.Ash Wednesday Prayer Merciful God, On this day of ashes and reflection, I come before You with a humble heart. Teach me to turn away from all which draws me from Your light, and to walk in the path of grace and truth. May the dust upon my forehead remind me that life is fragile, yet filled with Your promise. Renew my spirit, cleanse my heart, and guide me through this Lenten journey toward the hope of resurrection. Amen.Ash Wednesday Facts The date of Ash Wednesday varies and falls 46 days before Easter. The earliest date it can be is 4th February, and the latest is 10th March. Ash Wednesday marks the first day of fasting of the Lenten period. It is preceded by Shrove Tuesday ‘Pancake Day’ when traditionally rich food is eaten prior to the abstinence of Lent. The Liturgical colour displayed in churches is purple, signifying the serious nature of Ash Wednesday. The key themes of Ash Wednesday are repentance, mortality and humility.
Doesn’t Christmas seem a long time ago now? the decorations have been tidied away, the lights have been taken down, and the New Year resolutions that we made, when we were filled with positivity, have been broken; life can seem a bit flat. The challenge to us all is to hold onto the joy and optimism of the nativity, not just through the Christmas season, but throughout the year. This can be difficult as it is natural to look backwards, not forwards, it is normal to doubt ourselves, rather than to be confident in our abilities, it is only human to let our failures outweigh our successes, and we often set ourselves unrealistic targets. We set ourselves up to fail. In Isaiah 43: 18-19 we are told to ‘Forget the former things: do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland’. God reminds us that we should always have hope, even when the road ahead looks empty, and we feel that options are few. God reassures us that we should embrace change, no matter how difficult and uncomfortable that may be. And most of all God appeals for us to have faith, faith in the unseen future, faith in him, and faith in ourselves. So may you carry the joy and optimism of the nativity with you throughout this coming year in whatever you do.
