Hi from Rev Richard,

The New Year is here . The Partying is over and it is back to normality.
The Christmas decorations are down and stored away for later this year (Yes only 11 months till we get them out again – or 7 months probably in the shops !! )
How much of Christmas is still with us?

Rev Sheila wrote last month about; “The Epiphany and the Wise Men and their searching for the baby Jesus. Do remember the saying, “The wise men searched for Jesus and wise men (people) still do !! “

What was your lasting memory of the Celebrations of such a world shattering event -the Birth of God’s Son ?

Was it one of the services you went to, something that was said there. or one of the readings or something in one of the carols ?
How about the sermon in Charing Heath’s carol service? Just three words acted out by some young people. “Follow the Star” (Furthering our reflections in the little Booklet issued by the Church of England and read by many of us).

Is that a catch phrase we could keep as our motto for this year? The world spends a lot of time, energy and money following the stars of screen, stage and sports field. Do you spend a lot of time following the “STAR” of the Christmas story?

What were those well-loved carols? “O come all ye faithful “ to what? Or “While shepherds watched” … and then did what? Or “Once in Royal David’s city” and Mary did what? Or “Hark the herald angels sing” what did they sing?

Those oh so well known words sung so enthusiastically every year. BUT what did they say to you this year? Yes we know them off by heart and know the tune but do we ever stop and pause and reflect on what we are/were singing?
Perhaps one of the most prominent phrases is in the first line of the first carol I quoted above: “O come”. Come to what in this the 21st century? No, not actually to Bethlehem, but to be closer to God in Jesus. How, you may ask? What do I need to do or join or read or ?????

I think the answer is to PRAY (ie spending time with GOD) and as we pray so God draws us into His Kingdom. NO not a Kingdom as we see it on earth but a spiritual place of knowing God more intimately. This we surely do by our Bible reading, attending worship with other like-minded Christians, join a Prayer Meeting, join a Home Group. Just being with other Christians and talking about JESUS.

SO IN THIS NEW YEAR BESIDE ALL THOSE NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS YOU HAVE MADE (and probably broken by now) LET’S ALL “FOLLOW THE STAR” JESUS
and may you always know His presence. Richard