the nativity

We are not sure we want to plug this (having not seen it) ... but then again it could be really good. 

In the end this is how we are handling it. 

the nativity 

(BBC 1, Mon - Thurs, 7.00-7.30 pm)

Carol Services at Grace this Sunday

We have been giving out over 4000 (hoping to make it close to 5000) 'Christmas Card' invitations to our Carol Services along with a fun Christmas leaflet (Naughty or Nice), explaining the message we will be proclaiming.  

Below is our 'Christmas Card' image and my working title for the morning 'Family Christmas Special': 

Click for large image

Merry and Bright!

One of the best ever versions of 'I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas'? 

Enjoy.

faces

Restoration Work

‘You know what happens when a portrait that has been painted on a panel becomes obliterated through external stains. The artist does not throw away the panel, but the subject of the portrait has to come and sit again, and then the likeness is redrawn on the same material. Even so it was with the All-holy Son of God. He, the image of the Father, came and dwelt in our midst, in order that He might renew mankind after Himself, and seek out His lost sheep, even as He says in the Gospel’ ( On the Incarnation - St Athanasius p41-42)

Extra Harks!

Jane & I sung a version of Charles Wesley's Hark the Herald Angels this morning that had two amazing 'extra' verses. Perhaps everyone knows about them? But they were a wonderful new addition to me.

Come, Desire of nations, come,
Fix in us Thy humble home;
Rise, the woman’s conqu’ring Seed,
Bruise in us the serpent’s head.
Now display Thy saving power,
Ruined nature now restore;
Now in mystic union join
Thine to ours, and ours to Thine.

Refrain

Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King!”

Adam’s likeness, Lord, efface,
Stamp Thine image in its place:
Second Adam from above,
Reinstate us in Thy love.
Let us Thee, though lost, regain,
Thee, the Life, the inner man:
O, to all Thyself impart,
Formed in each believing heart.

Refrain

Christmas Snaps: Gift Giving

Christmas Snaps: Hope

Christmas Snaps: Peace

Christmas Snaps: Life

Christmas Snaps: Belief

Costing the earth!

The taxpayers alliance evaluate the cost to taxpayers of environmental lobbying and the legislation that can follow. A double whammy. 

Christmas Snaps: Humility

Let's jump in the yule tide!

So let us jump in the Yule tide and take a swim—

 

Let's revel at these angels like the shepherds did,

Soak in all the news and never keep the tale hid.

Though man's tried to suppress the word with hateful scorn,

And the advertisers try to keep it forlorn,

This melody plays, even to the bowels of hell:

Our God is with us, Jesus, our Emanuel. 

[the end of a poem by Kent Travis. And what a last two lines!]

For the rest of it, see here

What is so hard about saying thank you?

I enjoyed watching this (superb graphics!) and enjoyed Doug's comment on it too.

HT: Doug Wilson

How do we know that the first Christmas actually happened?

Beget this! A Christmas Song from Matthew 1!

I am wondering if this might work as a congregational song?!
Come along this Sunday and find out where I end up on that!

Abraham had Isaac
Isaac, he had Jacob
Jacob, he had Judah and his kin
Then Perez and Zerah
Came from Judah's woman, Tamar
Perez, he brought Hezron up
And then came

Aram, then Amminadab
Then Nahshon, who was then the dad of Salmon
Who with Rahab fathered Boaz
Ruth, she married Boaz who had Obed
Who had Jesse
Jesse, he had David who we know as king

David, he had Solomon by dead Uriah's wife
Solomon, well you all know him
He had good old Rehoboam
Followed by Abijah who had Asa
Asa had Jehoshaphat had Joram had Uzziah
Who had Jotham then Ahaz then Hezekiah

Followed by Manasseh who had Amon
Who was a man
Who was father of a good boy named Josiah
Who grandfathered Jehoiachin
Who caused the Babylonian captivity
Because he was a liar  [my note ... not really the reason for the Babylonian captivity ... but it rhymes?! In this version Andrew Peterson says as much!]

Then he had Shealtiel, who begat Zerubbabel
Who had Abiud who had Eliakim
Eliakim had Azor who had Zadok who had Akim
Akim was the father of Eliud then
He had Eleazar who had Matthan who had Jacob
Now, listen very closely
I don't want to sing this twice
Jacob was the father of Joseph
The husband of Mary
The mother of Christ

There's Something About Mary

As I consider this humble Hebrew girl, and consider that God chose her to be the Mother of Jesus Christ, I am awed.  This woman bore the Creator of the universe in her womb.  He clutched to her breasts as a babe.  She soothed his infant fears giving him the joy and comfort that a mother provides to her children.  The Second Person of the GodHead, the Eternal Son of God, owed (owes) to her all of the duties of the 5th Commandment, the Creator bound to honor His creature.  Mind-blowing.  And Blessed indeed.            

 To see the rest of this article go to De Regno Christi