The holidays are over and the new year is well underway. I trust that you had a good break and are excited about what God might do in and through us this year. If you are here for the first time - welcome. Mike and Dawn both return in the next week or so. Over the next few Sundays our aim as staff is to talk about what we would like to see happen this year and to invite you to join in with your dreams as well. On the 14th February Mike has invited Merrilyn Withers to share the excellent message she gave at last year’s Baptist Assembly on taking a risk for God. Then over the next couple of Sundays we want to explore where we think God is leading us this year. There will also be an opportunity for you to join with others in prayer as we seek to discern what our individual response to that might be. On the 28th February, Dawn and I are hosting a lunch for all parents of our children and teenagers to talk about some initiatives we want to introduce this year. So if you’re a parent it’s important that you join with us, so please keep this date free and plan to be there. All the best for the new year. Andrew
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Today is Advent Sunday - marking the start of the season of Advent, a period of special preparation for Christmas. The purpose of this traditional season is to help Christians focus on what Christmas really means, why the Christmas story is so important and so worth marking and celebrating. The traditional readings and emphases of the Advent season are designed to help us prepare ourselves for a genuine and worshipful celebration of the birth of Jesus - the “Word become flesh”, Emmanuel - God with us.
I think there has probably never been a time when Advent has been more important! In our age and in our society, when Christmas has become for so many a festival of consumption and commercialism, it is really valuable to take the traditional journey through Advent, and make a point of thinking afresh about what Christmas is really about.
I want to strongly urge you to do that. Particularly those of you who are parents - follow the Advent readings and traditions with your children. It’s easy to find suitable material on the internet, or in Christian bookshops. And it is worth the effort!
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