Celebrations of Christ’s birth are getting close. It’s right we celebrate: ‘The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world’. The timing of Christmas celebrations are not connected to the historical date of his birth, but capture a spiritual truth. In the northern hemisphere, it’s mid-winter; just after the shortest day of the year. Christmas is celebrated in the physical cold and dark. It’s a powerful way to make sense of Jesus’ arrival. The true light come into the world, when humanity most needed him. Our Australian Summer may not capture what those who set the date experienced. We enjoy long, hot days – remembering that a greater light shines. Christ comes to bring life to the full. We start with the good in Advent – looking to the greater.
This Christmas at St Michael’s, we’ll celebrate that light. As you receive the promotional material, you’re invited to look at our website, plan the services you’re coming to and pray for those you’re inviting.
If this is your first time celebrating Christmas with us, there is a lot to look forward to:
Carols at Corrimal (Saturday 21st):
A BBQ from 6pm, and from 6:30pm lots of Carols in a contemporary style, at church.
Carols on the Lawn (Wollongong, Sunday 22nd):
Food trucks and kid’s activities from 6pm, and from 7pm Carols in a contemporary style all on the lawn outside. Stick around for complimentary supper.
Christmas Eve (Tuesday 24th):
Carols in the Cathedral (Wollongong) – led by a vocal choir and orchestra; an uplifting service of carols and readings at 5pm (with kids talk) & 7pm
Christmas Day (Wednesday 25th):
7:30am (Wollongong) – A more formal, classic Anglican Christmas service with Communion
9am (Corrimal) – A contemporary Christmas celebration with carols, clips & kids talk
9:30am (Wollongong) – A contemporary Christmas celebration with carols, clips & kids talk
As we celebrate true light, the starting place to make the most of this time, is to lean more heavily on God and remember to pray. This prayer might be a useful way to start each day from now to the 25th…
Heavenly Father,
We praise & thank you for the gift of your Son: the Prince of Peace.
We long for Him to come again & experience His reign in full. Come Lord Jesus.
As Advent approaches, we delight in Christ’s first coming, bringing light to the world:
For Christ’s willingness to take flesh & share our humanity;
For his grace to choose poverty, that we might share His riches;
For his compassion to share our weakness, that he might be our sympathetic high priest;
For his sacrifice that means death – & the one who held us slaves to fear – have been broken;
For his humility even to death on a cross, that he might be rightly exalted & every tongue confess Him Lord.
Lord, use this time to refresh your people. Guard us from begrudging the busyness & give us a spirit of celebration. ‘You have given us your only Son to take our nature upon him and as at this time to be born of a pure virgin: grant that we, being born again and made your children by adoption and grace, may daily be renewed by your Holy Spirit’. Comfort us with the good news & refresh every believer in our churches to live & speak in a way that those around would ask us for the reason for the hope we have.
Make us bold. May we joyfully tell all people that the Saviour has come. In private conversations & public services – may we present Christ clearly. Fill us with your heart for the lost that we’d be creative & persistent in proclaiming Him.
Father, we thank you that our culture is still open to hearing of Christ & accepting invitations at Christmas. May your Spirit powerfully work to soften hearts, incline people to accept invitations, hear the gospel & accept Jesus as their Lord & Saviour. We ask this year, that you would gather the elect in such great number, that would shame our low expectations. May every believer have the joy of inviting at least one person & seeing you bring them from death to life. Save multitudes for the glory of the Word become flesh.
In His glorious name we pray,
Amen.
Mark Smith
Senior Minister | Congregational Pastor 8am & 7pm
