Monday 10 December 2018

Seeing the Light; Giving shelter: A Carol service address

An address to the Cumnor House Carol service at Croydon Minster on Monday 10th December, 2018.

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In the Bible, St John tells us about Jesus Christ coming into the world.

He does that in really beautiful and mystical words, including these:

‘in him was life and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it…And the Word became flesh and lived among us and we have seen his glory’ (John 1.4, 14).

When I look at the scene of the baby Jesus laid in a manger, with ox and ass either side of him, this is what I see: God. God who said in the beginning of time, ‘let there be light’ (Genesis 1.3) and God who, in Jesus Christ, shares what it’s like to be a human being, child and adult, and who came to live among us, as one of us.

Now I would like to ask you to look at the front cover of your order of service.


I wonder what the picture makes you think and feel.

I thought of St John’s words when I saw this beautiful picture.

When I saw the candle I thought of the light that God gives to the world in the very beginning and the light of Jesus Christ which shines in a cold, dark world, giving light and warmth.

When I saw the house in the background I remembered that St John tells us that the Word – God - became flesh and lived among us and we have seen his glory.

That house could be the stable in Bethlehem where Jesus was born where he began his life among us.

That house could also be a house that is full of warmth and Christmas cheer but where people who live on the streets or who are born in stables today can’t get in.

That house could be somewhere that people are caring for people who are cold, hungry and homeless at Christmas time.

At the end of this evening’s service there is a retiring collection. The collection will go to Croydon Churches Floating Shelter. The people who run the shelter give to people with no home somewhere warm to eat and sleep in the depths of winter. They give shelter; they give light.

Jesus, the light of world, lived among us but had no home. This Christmas can you make room in your heart for him, so that you can know his light and life and love?

‘in him was life and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it…And the Word became flesh and lived among us and we have seen his glory’ (John 1.4, 14).

Amen.

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