Amongst the daily gloom about recession, the recent news that the Bank of England had reduced the base lending rate by an uncharacteristically large 1.5% brought both anxiety and hope. The size of the cut and the accompanying commentary indicated grave concerns about the seriousness of the economic climate, yet the news brought hope of a subsequent fall in high street bank lending rates to ease the pressure on home owners and businesses.
The credit crunch has already taken its victims with job losses, negative equity, and house repossessions. Without minimising the awful effect these issues can have on individuals and families, I wonder if the credit crunch is all bad. How could we use this time of financial uncertainty more positively? Could it give all of us an opportunity to re-evaluate our attitudes to material possessions and money?
The Bible has countless references to money, bearing witness that lucre itself isn’t necessarily filthy! One verse emphasises the problem to be the love of money: ‘Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”’ As Christmas approaches, and expectations rise about the latest ‘must haves’, it is important that we view possessions from a perspective of contentment. To be content doesn’t mean we must shun obtaining new possessions, increasing our bank balance, enlarging our home, wanting good things for our children, but it means not needing them in order to be happy. The Apostle Paul said, ‘I have learnt the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through Him who gives me strength’.
In comparison with the fleeting value of money and possessions, God says that He will never leave you or forsake you. As we enter Advent in a recession, I encourage you to ask for God’s strength to help you be content and to stand firm against the commercial pressure that can swamp this season. These days of financial uncertainty give a very real opportunity to re-evaluate what, or who, we seek for contentment, and to turn to God as the only true source of security and strength.
Elsewhere in this edition are details of Advent and Christmas Services and the St Giles’ Christmas Festival, and we look forward to welcoming you. May you know God’s contentment this Advent, His joy this Christmas, and His hope for the New Year.
Adrian
FROM THE URC MINISTER
Is the Christmas story just a fairy tale? With angels, dreams, a moving star and a virgin birth, is the story just make-believe?
Some people are inclined to dismiss the whole story because of those features. But if you do so, you may miss the main point. Through Jesus, who was a real person, living in a certain area of the world at a particular time in history, God was revealed.
Jesus was known by thousands as a man who transformed their lives by His welcome and His teaching, by the healing they received and their new sense of purpose. After His death over 500 people saw Jesus was alive again in a new way, and the power of His spirit has transformed millions of individuals, built new communities, changed whole societies and continues to be effective around the world.
The start of Jesus’ human life was traced by Luke to His birth to Mary at Bethlehem during a census of the Roman Empire. His mother laid him to sleep in the animals’ hay because there was no room in the crowded guesthouse. Shepherds visited Him there and saw proof of the news they had amazingly heard on the hillside. They returned praising God.
Matthew records how Joseph was convinced that Mary was pregnant with God’s child, and he should still marry her as planned. Wise men from a great distance came bearing gifts to worship the baby they believed would be a king. This was confirmed for them by the convergence of the prophecy in royal records, the light which led them to his house, and the dream which sent them home by a different route.
John, the writer, saw in Jesus the grace and truth of God, and God’s creative word. In Jesus, John saw real life, and the light for all people. The divine word, he declared, was not a mystical mystery but flesh and blood.
That is the point. In Jesus, the creator has shown love for the world, and continues to show it in creative, transforming, life-giving ways. That is what we are celebrating, in worship and in festive sharing. And as we move into New Year, that is what can bring real renewal. May there be Christmas and New Year blessings for you all.
Bernie
FROM THE CHURCHES’ REGISTERS
Baptisms at St Giles’
Oct 26th Billy Stuart Mower
Skye Suzanne Tuesday Mower
Cremations at Breakspear Crematorium
Oct 15th Edith Tester, aged 96
Oct 20th Brian Harrison, aged 84 (after service at St Giles’)
Oct 21st Nancy Rowlands, aged 92
Burial at Northwood Cemetery
Oct 17th Evelyn Padian, aged 68 (after service at St Giles’)
ST GILES’ CHURCH MONTHLY STREET PRAYER LIST
Each Sunday at St Giles’ Church we pray for all the people who live or work in a particular road in the Parish.
During December and January we will pray for the following roads:
Dec 7th Swakeleys Drive
Dec 14th Swakeleys Road
Dec 21st Tavistock Road
Dec 28th Tayfield Close
Jan 4th The Avenue
Jan 11th The Chase
Jan 18th The Greenway
Jan 25th The Grove
If you live in one of these roads why not join us at our 8am or 9.45am services? You will be most welcome.
LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION!
Tinsel for the angels, tea towels for the shepherds: our Junior Churches will be working hard as usual to come up with their versions of the Christmas Story to delight us all. At the URC, the performance will take place at the 11am service on Sun 14th December. A week later, on 21st December, the St Giles’ Junior Church gives their display at 9.45am in the Church Hall.
