Sunday Worship
Welcome to our Sunday Worship on the first Sunday after Christmas. This morning there will be just one service - a Parish Eucharist at 11.00 am at St Thomas' Church. All are most welcome to join us, but if you're unable to be with us in person, the Gospel, a reflection and prayers are shown below.
Our first hymn this morning is "Light of the World (Here I am to Worship)"
Today's Gospel
Luke 2:15-21 The Shepherds and the Angels
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us." So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. After eight days had passed, it was time to circumcise the child; and he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
Reflection
Here we are on the eighth day after Christmas. The day we celebrate the naming of the son of God. Jesus which comes from the Hebrew word Yeshua that signifies, “the Lord is Salvation”. Despite repeatedly hearing this wonderful story of our Lord’s birth and incarnation in human form, it never ceases to amaze what a wonder this is, and what an awesome gift. In fact one could argue, that it is the first ever Christmas present. God’s own present to us, his chosen people.
And what a gift that is; God sent his only son to be with us in flesh, and ultimately die to save us all from our sins and from being separated from God. Jesus, our true salvation, ‘God with us’. It shows us just how much God loves us and wants to be present in our lives.
To quote Shakespeare, (from Romeo and Juliet), “What’s in a name?”
Well in Jesus’ case, it was the name Mary was told to give him by the angel Gabriel, before he was conceived in her womb. It is no ordinary name. It reveals Jesus’ relationship to humanity and to each of us. He is constantly with us, every time we call His name and pray, he promises to hear us.
Every time we mention His name, we acknowledge the need for God’s salvation and mercy. Every time we turn to Jesus, we renew our personal relationship with him and open ourselves to His forgiveness, His love and His healing power.
So, let “every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord” (Philippians 2:11). We, like the shepherds in Luke’s gospel, have a duty to share the good news of God’s Kingdom. Like them we should glorify and praise God for all we had heard and seen.
Paul
Our Prayers
