Sermon for Christmas Day 2025
Christ’s Christmas peace be upon you all. Amen.
‘The people walking in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of deep darkness
a light has dawned’ (Isaiah 9:2).
Let us pray: ‘Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path’ (Psalm 119:105). Awaken us Lord, to your morning light.
Then it dawned on me.
My friends: When did the light of Christ dawn on you? When did it dawn on you, that you needed a Saviour: from these dark days, from the world around you, from yourself? Has it dawned on you that God has sent his Son into the world to dispel the darkness in you and the darkness that surrounds you?
Life was very dark in Isaiah’s day, maybe even as dark and misguided as the world is today! The majority of people, even God’s chosen people, had wandered away from the light that gives true life. In Isaiah’s day, instead of Jerusalem being the world’s pinnacle of light, with the Temple of God being a true lighthouse to show the Way for all people; the people of God, what with their lip-service to the Lord, their dark deeds done in the shadows, and their insatiable iniquity amongst men; they had made Mount Zion into the valley of the shadow of death. That’s the historical context of chapters 8 & 9 of the Book of Isaiah. Those days were very dark. The light had been snuffed out, not by God, but by His people.
But the Lord could not bear to have the lights off for long. He had given them the seven-branched lampstand for a reason – to be the light shining in the darkness and as a reminder of their gift of holiness as custodians of the covenant. The Lord kept trying to flick-the-switch back on to shed light upon the lives of His beloved people for their sake and for the sake of the world. He kept shining the searchlight over the dire prospects of a people who had turned away from Him towards the darkness of sin and death. Like a ship navigating a rocky coastline on a moonless night, the people were on a collision course with destruction. So little-by-little, God would shine the spotlight to judge his people by their own words. He would send the prophets with the intention and word of enlightenment. He would send the plagues and pestilences to wake them up from their slumber. He would send the foreign armies to expose their shame. The Lord would judge His people, not all at once as a floodlight when He did in the days of Noah, (see what I did there), but rather little-by-little, so that it may dawn on them that He is the Lord God Almighty, and there is no other. But time after time, the blind kept leading the blind. The Apostle John would sum up the situation saying, ‘This is the verdict: light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God’ (John 3:19-21). This has been humanity’s situation ever since the Fall when the fallen angel of light deceptively said to our first-parents, “Follow me, and I’ll light up your way.”
And so, as the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, (not by a reformer like King Hezekiah as some thought in whom the prophecy was ultimately fulfilled), but by the Lord God Almighty Himself, as the names by which He will be called testify – ‘Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace’ (Isa 9:6). For first of all, into the darkest corners of the land, into Zebulun and Naphtali, does God enfleshed, Jesus of Nazareth emerge, saying “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Mtt 4:12-17). According to Isaiah’s prophecy, the Light of the world would first shine His healing rays into those darkest corners and begin dispelling the darkness from the valley of the shadow of death.
At the very beginning of His ministry, Jesus did not go directly to Jerusalem and preach from a pulpit in the Temple courts. Rather, in fulfillment of Isaiah and the other prophets, He began outside of Jerusalem and travelled near and far, teaching and healing, before going to confront the “lighthouse keepers,” those negligent priests and leaders who were not attending to lighting the lamp that was the Word of God. Again, judgement was coming. But now it would not come little-by-little, or even all-at-once. Instead, the Lord would come directly to save all the people all-at-once, by bringing the just judgment of God upon sin, upon Himself - His head crowned and hands and feet pierced as He hung on a tree. He was born into the world, to die for the sins of the world. In that dark day of Jesus’ death upon the cross, when the heavenly lights went out, the light of God there concealed in the flesh of the Son of Man, would in three days shine an eternal light, as the New Day dawned from on high.
Jesus said to his disciples, therefore he says it to you also, ‘You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven’ (Mtt 5:14-16). So, for you who have had the light of Christ dawn upon you, how might you let your light shine into this dark world this Christmas? What might you do or say that might shed some light on the situation? One thing we can do together this Season of light, is send the offerings collected to the National Council of Churches in Australia/Act for Peace Christmas Bowl Christmas Appeal. I read from the brochure…
And the peace of God that passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds enlightened in the baby born for you, Christ the Lord. Amen.
Christmas Eve Message 2025
‘Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord’ (Lk 2:11).
The message of this part of the Best-selling Non-fictional Story Ever Told is that:
‘No one misses out.’
What do I mean by that?
Well, have you ever considered just how strange the message of one of those confirmed in eternal goodness, righteousness, and holiness, they being the holy angels of God[1], is, to those shepherds minding their own business and trying to get on washing their socks by night, I mean watching their flocks by night?
You just heard it, but let’s refresh the text.
And there were shepherds living out in the fields near by, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger’ (Lk 2:8-12).
Wouldn’t you have expected the angelic monologue more of the likes of:
10 …‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to an old man named Joseph and a young woman named Mary; he is the Messiah, the Lord.
But no! Rather you heard what should have given you whiplash as you cranked your heads left and right looking at each other in delightful surprise and have had you backflipping down the aisles in joyous rapture that a Saviour has been born, not just to two random folks 2000 years ago, but to you! Let me repeat it if you missed it, ‘Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you, not only to Mary and Joseph, but to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord’ (Lk 2:11).
You don’t miss out! No one misses out! The message of this part of the best-selling Non-fictional Story Ever Told is that ‘No one misses out.’ No one goes childless. No one goes Saviourless. No one has permission to be joyless. No one has reason for hopelessness. No one need miss out on their turn of holding the Christ-child in their heart and in the morning on their lips and tongues with bread and wine. It was the Lord’s intention from the very beginning and opening pages of this best-selling Non-fictional Story Ever Told is that ‘No one misses out.’ No one is to miss out on the Good News that a Saviour has been born to you, and the point being, to them out there, not of this fold, also!
‘Cause, if its anything good on offer, nobody, but nobody likes to miss out! What a cruel joke it would be to have given only three of your four children a birthday present this year! What a crushing blow it would be for a child to wake tomorrow morning to find their name overlooked on any of the gifts under the tree! It’s bad enough when we miss out on the little things of life, what then of the one thing needful (Lk 10:42)?
But so that no one was to miss out, the ancient prophecy of Isaiah 9:6 -
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government will be upon his shoulder, and his name will be called “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace”
…was fulfilled in time, ‘Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord’ (Lk 2:11). As it was in the declaration of the angel, so it was in the promise of the prophet: they both employed the plural! The “to us all” of Isaiah and the “to you all” of the angel leaves no one missing out!
After Jesus, ‘grew in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man’ (Lk 2:52), and following His rejection, Passion, death on a cross and resurrection from the dead, and at His ascension He said to the infant church He had gathered, the likes of, “Let no one miss out!” For am I mistaken for condensing the Great Commission given to the church at Jesus’ Ascension, ‘…go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age’ (Mtt 28:19-20), down to the 4-word phrase, ‘No one misses out?”
The Saviour born to you, Christ the Lord, is also with you and for you. God be praised that you havn’t missed out! But do you know someone who is missing out? What a shame for them and for us. Jesus said that no one was to miss out, saying‘…go and make disciples of all nations.’ But it’s only a shame for us and for them, if we are the ones being negligent…if we refuse to obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus…if we neglect to be, first of all, the people of the Great Invitation, ‘Come and see,’ and then collectively as congregation the people of the Great Commission ‘…go and make disciples of all nations.’
But as people of the Great Invitation, we must also be ready for the “Great Rejection” ...and it will sting, it will hurt as any rejection does…it will sadden us, but it won’t bring us any shame or regret, today or on the Last Day. Katie and the kids did a 200 strong Christmas Eve mailbox drop around the neighbourhood with invitation and LTM tracts, most of which would have been immediately added to the recipient’s recycling bin, but it really does hurt, knowing that we have God’s gift of free salvation to give, and to give it in spades, that you receive the reply of the likes…e.g.
But doing the Lord’s work of invitation will also bring with it the rejection that the Son of God experienced Himself. No matter our desire that ‘No one misses out’ and our pursuit of it by invitation, there will inevitably be a “thanks, but no thanks’ reply from some, if not most, and sometimes it will even be a full-on rejection as I demonstrated.
But every day, until the Last, there is a new generation being born into the world for which the eternal Son of God was also born into the world to save from eternal death and damnation that sin and rebellion deserves. In an ever-increasing world of confusion, where age-old definitions change as often as the weather, a people not yet born need not miss out on the fact that they have on offer a Wonderful Counsellor to walk alongside them. In such a world in which so many are trapped by abuse and addiction, no one need miss out on the fact that they have a Mighty God who can save them from such a spiral. In such a misguided world, each new generation need not miss out of the fact that they have an everlasting Father who demonstrates to them the true way to live. In an ever-increasingly violent world, no one is to miss out on the Good News that the Prince of Peace, born this happy morn, will one day have everyone turn their weapons of warfare into implements of agriculture.
No one is to miss out. That’s the mission of God and therefore of the church in the world. You have been invited to believe the Good News, and live it out for the sake of those still missing out. For, ‘Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord’ (Lk 2:11).
And the peace of God that passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Jesus, born for you and to you so that you do not miss out.
[1] they in their legions who could, just before their departure from heaven to earth, stare down Satan and laugh at his face at his imminent downfall
Sermon for Second Sunday after Christmas, 05.01.2025
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
The Lord’s apostle writes: ‘The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognise him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God – 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God’ (John 1:9-13).
Let us pray: Father, we thank you for the prophecies that foretold the coming of our Saviour, Jesus. We thank you that he is a Wonderful Counsellor, that he is the mighty King of Judah, the Everlasting Father and the Prince of Peace. We thank you that your Kingdom is held up by justice and righteousness and that it reigns forever. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Brothers and sisters in Christ: As it happens, baby twin boys were born into the world. As they grew up in the same family home, they naturally shared the same bedroom, they sat at the same table for meals, they went to the same local Kinda and schools. They came home each day and raided the same pantry and fridge. Being maternal twins they looked perfectly identical to the untrained eye. While they had near identical physical features, and it impossible to tell them apart when they shouted out from the other room, and while they had learnt good manners and shared familial mannerisms, yet when it came to their interests, they grew a world apart.
Whenever word got out that Dad was going fishing in the morning, the one son begged to go with, while the other remained content to stay behind and pursue his own interests. Whenever Dad was “under the hood,” the one son was there ready to pass the quarter or half inch spanner or to turn the key over, while the other was content to sit inside and happily build his Meccano. When Dad took up golf, it sparked the interest of the one son, while the other was more than happy to continue pursuing his music obsession. For years and years Dad dropped one son off to his beloved band practice, while he and the other son kept playing what they comically called “Army golf” – left, right, left, right.
Certainly any DNA test, and even anybody in town with a half-decent eyesight could confirm this father and twin sons connection. Even the way the three of them each parted their hair, and how each of the sons, upon adulthood, had practically morphed into the face and features of their father, undeniably proved the boy’s parentage. So, at face value, if you will, nothing was amiss. But below the skin-deep superficiality of family facades there remained an unfortunate and awkward difference between each son and their father.
But no accusation at all could be flung at the father! He loved each son as much as the other, providing an equal share of what he could provide. Not an easy thing to do, but he measured up, every single day, of making the offer of himself equally between them. Whenever and whatever the occasion for some “Father and Son time,” Dad always stopped to ask the other son, “Wanna come and join us?” His home and his arms were equally and always open to both, anytime. There was no favouritism. He wanted the best for both, and was brave enough to let each find their own place in the world – never twisting their arm this way, or that.
But still there was this unfortunate and awkward difference. But if this difference didn’t lie at the feet of the father, where was its origin? By the relational details I have shared, I think you might know. It was the different relational attitudes each son displayed towards their father. It wasn’t a difference to be distinguished according to some kind of moral judgment, but for the one son who practically shadowed his father, the difference revealed a connectedness and an affection – a relationship which became so much more in becoming a friendship and fellowship – one that a family tree alone can’t provide, nor even living under the same roof will guarantee. Living in the family home and receiving protection and all the material benefits provided there is one thing, but when the bond and benefits of friendship and fellowship are added, well that’s on a completely different level!
St John writes: The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognise him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God – 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God’ (John 1:9-13).
As one Bible commentator put it:
In any family there can be contact without communion; there can be relationship without fellowship. All men [and we of course mean all people here] are the sons of God in the sense that all owe to God the creation and the preservation of their lives; but only some become the sons of God in the real depth and intimacy of the true father-son or father-daughter relationship.
St John speaks the truth when he says that it is only through Jesus Christ, the true, perfect and wholly obedient Son of God that anyone, which is all of us prior to our rebirth by baptism and faith, can be brought into that supernatural depth and intimacy of the true father and son, or daughter, friendship and fellowship. This kind of “another level” relationship is opened up to all who believe and are baptised into the most holy name – that being Jesus, or ‘in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit’ as is commanded by Jesus.
For we cannot make ourselves sons of God; we have to enter into a relationship which God offers us. No one can ever enter into friendship with God by their own desire or power; there is too great a breakdown in relations for anyone of us to repair or reconcile our faults before God. We can only enter into friendship with God when he himself opens the way.
None of us can knock on the doors of Buckingham Palace and expect to waltz in like we were one of the family. But if we had an invitation, that would be different. Even philosophers admitted that, in a natural and impersonal way, we are all sons of God, saying, ‘For in him we live and move and have our being’ (Acts 17:28a). But by way of invitation and the receiving of it in faith, and not just because we are naturally his, our heavenly Father offers us, as St John said, ‘the right to become children of God – children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God’ (John 1:12-13). St Paul would add, saying, ‘So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, 27 for all of you who were baptised into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ’ (Galatians 3:26-27).
That’s the invitation our heavenly Father extends to us today so that all the baptised hear again what has been offered to them, not just a natural, distant and an impersonal relationship with God, but a close personal friendship and fellowship in the likes of a true father-son or father-daughter relationship – that which is truly “on another level,” and one that endures into all eternity.
This invitation, though, also goes out to the unbaptised. For if we return to the opening story of the twin boys and their Dad, a loving Father always desires both sons, the affectionate and the aloof alike, to spend time together with him so that the relationship develops into what the Father desires most - friendship and fellowship! This of course, is what God, our heavenly Father desires most! This invitation and offer, to be received in faith, is not a one-time offer. It is extended every day via the usual whisper, or sometimes “alarm bell” of the Holy Spirit’s voice, calling out, “Wanna come and join us?”
And the Christmas peace of Christ still your hearts and minds in Christ the Lord. Amen.
Sermon for Christmas Day 2024
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
In verses 1 and 14 of John chapter 1 we hear that:
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Let us pray: Lord, sanctify us in the truth: your Word is Truth. Amen.
It's usually an unsettling thing when someone you respect or admire says to you, "I'd like a word with you". They could have any number of things to say to you. It could be a reprimand. Your first thought could be, "What have I done or what have I said to offend them?" Or it could be bad news, so you start catastrophising about the worst thing that could have happened. Or it could be that they want a favour out of you, so your first thought is, "What do they want from me?" Or it could be good news. Maybe they want to share some good news with you? Your mind might run over all these possibilities. But you won't know until they tell you.
We are people of the Word - the Holy Bible. James matter-of-factly says, 'He (that being our heavenly Father) chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created' (James 1:18). That there are any Christians at all, is because they are born of the Word.
We use words all the time to communicate. We read words. We hear words. We name things. We shorten words to save time. We even shape words, sometimes squishing two together to get a brand new one. Speaking is as basic a function for God as it is for us. God accomplishes his work through speaking words. God uses words to communicate. He spoke the world into being, "Let there be light" and there was light. Words can be just information, but they can also be perfomative, accomplishing the very thing for which they were sent (Isa 55:11). That's what the prophet Isaiah said about God's word. The Word of God can be so effective that its intended recipient doesn't even have to be in the same room, or even town. Remember the Centurion's confidence in the word of Jesus, when he said, 'But just say the word, and my servant will be healed' (Matthew 8:8b & Luke 7:7b)?
Today's Gospel text tells us about the most important Word from God. This Word gets a capital "W" because Jesus is more than a mere word.
Many of you might think of God's Word as an autobiography about God. But it has to be more than that if we believe that, "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us." Reading an autobiography about a person brings a limited amount of interaction and intimacy with them. Their lives are uncovered and their secrets are laid bare, but it will always be a remote experience for the reader. But what if you were married to the person in question? Then you would have full intimacy and daily interaction with them. You would have a closeness that an autobiography alone just can't provide. The Incarnation of the eternal Son of God brings this kind of fullness to the relationship between God and all people.
Here's an illustration: Long ago, there ruled a wise and good king. He loved his people. He wanted to know how they lived. He wanted to know about their hardships. Often he dressed in the clothes of a working man or a beggar, and went to the homes of the poor. No one whom he visited thought that he was their ruler. One time he visited a very poor man who lived in a cellar. The king ate the coarse food the poor man ate. He spoke cheerful, kind words to him. Then he left. Later he visited the poor man again and disclosed his identity by saying, "I am your king!" The king thought the man would surely ask for some gift or favour, but he didn't. Instead he said, "You left your palace and your glory to visit me in this dark, dreary place. You ate the course food I ate. You brought gladness to my heart! To others you have given your rich gifts. But to me you have given yourself!"
What the miracle of the Incarnation of God's Son and his birth teaches us, is that, the Word was made flesh and lived amongst us. He did not become an angel or another magnificent creature. He became man. We sing, "Man revealing God to man," in Briggs' hymn of praise. The Word "incarnate" doesn't just give you words about Jesus of Nazareth, but rather the word "incarnate" means that the Lord Jesus gives his whole self to you. He dwells with you through the mystery of the Word made flesh.
Martin Luther illustrated the amazing mystery of the Incarnation by retelling a fable. He said:
The following tale is told about a coarse and brutal lout. While the words “And was made man” were being sung in church, he remained standing, neither bowing in reverence, nor removing his hat. He showed no respect, but just stood there like a clod. All the other worshippers dropped to their knees when the Nicene Creed was sung. Then the devil stepped up to this one man and hit him so hard it made his head spin. The devil cursed the man and said: “May hell consume you, you fool! If God had become an angel like me and the congregation sang: ‘God was made an angel,’ I would bend not only my knees but my whole body to the ground! But you vile human creature, you stand there like a stick or a stone. You hear that God did not become an angel but a man like you, and you just stand there like a stick of wood!”
St John said, "The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world." And the writer of Hebrews said that, "the Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word" (Heb. 1:3a). Jesus, the Word made flesh, is the light of all mankind. But some like that man in Luther's illustration do not recognise the light. That "clod of a man," as it were, did not believe and pay homage because he did not trust that the Word of God was the light of all mankind.
God's Word for the world is full of grace and truth. The Word became flesh and dwelt among us to be in every way like us, yet without sin. Through his words of life, Jesus, enlightens those who trust in him. Through the Word made flesh, God takes you into himself, so that, through his cross and resurrection, he can give you his life. When Jesus would later speak of bread as his flesh, he said that he would give it for the life of the world. The life that Jesus gives to those who believe is an abundant life. The miracle of Christmas is the Word made flesh, born to us this day, and who lives amongst us full of grace and truth.
And so may the peace of Christ's presence with you, give you great joy this day, and forevermore. Amen.
Sermon for Christmas Eve, 2024
Christmas peace be upon you.
Jesus said, ‘For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me’ (John 6:38).
Let us pray: Lord God, we thank you for making this holy night shine with the true light of your Son. As we celebrate his birth as a human child, fill us with the joy of heaven. Amen.
Where would you like to take a Christmas holiday?
Do you want some free advice on where to plan your trip?
According to the website Top 10 holiday destinations | Travel inspiration by Tropical Sky, from which I quote, it says:
"Thinking about where you should visit this year? We’ve got you covered with everything from sun-soaked Caribbean islands and exciting tours in North America, to secluded Indian Ocean beaches, fun adventures in Central America and easy-going Mediterranean destinations.
Are you ready to play the “Name the Top Ten Countdown holiday destinations” game?
10 USA
9 Costa Rica
8 Canary Islands
7 Thailand
6 Greece
5 Mauritius
4 Canada
3 St Lucia
St Lucia
Boasting an enviable 98 miles of astonishing coastline, St Lucia is a fabulous choice for every kind of holiday. If you want a fun-filled family getaway, a romantic honeymoon, an all-inclusive stay…a serene spa resort, this island has the perfect place for you. Boasting an inspiring backdrop of the lush green Pitons, St Lucia certainly encourages adventure, with fantastic land activities including rainforest treks and excursions to the volcano (La Sarfoofra). By the coast, you’ll find warm, golden sands and fantastic water sports including paddle boarding and snorkelling. If you’re wanting pure relaxation, there are many wonderful spas that will allow you to completely let go of everyday stresses.
The food here is phenomenal too. The national dish – green banana and saltfish, is one of our favourite recommendations. Our mouths water just thinking about it. But also try other St Lucian delicacies such as fried plantain, callaloo soup and Caribbean lobster. The Gros Islet Friday Night Street Party is held every month, and provides a vibrant and fun evening of music, BBQ food and dancing.
2 Barbados
Barbados is such a fun, vibrant place to be. So much so, that many holidaymakers head back to the sun-soaked island time and time again. The endless island delights include swaying palms, jaw-dropping beaches framed by a sea in every shade of blue, as well as classic all-inclusive resorts, top-notch restaurants and exciting excursions. One of the most desirable and luxurious travel destinations in the Caribbean, it offers a wide range of water sports, from swimming with sea turtles to paddle boarding, windsurfing, snorkelling and diving. It’s a true diver’s paradise, surrounded by reef with several wrecks that can be explored. Visitors can also wander through the capital city of Bridgetown’s historic old town and St. Ann’s Garrison, both of which have been recognised by UNESCO as outstanding examples of British colonial architecture.
Sophisticated hotels along the Platinum west coast are mixed with family-friendly resorts along the south, with fabulous gourmet restaurants and easy-going attitude adding even more character to this beautiful Caribbean island.
1 Maldives
A haven out in the Indian Ocean, the secluded Maldives are often named as the most romantic archipelago on the planet. Anyone that’s looking for seclusion and relaxation is likely to find it here, with hundreds of picture-perfect sandy islands and countless resorts with overwater villas where you’ll be surrounded by warm waters in a myriad of dazzling blue hues. Look forward to taking part in active pursuits like diving or snorkelling among coral reefs, sailing, windsurfing and more. Many resorts in the Maldives can only be reached by boat, offering an extra special, secretive allure.
Barefoot luxury is always on the cards with a trip to the Maldives. This is one of our favourite destinations for a honeymoon, as the hotels here ooze romance – imagine spending your first few weeks of marriage enjoying couples’ massages, idyllic dinners on the beach, and beautiful sunsets from your overwater villa.
Friends in Christ: These all sound to me like heavenly destinations! Why would you book a return flight? Wouldn’t you want to stay?
What does John 6:38 say about Jesus’ Christmas holiday, or should it be holy day?
Jesus said, ‘For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me’ (John 6:38)
So what’s on Jesus’ Top Ten places he desires to be? Where will Jesus be on his 2024 Christmas holy day?
Jesus’ Top 10 Countdown
10. Valencia, Spain – with those responsible for the clean-up after the devastation of this year’s flooding.
9. Halls Gap – with those workers and volunteers manning the crisis relief centres in Stawell and Ararat.
8. Vanuatu – with the communities and families of the 14 known people killed.
7. Florida – with those involved in the massive clean up after Hurricane Helene and with the families of the 121 lives lost across the southern States.
6. Gaza – with the hostages and their distraught families and with the Christians in the cross-fire.
5. Cities of Eastern Ukraine – with the wives and daughters and sisters and mothers who the soldiers have been separated from or who are grieving the loss of father, son, brother, or husband.
4. Kenyan refugee camps – with the half-a-million displaced families and those who operate the Kakuma and Dadaab camps.
3. North-east San Francisco – with those offering genuine care in the Fentanyl drug addiction crisis.
2. Melbourne CBD – and in our other capital cities and towns with those who feed and provide shelter to the mentally ill and homeless.
1. An Orphanage in India – with those who care for the children who have lost their parents.
This really is the kind of Top Ten List of holy day destinations that Jesus chooses to spend his Christmas!
Can you imagine anyone booking their trip, deliberately and knowingly, into the heart of conflict; into the epicentre of disaster; on to the frontline of chaos; into the path of destruction; into the mess of a world gone horribly wrong? Your Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ did just that! While everybody else is evacuating to safety, Jesus is heading resolutely into hostility and hopelessness. That is the reality of the Incarnation: that God the Father chose his own Son to come to us, in the Word made flesh, and to give him a name that we can understand - Jesus of Nazareth – and for him to choose to do his Father’s will, whatever the personal cost and sacrifices along the way might be! As the prophecy fulfilled in him said, ‘The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel’ (which means ‘God with us’),’ (Matthew 1:21).
Jesus left heaven to be in the muck and mire of these places that look more like hell than they do earth. He comes as no sight-seeing tourist. He is no ambulance-chasing onlooker. He is not the bewildered by-stander. He is not the politician pointing the finger.
Rather, Jesus is with the doctor, with the nurse, with the chaplain and counsellor, with the innocent and vulnerable in the cross-fire, in the collateral damage, in the hug of sympathy and care, in the hand-out, in the rebuilding of lives, in the hands of the mud-shovelling men and mop-wielding women coming to the aid of those crying, “Lord, have mercy.”
Friends in Christ: as those who have received the mercy of God in Christ Jesus, and as people who can rejoice in God’s mercy magnified every Christmas, can we say with him into the darkness of this world’s destruction, devastation, desolation, death and disappointment, ‘For I have come … not do my will but to do the will of him who sent me’?
One way to extend God’s mercy and accomplish his will is to support the 'Act For Peace: Annual Christmas Bowl Appeal' which is tonight’s and tomorrow’s chosen offering destination.
I'll read a couple of paragraphs explaining the work able to be undertaken because of your support of the Christmas Bowl Appeal:
Act for Peace is an international humanitarian agency that works with and for the people around the world who are uprooted by conflict and disaster. With the support of people like you, we invest in local organisations in 16 countries and join forces to create lasting change, helping people to regain the peace that comes with having a safe place to belong.
Your Christmas Bowl gifts help empower people to rebuild their lives and create better futures...
...As you sit down for Christmas lunch with your family this year, take a moment to remember the families around the world who can't enjoy a meal together at home, because they were forced to flee their homes in search of safety.
That is the reality for the 120 million people globally who are forcibly displaced due to conflict, leaving them without a place to call home.
So may God grant you the light of Christmas, which is faith; the warmth of Christmas, which is purity; the righteousness of Christmas, which is justice; the belief in Christmas, which is truth; the all of Christmas, which is Christ. Amen.
Christmas Day Message 2023
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Have you opened all your presents yet? If I had of asked you all to do a show & tell this morning, what would you have to show us? If I asked that question to the children, no doubt they could show us and demonstrate to us all the toys and games and other things they had unwrapped and played with already this morning. And many of you adults could do likewise. But how many of us would bring Jesus as a show & tell item? How many of us would see past the toys and games and clothes and whatever else we unwrapped to name the best gift of all - the "Gift of gifts": a baby born this day: Christ the Lord?
The collectable things, the useful things, the precious things and the useless things are all stuff of accumulation and common use: some of it being necessary, some of it not. When we look back and analyze these other Christmas gifts, some of which go into a cupboard and are only found years later, we are once again reminded of our modern materialism and the world's misdirection over the true meaning of Christmas. But amid all this nice and generous, but superficial gift giving, when we stop and return to centre, we will see once again the gift that keeps on giving, the thing that brings us back to centre; the thing that is not just a thing, but rather is a person, made like us in every way, yet without sin; holy and precious in our sight, that is, when we stop and look and return thanks.
For a baby born this day is the true gift we long for. Children and some adults caught up in it all say they can't wait for Christmas and the presents to be unwrapped and opened and enjoyed. And of course there is excitement in all of this. But we've been waiting for the true gift of Christmas: our Lord Jesus to come to us today wrapped, not in brightly coloured paper, but rather wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.
Each Christmas Season we sing:
Hark! the herald angels sing
Glory to the new-born King.
The Magi travelled from a far away country to pay homage to the long expected King. They greeted him with the royal gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. But that baby born in Bethlehem was not only the new-born King. He was also the new-born High Priest. As the Christmas carol continues:
Peace on earth, and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled.
Under the Old Covenant it was the priest who functioned as reconciler as he stood between God and man and offered sacrifices and gifts to God on man's behalf. In this New Covenant, let us never forget that the baby lying in a manger was also the new-born Great High Priest and at the same time remembering that the gift offered to God was his perfect self, as the Lamb without blemish.
Christmas always points us to its ultimate purpose - the death and resurrection of Jesus on the cross. The author of Hebrews writes, 'Since the children have flesh and blood, [Jesus] too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death - that is, the devil - and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham's descendants. For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted' (Heb 2:14-18).
Jesus is the true gift and the true gift giver. The true gift that he offers as our Great High Priest is himself. As the author of Hebrews says, 'Every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices, and so it was necessary for this one also to have something to offer' (Heb 8:3). And what does he offer? He offers perfect obedience in the place of our reoccurring disobedience. And as our Great High Priest he stands between God and each one of us and offers himself as the sacrificial Lamb to make atonement for sins. As your Great High Priest he stands between you and God and offers himself as a fragrant offering on your behalf to his and your Father in heaven (Eph 5:2).
The gift that matters the most, is not the token gifts piled high under the Christmas Tree, but rather the gift that matters the most is the gift you have again received this morning. This gift is Jesus the Christ, who is our Great High Priest. He is both our mediator and the gift. Listen to his priestly words to you this morning when he says to you, "This is my body given for you... this is my blood shed for you for the forgiveness of sins." I won't, but I could rightly say, "Take and eat. This is my gift given for you... And the pastoral assistant could rightly say 'Take and drink. This is my gift shed for you for the forgiveness of sins."
For today you get the "Gift of gifts", given to you. Who wouldn't want to show off such a gift and describe how perfect love and grace and mercy and peace and hope and joy come through such a gift as this - all wrapped up in a baby lying in a manger - born and given to you this happy morning?
And the peace of Christ's presence with you, give you great joy this day, and forevermore. Amen.
Sermon for Christmas Eve, 2023
Christmas peace be upon you. Amen.
‘But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
though you are small among the clans of Judah,
out of you will come for me
one who will be ruler over Israel,
whose origins are from of old,
from ancient times.’ (Micah 5:2)
Let us pray: Lord God Almighty, before time began you chose a little place out of the way to fulfil future prophecy about the Word made flesh, who you would send into the world, to be born, to be crucified on a cross, and be raised to put all things right again, for a world gone horribly wrong. Let us also choose to go out of our way to listen to you and believe your promise fulfilled in the baby Jesus born to us in Bethlehem, and seek to transform the lives of refugees and other people bent low, just as we bend low before a manger, a cross and an empty tomb. In Jesus’ most holy name we pray. Amen.
Your hopes and fears of all the years meet in Jesus tonight.
Brothers and sisters in Christ: Compared to ‘Away in a Manger’ or ‘Silent Night’ or ‘Joy to the world’ or my personal favourite ‘Praise God, the Lord, ye sons of men,’ I’ve never cared too much for the Christmas Hymn, ‘O little town of Bethlehem,’ that is until now. When choosing what we would sing tonight, and as I re-read all the hymn and carol words, I was truly struck by the closing words of the first stanza of ‘O little town of Bethlehem.’ And I went on quite the deep-dive on the authorship and history and content of this hymn, which you can read at home, as I’ve supplied in the Pew Bulletin. It’s a fascinating read for all you boffins in theology and church history and the rest of you who are just curious or love reading and desire some extra general knowledge! The first stanza again,
O little town of Bethlehem,
how still we see you lie!
Above your deep and dreamless sleep
the silent stars go by;
yet in your dark streets shining
the everlasting Light;
the hopes and fears of all the years
are met in you tonight.
Is that what I believe? Is that what you believe? That the hopes and fears of all the years are met in you (Jesus, the one called everlasting Light) tonight.
These words might not be as elegant and delightful as the theological truths contained, one after the other, just as in a string of pearls, in ‘Praise God, the Lord, ye sons of men,’ for example: what with the truth-telling that heaven has been opened to us, that God is truly with us as one of us, but also as our reigning king, to astonishingly also have us reign with him – a great exchange indeed! (now that’s a hymn!) - but is it any less true; that the hopes and fears of all the years are met in you (Jesus) tonight? I hope you can appreciate with me, perhaps for the first time like myself, that this is also a wonderful truth to contemplate, that the hopes and fears of all the years are met in Jesus tonight? It’s a bold statement. It’s a universal, no one exempt kind of claim. Do I really believe it? Do you… That the hopes and fears of all the years are met in Jesus tonight?
What is brought to your mind when I say, the hopes and fears of all the years are met in Jesus tonight? With all your wisdom: What are you 80 & 90 year-olds thinking? With all your youth and energy: What are you teenagers and tweenies thinking? With all your busyness: What are the rest of you thinking? What are you all hearing? What are you all feeling? Are you comforted? Are you surprised? Are you startled? If you’re comforted by this truth, are you just going to “sit-pretty” on it? If you are surprised by it, what are you going to do, if anything, in response? If you are startled by it, who are you going to turn to, to get some peace-of-mind?
For if you believe what the line of this Christmas hymn conveys, but even more so if you don’t, I want you to take the time over these twelve days of Christmas to contemplate deeply as to how this truth relates to you and might affect you as belovéd child of God. For whatever was the first, or second, or last and every other fear and hope in between, that your saw pop-up in your mind’s eye, when I said the hopes and fears of all the years are met in Jesus tonight, really are! They really are met in Jesus tonight! For if you allow it, if you submit to the truth, all your hopes and fears congregate together and receive their meaning, and their fulfilment, and their release, and their joy, and their delight, and their prominence, and their truth, and their purpose in Jesus, and only in him. Outside of him is only disappointment, hopelessness, despair, insignificance, self-deceit and emptiness.
When you have thought deeply about such things, and the Holy Spirit has convinced you that yours and absolutely everybody’s hopes and fears of all the years are met in Jesus tonight, ask yourself the question: How can I build up the hopes and tear down the fears of someone, some family, or some group, in this otherwise hopeless and frightened world?
‘O little town of Ararat,’ “O little town of Stawell’, what could you possibly do to give hope to the hopeless and strength to the weak? O little towns out of the way, you are not too small to make big changes in someone’s life! For you are a living testament that, ‘Yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting Light.
Having received the ‘holy child of Bethlehem’ yourself, and the fulfilment and peace that he alone brings, what might you do, or how can you pass on this unmerited grace to someone God has placed before you? For this is your opportunity to have someone who has been displaced, some family now homeless and disconnected with their way-of-life, some ethic group of people forced to run for their lives, to experience the grace of God through your generosity and alms-giving this Christmas.
I wasn’t going to directly mention any information concerning the history and authorship of ‘O little town of Bethlehem.’ I was going to leave that up to your curiosity and bedtime reading. But I have to mention this one thing, for it makes a fitting conclusion to this Christmas Eve message.
Sometimes, because of outside influences and mostly unjustified criticisms, which ‘O little town of Bethlehem’ author, Reverend Philips Brooks received when he released this hymn for his Sunday School to sing on 27th December 1868, the best or wholeness of your work gets the chop here or there. Usually the ‘red pen of revision” is a good thing, whether it be a sermon, a hymn or any piece of literature worth its salt. This very thing happened to our hymn ‘O little town of Bethlehem’.’ Originally it had 5 verses. The omitted verse is:
Where children pure and happy
Pray to the blessed Child,
Where misery cries out to Thee,
Son of the Mother mild; (this line was originally ‘Son of the Undefiled’ but Rev. Brooks yielded to the criticism that this line suggested agreement with the Roman Catholic dogma of the Immaculate conception of Mary which at the time was a hot topic, for it was only 14 years earlier, on December 8, 1854, that Pope Pius IX convinced his bishops of the so-called truth of this teaching).
And now the most relevant part…
Where Charity stands watching
And Faith holds wide the door,
The dark night wakes, the glory breaks,
And Christmas comes once more.
Because the hopes and fears of all the years are met in Jesus tonight, I want you to rejoice and delight in God our Saviour. Yes, by the grace of God,
The dark night wakes, the glory breaks,
And Christmas comes once more.
Christmas peace be upon you, and upon your celebrations. Amen.