Carols by Floodlight - mud stops play.

Churches United, a football-related grouping of Churches in Redhill, were due to be the match sponsors of today's Redhill FC v Ramsgate FC fixture. An early pitch inspection this morning led to the pitch being deemed unsafe due to a waterlogged area in one goal area.

I stood at the gates in the lead up to 3pm as a trickle of fans took a look at the sign on the gate and turned their cars around.

It's tough going for Redhill FC at the moment. This is the 4th home game postponement of the season. On Thursday I witnessed the efforts of the Chairman of Redhill FC and others as they wielded barrow and shovel to try and get the pitch ready for today, and now they have to try again for a home match on Tuesday evening.

The cost to the club in terms of finances and good-will of fans must be  high. It's all a long way from the Premier League. It's also a long way from football in the 70's when Derby County were twice League Champions on a pitch worse than the one here at Kiln Brow!

The plan today was to sing Carols at the ground, including at half time as we related the story of the  1914 Christmas Truce and invited the crowd to join in Silent Night. For what it's now worth, here is the text of what I was going to say!

Football clubs all around the UK have been remembering the 1914 Christmas Truce this past week. As Match sponsors today Churches United want to celebrate this event with a few carols and a souvenir gift.

But just in case you don’t know what I’m talking about let me explain. On Christmas Day 1914 Peace broke out between warring factions across the Western Front. In place of the sound of gunfire and shelling there was the sound of a Carol sung in English and German; exchanging of gunfire was replaced by exchanging of gifts; shooting one another was suspended in place of shooting on goal, as the two sides kicked a football around together. Peace replaced hostility. But it was short-lived – the next day they were at war again.

Churches United represents all the churches in Redhill in believing that Christmas offers us good news of a longer lasting peace.
The message of the angels on that hillside over Bethlehem was this: 

‘Glory to God in the highest, and peace to his people on earth on whom his favour dwells.’ 

The baby born at the pub in Bethlehem, whose birth we celebrate at Christmas, is God’s offer of peace. It cost Jesus his life, but he gave it willingly. One title given to Jesus is The Prince of Peace.
He comes to bring us news of the peace that this world badly needs, and that so many of us long for. He comes to bring peace with God for those who come to him. 

On Christmas Day in 1914 there was a glimmer of that peace before it was snuffed out. This Christmas in our churches we shall be celebrating the hope of everlasting peace that Jesus made possible by his death.The Carol that was sung by the English and German soldiers in 1914 was Silent Night, and we’re going to hear it sung by a member of Holy Trinity church. The words are in the matchday program, and we invite you to join in. 

Sing: Silent Night 

Churches United wish you a happy and peaceful Christmas. Join us at any of our services – we’d love to welcome you as we celebrate this Christmas.