Christmas and a different bed

It's that time of year! 

On Sunday eve we held our Carols by Candlelight services at Holy Trinity and invited regulars and guests to 'in heart and mind go once again to Bethlehem, to hear the message of the angels and worship afresh the Son of God'. 
The candle-lit, beautifully decorated church added to the seasonal atmosphere, and the well-rehearsed musicians and choir led us superbly well.

'Glory to God in the highest heaven' was the announcement that filled the heavens and exploded over the Bethlehem hillside on the first Christmas - and once again it was heard and received in Redhill as good news 'that will cause great joy for all the people'. Thanks be to God for the Christmas message and for the way in which we were able to hear it again on Sunday evening. 

Today, we hosted the Surrey Choices Carol Service  - a Carol Service that had a different feel to Sunday evening but was no less inspiring and joyful. Last year I had been invited to speak at the same service held in the Colebrook Day Centre, but as the Centre has since been closed we made room at the inn and welcomed them into Holy Trinity. I have never sung Jingle Bells and Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer in a Carol Service in Church before today (!), but we also told the Christmas story and sung some traditional carols, before thinking about 'A Different Bed'.

Plenty of hands went up when I asked whether anyone has a very comfortable bed. Everyone loves their bed, it seems. 
A few hands went up when I asked if anyone was sleeping in a different bed over Christmas because they were going to visit family or friends.

Then we thought about Jesus, leaving the riches and wonder of heaven and coming to be born in Bethlehem - to lie in a very different bed!

I wheeled out a bale of straw for the congregation to touch and to judge whether they thought it was a comfortable bed, and one fit for king. No-one thought so.

Q: Why did Jesus do this? Why would you give up heaven to be born on earth and to lie in a manger? 
A: So that one day, as we trust in Jesus, we will be able to enjoy all the riches of heaven that Jesus enjoyed before being born as one of us.  (That's 2 Corinthians 8:9, folks)

And as with all our Carol Services we ended up in the Church Centre with mince pies and drinks. A lively and inspiring service, which I hope we will host again next year. 

Coming soon...

Come and celebrate with us on Christmas Eve and again on Christmas Day!