Have you started your Christmas shopping yet? You may have finished it and written all the cards! Well done, if you have!
There is so much that goes into making Christmas a special time for families, not least the Christmas dinner; finding the right present, something that is treasured and not tucked away then quickly fetched out as that person rings the doorbell for an unexpected visit!
I am sure I am not alone in remembering our children coming out of school, hands behind their backs and producing the junk model that they had oh so carefully constructed as a gift for mum and dad, then trying to get it home safely without getting paint and glue all over our clothes! Cards for Mothering Sunday, Father’s Day and birthdays. Somehow we just can’t throw them away, can we? After our children have grown up and left home, we still keep them…and the when we have a sort out, they are still kept, maybe in the attic, but still there!
Seth made this pot at Primary School by rolling out a long piece of clay and winding it round and round, maybe under the watchful eye of the teacher, possibly Mrs Sowden. After being fired in the kiln he carefully painted it. We graciously accepted it and thanked him, saying how wonderful it was.
How could we even think of throwing it away, even after at least 30 years?
This made me think of the gift that God gave us many years ago. He had promised to send a Saviour…’For unto us a child is born, a Son is given’. God’s promise to us, written by Isaiah, who lived 700 years before Jesus was born.
As you are making last minute preparations, remember why we celebrate Christmas. We love the parties, the presents, the family around us, the fun and the laughter….but underlying all that…is Jesus, who came as a tiny baby, lived to show us how to live, then died a cruel death. As Christians we believe that was all a part of God’s plan, because He rose again, so that we can be forgiven of all those regrets we have, all the things we wish we had not done or things we know we should have done but ignored.
Don’t throw Christmas away, keep it in your heart and remember the real reason we celebrate Christmas.
What can I give Him,
Poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd I would bring a lamb.
If I were a wise man I would do my part.
Yet, what I can, I give Him,
Give my heart.
Come and start your Christmas celebrations by singing those favourite carols at our service which Jan Taylor is leading on Sunday 18th December at 2.30pm. Mince pies, tea and coffee will be served afterwards.
But you are, of course, welcome to join us any Sunday at 2.30pm. We are a friendly bunch of people and would be very pleased to see you!
The only Sunday we do not meet at 2.30pm is the first Sunday of each month, when we have Bitesize@10, which is a relaxed time together when we serve coffee and bacon rolls from 10am. Don’t be shy, give is a try!!
Jan would like to thank everyone who supported the annual Macmillan Coffee Morning at TLC in September. You gave so generously and she was able to send £317 to this very worthy cause. Coffee Morning is held every Thursday from 10 till 11.30. Jan and her friends serve tea, coffee, toast and biscuits, really worth a visit.
We all enjoyed our Harvest weekend in October. On Saturday, we invited friends to join us for a carvery. It was an excellent meal and conversation flowed all evening. On Sunday we welcomed Phil and Sue Hartshorn from Barnsley, South Yorkshire to take our Harvest service and we shared tea after. This year,instead of bringing harvest gifts we gave monetary gifts and we sent £400 to the Salvation Army. Thank you all for your generosity.