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Organ Appeal At St Giles we hear sounds from the organ that our predecessors, including Byron, Shelley and John Soane, have heard for more than three hundred years. This historic organ urgently needed sympathetic restoration more>

December is the month of anticipation. For some of us it is anticipation in terms of celebrating in advance, and enjoying mince pies and mulled wine for four weeks, and having Christmas trees, and decorations up for a few weeks in advance. For others of us it is anticipating in terms of looking forward to enjoying all these good things on December 25th; or a little in advance. For most of us it is a little of each, for it would be churlish not to accept a kindly offer of a mince pie or a glass of mulled wine, or to ignore Christmas decorations because one wanted to be a rigorist in terms of not ‘anticipating’ Christmas. It is in fact rather helpful that anticipate can mean both enjoying in advance, as well as looking forward, for that is what Christmas, and the Christian faith is about, and what the four weeks of Advent, leading up to Christmas is about.

Reading the stories of Jesus’ birth in Matthew’s and Luke’s Gospels shows us that the early generations of Christians saw Jesus’ birth as an event in their present, but having a past reference, in fulfilling, as they saw it, the expectation of the ancient Hebrew prophets reminds us that; and also having a future reference, in terms of inaugurating God’s realm on earth. During Advent, and at Christmas, we remember that through our baptism into the Church we are anticipating, in terms of looking forward to it, the fulfilment of God’s ultimate will for creation, but we also are anticipating, in terms of already being part of it, that fulfilment. The best of Christmas carols remind us of this, and with their good tunes, imprint these thoughts on our memories better than any sermon can, although sometimes the key point comes towards the end of the carol when the words stay with us less well. ‘Christians awake ...’ for example reminds us in the last lines

Then may we hope, angelic hosts among To sing, redeemed, a glad triumphant song. and ‘It came upon the midnight clear’ reminds us in the last verse For lo! The days are hastening on; By prophets-bards foretold, When, with the ever-encircling years, Comes round the age of gold; When peace shall over all the earth Its ancient splendours fling, And the whole world send back the song Which now the angels sing.

The challenge of Advent and Christmas is to live in anticipation, looking forward to celebrating God’s initiative that

He came down to earth from heaven, Who is God and Lord of all ... With the poor and mean and lowly, Lived on earth our Saviour holy.

with all the trimmings we can muster, but also living in anticipation, as citizens of God’s realm, into which we are baptised. As Christians, we enjoy, in advance, through God’s grace, the benefits of citizenship of heaven, we share in his heavenly banquet, in advance, in the Eucharist, the Holy Communion, and we have the challenge, supported by God’s love, of living out that citizenship here on earth. And that citizenship is not exclusive. God doesn’t rebuff illegal immigrants and welcomes asylum seekers in his realm. There are no problems of overpopulation in God’s realm. In fact further recruits are always welcome, and we are the recruitment agents.

Ponder the words of carols as you anticipate Christmas, in what ever sense it’s used, and bring along your friends to a carol service to join in anticipating God’s generous gifts.

Bill Jacob.

SPECIAL COLLECTIONS

On Sunday, 8th November, Remembrance Sunday, £304.91 was raised for the service charity Combat Stress. On Sunday 6th December the collections at all services will the final collections for our special charity this year Prostate UK.

At our carols services on the 16th, 17th and 20th December the collections will be for the homelessness charity St Mungo’s.

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