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The greastest Gift

Christmas! Yes, once again this wonderful season is upon us, though we could be forgiven for thinking that it actually commenced some time in September.

Christmas has many meanings and emphases in our 21st century world, one of them being incessant calls to spend, spend, spend. Hav-ing recently moved into our new home ‘in town’, we have discovered the world of junk mail (sorry, retail catalogues) and how boringly the same many of the catalogues are in what they are advertising. Yes, I DO read them, which is another problem in itself.

Unfortunately, we can look at Christmas in much the same way, particularly if we have been in church for any length of time. We hear essentially the same messages year after year and can become almost immune to the uniqueness of the simple but powerful, life-changing theme – that Almighty God, the Creator of heaven and earth, activated His plan for the salvation of humankind; a plan that had been ‘on hold’ since the beginning of time. Galatians 4:4-5 makes it so clear:

But when the time arrived that was set by God the Father, God sent his Son, born among us of a woman, born under the condi-tions of the law so that he might redeem those of us who have been kidnapped by the law. (MSG)

All the clever people in the world would not come up with a plan like that, if they even cared enough to try. The timing, the reason, the actual gift – God’s own Son – was all put into place and activated by God and God alone. No matter how many times I meditate on that, I cannot help but be immersed in and inspired by, the real reason for Christmas – that God the Father was so moved with compassion and love for a hopeless humanity that He gave His Son – note that word GAVE – as a gift who would, in turn, GIVE hope and the way to salvation to all humanity. This gift cost God everything and yet each individual can appropriate it and all it means for our past, present and future by simply accepting it in humility and through repentance.

Christmas catalogues will be thrown into the recycle bin and many gifts may go a similar way. However, Jesus Christ, the most valuable gift of all, will remain to offer hope and salvation day after day, Christmas after Christmas, until He returns to collect all who accepted His gift of eternal life.

May this year be a time when you and your family allow the wonder, power and greatness of God’s gift, Jesus Christ, to truly permeate your Christmas celebration

Don & Julie
With you on the journey

Senior Ministers:
Ps Don Gall, Ps Julie Gall

Pastoral Leaders:
Emily Westblade, Darren Templar, Glenda Sharp, Ian Howes

Youth Team:
Haydn Croton, Brooke Croton, Adam Sharp