Australia

Christmas message from the Uniting Church

“One of the pleasant, even hopeful, illusions about Christmas is that everything else takes a back seat.” But in these busy times this is no longer true. Our imagined Christmas, is not what Matthew and Luke are describing. The tinselled version some of us like to tell is nice and neat and tidy, where even the mob of sheep is well behaved. The wonder of Lukes account is far too astonishing to fit neatly anywhere, as a tiny baby is born while the whole Roman Empire is counted and angel armies appear in the sky. Jesus appears in the midst of everything – empires and despots and foreign sages. A family drawn into social chaos and divine intervention. The angels rejoice and stock workers are overwhelmed as God turns up. READ ALSO: – The rural wrap up: Harvest photo winner announced, storm rolls in – Nyngan community carols at Davidson Park, photos – Nyngan Community Christmas in the park, photos​ This is why Christmas, as told by Matthew and Luke makes sense. This is why Emmanuel, God with us, is vital. Jesus is in the midst of us. The humanity of Jesus embraces everyone. This embrace is for communities where drought is crippling, for those struggling with addiction and for those who worry about violence in their own homes this Christmas. The hope and wonder of Christmas, as Jesus breaks into the world, is that God gets in our way. Whether Jesus interferes with our “neat and Tidy”, or sits with us in silence, Emmanuel declares that we are worth all of Gods passionate involvement. God with all of us.”

“One of the pleasant, even hopeful, illusions about Christmas is that everything else takes a back seat.” But in these busy times this is no longer true.

Our imagined Christmas, is not what Matthew and Luke are describing. The tinselled version some of us like to tell is nice and neat and tidy, where even the mob of sheep is well behaved.

The wonder of Lukes account is far too astonishing to fit neatly anywhere, as a tiny baby is born while the whole Roman Empire is counted and angel armies appear in the sky.

Jesus appears in the midst of everything – empires and despots and foreign sages. A family drawn into social chaos and divine intervention. The angels rejoice and stock workers are overwhelmed as God turns up.

READ ALSO:

This is why Christmas, as told by Matthew and Luke makes sense. This is why Emmanuel, God with us, is vital. Jesus is in the midst of us. The humanity of Jesus embraces everyone.

This embrace is for communities where drought is crippling, for those struggling with addiction and for those who worry about violence in their own homes this Christmas.

The hope and wonder of Christmas, as Jesus breaks into the world, is that God gets in our way. Whether Jesus interferes with our “neat and Tidy”, or sits with us in silence, Emmanuel declares that we are worth all of Gods passionate involvement. God with all of us.”

  • Sunday, December 23 (9am) Christmas Communion Service.
  • Tuesday, December 25 (9am) Christmas Day Service.

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Nyngan Observer

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