Winter but no Christmas

Yesterday a group of us sang carols outside Priory in the town centre. We sang from 8.30am until 10am, and despite the severe cold, the time seemed to pass very quickly. We went through a range of carols, but the most popular carols seemed to be the more upbeat ones (like "Come and join the celebration") because they invited a bit of movement which helped to keep the frostbite at bay!

Our singing can't have been too bad as people generously threw coins into the collecting buckets. Though there didn't seem to be all that many people around, we managed to raise over £170 in the 90 minutes. It will be split between Rotherham hospice (one of our church members works there), and Compassion, which is an international Christian child development and child advocacy ministry.

Our main purpose, though, wasn't to raise funds, but rather to try to remind those who were in the town centre what Christmas is really all about. Many passers-by were very positive, and one man came to tell us that he had phoned his mum so that she could listen to the singing on the phone! Another lady, however, didn't seem to appreciate our efforts. As she hurried by she turned to us and said, "what a load of rubbish!" I have a feeling that she wasn't referring to the quality of our singing but rather to the message itself, and I felt immensely sad for her. She reminded me a little of Ebenezer Scrooge with his retort, "bah, humbug".

The birth in Bethlehem around 2000 years ago of Jesus, the Son of God, was the most momentous event in history. So much so that it cut history in half! God stepped into our world to demonstrate his amazing love for us. How sad, then, that so many overlook the heart of the Christmas message. In the carol, "In the bleak midwinter", the write speaks of the glory of the Christmas story, and the joy of those who welcome Jesus into their lives. He then goes on to write,

And to those who never listened
To the message of Thy birth,
Who have winter, but no Christmas
Bringing them Thy peace on earth,
Send to these the joyful tidings;
By all people, in each home,
Be there heard the Christmas anthem;
Praise to God, the Christ has come!

My prayer is that this Christmas many eyes will be opened to the wonder of the Christmas story, and many hearts will be open to the love and peace of Jesus. I pray particularly for God's blessing on the unhappy lady, that she too will meet the One who can transform her life.