Merry Christmas

The Joy of Christmas

The joy of discovery
that moment when hope and expectation
were gloriously met
by the illumination of one bright star.
We cannot imagine
what words were spoken by visitors
or if first impressions
left them somewhat confused.

Messiah, Saviour, Emmanuel, a King
born in the simplest of palaces.
Yet they saw and fell down
on their knees in adoration.
As we meet around table, crib
tree, candle or advent wreath
draw us into that encounter with you,

Our God who is with us.

In the quiet moments of prayer
this Christmas, that brief reprieve
from the bustle of the world

and the distractions around us,
bring alive to our senses
the smell of the hay
the sound of the animals
the cry of a baby.

Draw us close to our Saviour
Messiah and King as we bring
not Gold, Myrrh or Frankincense
but the gift of our lives and our love
the only offering we can bring,

and lay it before the one,

who has given his life in love of us,

so that we might exclaim

“Alleluia, peace on Earth, good news to all.”

Amen.