The Christmas story is certainly one of joy, and good news. But there is one dark moment should still cause us to shudder — and that is how King Herod, having been informed of Jesus birth, and realising that the wise men had not returned to tell him the exact location of it, ordered all…
While we hope Christmas will be a happy and easy time, our sin — and that of others — is often evident to see; whether it’s a drunken endeavour at the Christmas party, the overflowing tempers at home, or the desperate scenes as people fight (sometimes literally) for the bargains in the shops. It might…
Talking about love is no bad thing, of course. But at Christmas, it seems there is an increase in the number of films or songs that talk about it. You only have to watch a hallmark Christmas movie to get that impression. But the good news of that firstChristmas was the love that God showed in…
What are you hoping to get for Christmas? That’s what some will ask you. And it’s what many of us are thinking about. But as enjoyable as Christmas presents can be in the moment, the excitement is short lived. But there’s a different kind of gift that is far greater than anything you can wrap…
It’s rare that you don’t see three wise men as part of a nativity play, or TV drama. However, there’s a lot that gets mistaken — they almost certainly rode horses, and not camels, they arrived up to 2 year after Jesus was born, and not the day he was, and there were significantly more…
This study was taught by our pastor, Simeon Forder, at our Sunday morning service on the 17th December 2023. About this study Each year we hear the Christmas story told through nativity plays, TV dramas and films – but do we stop to check if what we hear is accurate? As Christians we are to…
Death somehow seems more tragic this time of year. Yet it is always tragic. And Christmas can be hard, no matter how long it’s been since we lost a loved one. But the good news of Christmas is that death will no longer be the winner in all this. Because Jesus came to earth as…
A popular Christmas reading from Matthew’s gospel says “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.”. But what did it really mean for God to be with us? Well, Jesus didn’t merely come to show us the way, but to be THE way.…
How soon is too soon for Christmas songs? Regardless of what we think, it’s pretty hard to get them out of your head once you’ve heard them start — whether that’s because we’ve heard them so many times before, or because the tune (at least sometimes) is such a good one. But at the first…
On one hand, it’s easy to get caught up in all the trappings of Christmas — the food, the music, the decorations, the presents, the family gatherings. But it’s also inescapable that this celebration marks something that fundamentally changed the world, whether that’s first in our minds or not. And that something is actually someone;…