Mary, Joe, the Shepherds and the Magi. As I reflect on four of the main players in the nativity story, I am reminded of their varied journeys.
Their starting points were all very different - a Godly young woman conceives, her confused fella needs angelic encouragement to stay at her side, unreliable shepherds are trusted first with great news and star gazers follow a long complex path.
Whatever their starting point and whatever their journey entailed, they all ultimately found themselves gathered around Christ - that in itself must have seemed light years away from their initial steps of their journey into the unknown.
The Christmas message - Immanuel; 'God with us' at it's grass roots, continues to meet us where we are, not where we think we should be.
However you choose to celebrate Christmas this year, I pray you will leave room for interruptions, for sign posts, for whispers of grace along the way of our many and varied life's journeys. Cheers for your support, your friendship & your encouragement over this past year.
I would also like to take this opportunity of thanking our many volunteers at Zac's Place over this past year. On this bitterly cold night I have just returned from our Thursday night soup kitchen - we have friends there who are in desperate trouble who see few signs of hope. I am so grateful for a loyal team of willing helpers who roll up their sleeves in 'spare time' and muck in: so to the school care taker, the teacher, the accountant, the vet, the social worker, music teacher, carpenter, metal worker and students - I salute you and thank God for you. You and others continue to be stars shining bright in a dark place.
Their starting points were all very different - a Godly young woman conceives, her confused fella needs angelic encouragement to stay at her side, unreliable shepherds are trusted first with great news and star gazers follow a long complex path.
Whatever their starting point and whatever their journey entailed, they all ultimately found themselves gathered around Christ - that in itself must have seemed light years away from their initial steps of their journey into the unknown.
The Christmas message - Immanuel; 'God with us' at it's grass roots, continues to meet us where we are, not where we think we should be.
However you choose to celebrate Christmas this year, I pray you will leave room for interruptions, for sign posts, for whispers of grace along the way of our many and varied life's journeys. Cheers for your support, your friendship & your encouragement over this past year.
I would also like to take this opportunity of thanking our many volunteers at Zac's Place over this past year. On this bitterly cold night I have just returned from our Thursday night soup kitchen - we have friends there who are in desperate trouble who see few signs of hope. I am so grateful for a loyal team of willing helpers who roll up their sleeves in 'spare time' and muck in: so to the school care taker, the teacher, the accountant, the vet, the social worker, music teacher, carpenter, metal worker and students - I salute you and thank God for you. You and others continue to be stars shining bright in a dark place.
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