READING: LUKE 2:1-20

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register.

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

And there were shepherds living out in the fields near by, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.’

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

‘Glory to God in the highest heaven,

and on earth peace to those on whom his favour rests.’

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.’

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

REFLECTION

Hello everyone, it's Mick - and I'm back to complete our Podcasts on this week before Christmas. I hope you have enjoyed this week's reflections from Nikky, Alannah and Anni from the Christmas story in Luke 2:1-20. This year we have heard over 200 Podcasts from STC Sheffield; opportunities to connect with God through Bible reflections, prayers and worship from our STC team. No Podcast next week but we are back and ready to go again on Monday 2nd January. Today, a personal reflection from me as we conclude this year. Do read the this passage again today but two verses to focus on now - the Angel's words to those wonderful shepherds:

"Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.  This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

I became a Christian at the age of 28. I had no church background, no one from my family went to church or would be classed as 'religious'. Church and religion had no relevance to my life at all - but perhaps God did. I remember as a young boy praying by the side of my bed; yes there was ice on the inside of the windows and we had linoleum on the floor! I wasn't quite sure who or what I was praying to but pray I did. Always a long list which, if I missed anything out meant going back to the beginning again. I soon learnt to get it right first time as that linoleum floor was hard and cold!

My prayers always included peace in our home - a home where, it seemed to me my parents argued constantly. Let me be clear, my parents who had a hard life in many ways and are now long dead, loved me and I am so grateful for the life they gave me. However, there always seemed to be conflict in our home, no peace, and in later years very little joy. I just wanted someone to come and sort it out - a rescuer, a saviour I suppose. Those stuttering boyhood prayers somehow helped to give me comfort and hope.  Remember that angel: 'A saviour has been born to you'. The word saviour can also mean rescuer. Unbeknown to me, God was at work in my life even then.

I then got on with my life and again religion had no part in it but I remember another significant God moment when I was 19 walking home after a night out with the boys. For some reason, it may have been the few glasses of shandy I had enjoyed, I fell through a privet hedge and lay there in someone's garden looking up at the universe before me. I lay there for some time fascinated by the stars in that clear sky and remember thinking how immense this was and how infinitely small I was. I had what I can only describe as a sense of something else as I lay in that garden - it was an 'I made this and I made you' moment. It was God quietly breaking in to my life again - getting my attention, giving me a sign that he was real. The Angel said 'This will be a sign to you'. The word sign here can also mean miracle - a happening that points you to God. I'm not sure how long I was in that garden but my treasured Levi jacket had serious privet and grass stains!

A year later I began working for Post Office Telephones which eventually became the national phone company BT. I met a colleague called Roger who was a Christian - he and his wife Sue became our friends and are still our dear friends today. They invited us to church and more importantly into their lives and as Tricia and I started to meet more Christians, we realised that they had something different in their lives. I began to remember again those moments in my own life where God had begun to break in and slowly it began to make sense. Tricia and I became Christians and as the old hymn says 'we decided to follow Jesus, no turning back, no turning back!' After nearly 18 years I left BT and eventually became a CofE vicar. Our life following and serving Jesus has been a real adventure, a wonderful yet often challenging and demanding life, but Jesus has been so faithful to us and our family over these many years. He truly is our Lord and our life.

If you're listening to this Podcast you would probably call yourself a Christian. However it might be a moment for you this Christmas to now stop and reflect for a moment. Perhaps you need a Saviour - someone to rescue you, to deliver you, to bring you through the struggle to a place of peace and joy. That someone is Jesus - welcome him into your life again over these next days as you sing the carols and hear the story again.

Perhaps you need a sign - in the challenges we see around us both global and personal; in the everyday ordinariness of life a sign pointing you again to a God filled life of hope. That sign, that miracle is Jesus - this Christmas, receive his hope into your life again.

"Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.  This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

PRAYER

Lord Jesus, thank you for coming to us to be our Saviour, our rescuer. Thank for being the sign that God is real and relevant today, that miracles are possible with you. Be with me, my family and friends this Christmas, fill our homes with your love and peace and joy that we might bring your hope to our hurting world - one kindness at a time! Amen.

Hark the herald angels sing, glory to the new born King.

Happy Christmas!