Comfort and Joy

Today’s carol is “In the bleak midwinter”

Today’s beautiful poem-carol lays out three different reactions to the arrival of God. The earth is hard, unresponsive, cold and bleak; the heavens are ablaze with angels singing “Holy, Holy, Hallelujahs”; but the mother of God holds the baby and kisses him.

You don’t need to be high and holy to worship God, says Christina Rossetti. Be like Mary. Open your heart and love him.

Today’s carol is “O little town of Bethlehem”

The words in today’s reading are those spoken to John the Baptist when he was still in his mother’s womb proclaiming him the forerunner of Jesus.

As we read them at the dawn of a new year, let’s ponder how Christ himself is a new dawn for the world.

Today’s carol is “Hark the herald angels sing”

In our reading today Mary’s soul erupts into poetry as she looks to God her Saviour in preparation for the birth of Jesus.

As we sit on the cusp of a new year, we meet God who turns our world’s values upside down to reveal his light and love to all.

Today’s carol is “O holy night!”

God’s glory is seen in a beautiful sunset or landscape. God’s glory is known in the transcendence of worship or the stillness of prayer.

God’s glory is revealed quietly and wonderfully in the birth of Jesus and the life of Jesus. God’s glory seen, fully, in a human being.

Today’s carol is “O come, all ye faithful”

“Come and behold him.” Come and see. Take time to look, and reflect on all that Jesus is and offers. That’s the invitation in today’s carol.

In the reading from John’s Gospel there’s a promise. As we see, we trust. And as we trust, we receive. The gift God gives is love, now and eternally.

Today’s carol is “It came upon the midnight clear”

2020 has been a long and tough journey, and there are still many uncertainties as we go into next year.

Our reading for today comes from the opening of John’s Gospel. It reminds us that as we look back, we see God at the beginning of all things, and as we look forward we see a light that can never be put out.

Today’s carol is “Silent night”

Sometimes there’s a Christmas moment of calm: before guests arrive, or perhaps after they’ve left!

When the angels departed, the shepherds had their moment of calm, to pause and think, before going to Bethlehem to see the baby. In the busyness of Christmas, it’s good to stop and reflect, and maybe notice something you’ve not seen before.

Today’s carol is “Joy to the world”

Shepherds, on a dark hillside outside the sleeping town, were the first to hear the joyful news of the birth of Jesus.

A message of peace and joy for all, celebrated by a vast choir of angels and by carols in pubs and churches, homes and streets around the world.

Today’s carol is “God rest you merry”

Christmas is good news. After a tough year, Christmas brings comfort and joy to you and to a world that is weary and hurting.

The message of the baby born in Bethlehem is that God is in the mix. God does not stand far off, watching from a distance. God comes to us, walks with us and stays with us.

Today’s generosity story comes from Nick in Nottingham. Nick reminds us that generosity and kindness often comes from those we might overlook.