Hark the glad sound! the Savior comes The Savoir promised long let every heart prepare a throne And every voice a song. Our glad hosannas, Prince of Peace Thy welcome shall proclaim And heaven’s eternal arches ring With thy beloved Name
Words:Philip Doddridge Even as we sit in the midst of Advent, the glad Hosannas are in our hearts and poised on our lips – waiting, waiting, waiting. I love Christmas - and not just because of the gifts, music, and pretty tinsel. I love Christmas because it speaks to my understanding of God.The Incarnation, God become human.The baby Jesus - even the grown man Jesus - feels touchable, reachable, close and intimate.God the Divine - the God in resurrection - feels distant, powerful, maybe even a little scary to me sometimes. Our theology of course proclaims both – Jesus is fully human and fully divine.Therein lies the mystery.And for sure I/we live each day with that mystery at the heart of faith.But in the Incarnation we become, through Christ’s birth, God’s children.Because God became human, humanity is made holy.In a cold damp stable God is warmed by animals, shepherds, and the loving arms of Mary and Joseph.Thomas Merton wrote: “eternity enters into time, and time, sanctified, is caught up in eternity”.God in Jesus makes holy all that there is and all that there is has the potential to reveal God’s love. God’s love is revealed in countless ways at Trinity:from the warm bowls of chowder at Joyful Ladle to the energy and joyful enthusiasm of ACAT, from the laughter of parish fellowship to the quiet prayer of the Holy Thursday Vigil.God’s love is revealed in our community work, in our worship and music, and in our warm hospitality. God’s love for us is revealed by our love for friend and stranger alike. My prayer for you this Christmas is that you will let the beauty and mystery of this season fill you with a yearning for God that will draw you deeper and deeper into the mystery of Love and let that love transform your life.I invite you to join your faith community in worship this season. A blessed Advent and a most Holy Christmas for you and your family, Rev'd Jane