Christmas Plans at Christ Church
Dear Friends,
The tinsel is coming out. The lights are beginning to sparkle. The carols are playing (we sung our first one at Nights last week!). The calendar has flipped over and Christmas is almost upon us!
Whether you are the sort of person who starts listening to Christmas music in October, or the one who dreads the crowded shopping centres, there is a singular hope at the centre of this season that unites us all. It is the hope of a grand arrival.
For centuries, humanity has looked for leadership that actually bring joy and hope and benefit to the led. We look to structures and systems to bring peace and order, and while we are grateful for stability where we find it, our hearts often long for something more, something permanent, something that can actually solve our problems. We long for a day when everything sad is made right. When everything bad ends. When everything that causes grief is stopped. So this year, we are exploring the answer to that longing over Christmas.
Our theme for this Christmas is "The King We Need."
Scripture paints a breathtaking picture of this King’s arrival in Zechariah 14:9. Having made several promises that a divine King is coming throughout his prophecy, Zechariah finally declares the true identity of this King: "The Lord will be king over the whole earth." And Luke 1 tells us that when this King comes, his reign will be eternal. His power will be all encompassing. His dominion will be over every tribe and nation and language and tongue. Jesus does not come to fight or critique earthly thrones, but to announce and celebrate a Heavenly one. And that’s what we’re doing this Christmas. The thrilling news is that the King of the Universe has stepped into history. He is the King who brings peace to our chaos, joy to our sorrow, and light to our darkness.
In Christ, the power of God is seen in the land of the living and it is still seen as the Gospel is preached and as we encourage each other to look to the King of glory each day. We are going to focus on all this and more at Christmas.
So what is planned?
Blue Christmas will be on 7.30pm Tuesday 16th December. This is a wonderful moment to pause on the cusp of Christmas and reflect on the year. It’s particularly helpful for those who have had a more difficult year as we spend time reflecting on the joys and sorrows of life.
Then, on Tuesday 23rd December our regular Tuesday service will be transformed into a Traditional Christmas at 10am with rousing carols played on the organ and we will share in the Lord’s Supper.
On Christmas Eve join us at:
5pm - Kids Christmas Eve
7.30pm - Candlelight Carols
11pm - Upbeat Christmas
Christmas Day we will hold just one service at 9am where everyone is welcome to celebrate the King we need.
All this information and more is on the website at www.christchurch.com.au/christmas. Make some choices about what you will come to and get it all in your diary now.
More importantly of course, now is the time to re-engage with God if he has gone missing from your life. If you are not reading much in your Bible, can I encourage you to open it up to Luke 1 and read a few verses each day and see the glory of our King! If you finish Luke, turn to Matthew, then John. Allow the news of Christmas to refresh and enliven you - draw near to Jesus and even in the chaos, see his wonder and power and receive from him rest.
