"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and for ever."
(Isaiah 9:6-7)
Over many years, many Christmas sermons and homilies have focused on the need to "put Christ back into Christmas". And, as we have listened to such sermons, we mark the tide of materialism that reaches a flood at Christmas. There is an overwhelming sense that we, as disciples of Jesus, are fighting an "Empire of materialism". Against such an Empire, our attitude is often one of resignation.
We need to look back in order to have hope for the future.
During the 1st century, as the Roman Empire reached dizzying heights of power and prestige, there came into the world a child born of a virgin in a small village named Bethlehem. Long foretold but still unlooked for, the world seemed to spin unmoved by His birth. Empires appeared to be intact. Yet the child grew. A man developed. The Messiah, the incarnation of God, walked amongst us. Life by life he replaced a transitory Empire with an unshakeable Kingdom. Then, through His death and resurrection, He opened the door for all to have eternal citizenship in His Kingdom.
When we ponder the Empires we find ourselves in at Christmas, let us remember Jesus. Look at how Isaiah describes both the Messiah and the ministry of the Messiah: the government will be on his shoulders; he is the Mighty God; his reign will be for ever. Yet, as we know from personal experience, this glorious, Mighty and Eternal Messiah's presence is sometimes only birthed in small, unnoticed actions.
It is our part as citizens of His Kingdom to perform such actions, His to transform Empires with them.
I trust that you and yours will sense Jesus' presence this Christmas, and continue to perform His mission through whatever ways He guides you - have a blessed Christmas!
Craig Brown
Federal Coordinator Churches of Christ
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Christmas Bowl: What Can We Do for Zimbabwe this Christmas? |
Australian households are beginning to feel the financial strain of a global economic crisis. The spirit of giving and sharing at Christmas time will be a true test of people’s generosity this year. However, while we face a difficult and uncertain period, Zimbabwe is in crisis.
More than 5.1 million Zimbabweans need food aid urgently, as the country is crippled by a collapsed economy, severe food insecurity, a lack of basic service delivery, a political stalemate and a devastating Cholera outbreak. In the past few weeks, aid channels have been opened again and it is time to help.
The Christmas Bowl supports several partners in Zimbabwe including Christian Care Zimbabwe, which delivers food aid and agricultural assistance to more than 720,000 people.
Christian Care Director, Reverend Forbes Matonga said, “As a nation, we are confronted with the greatest humanitarian challenges of our time. The near collapse of the financial system, near destitution of close to five million members of our population who are now reliant on food aid, a run away cholera epidemic already spinning out of control and spilling beyond our borders and the HIV/AIDS scourge.”
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Read more...
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For all of you who are interested in - and use - the Lectionary readings, click here to be taken to the webpage that Churches of Christ use as the basis of their readings. You will need to use Year B (for up to November 2009) and then Year C (for the Advent period in 2009), and just click on the headings to find the readings for the next 12 months.
Thanks
Craig Brown
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