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Advent Newsletter
Minister's Message
As I write for this Advent newsletter I am preparing for both Christmas and the Vanuatu trip. Having experienced four Christmas seasons in the northern hemisphere, it will be quite different to share in preparations while in a tropical climate, I wonder what it will feel like? We can't say that the family were left out in the cold, nor fully understand the image of the manger or feed trough that Jesus was laid in. Does the image of foreign travelers convey a significant meaning? And how do we connect with the idea of shepherds being told the good news?
The task is not so much to re-enact the historical detail, but to catch the true significance of those events so far and so long ago. The idea that God was present in a human baby, a child not of noble birth but from common stock. That creation was somehow connected in with the whole event through stars and animals. An understanding that special people had insights into what was going on, not specifics (the wise men went to Jerusalem) but generalities. Knowing that from that point on, the world changed in its relationship to God - God was no longer apart from the world of human beings but fully part of it.
The gift of the Christ-child lies at the foot of the Christmas Tree, which might be a pine, a pohutakawa, or a coconut palm. How do we make the Christmas story into our story, rather than just a ancient legend of a bygone age? It seems to me that we must once again affirm that Christ is born into our hearts and lives in our world through us. We are encouraged to release the Christmas Spirit into our communities and let love be in our midst.
May the blessings of the Christmas season be with you all.
Peter and Delwyn.
Choristers sing out for Christmas
For those who enjoy choral music: get ready for worship on Sunday 18 December at 10am, when the JUC choir under the direction of Sharmala David and accompanied by Robin Barwick sing a variety of pieces for the Christmas season.
The choir has been rehearsing for several weeks and are looking forward to joining the congregation as we begin the last week before Christmas. See you there!
The Twelve Days of Christmas
A group of twenty plus has worked throughout the year crafting the Twelve Days of Christmas. The result is to be 12 cameos of the traditional Christmas song on display from the 2 December in the church. Contrary to popular belief these are not the twelve days before Christmas, but in the Western Church are the twelve days from Christmas until the beginning of Epiphany [6 January]. The origins of the Twelve Days is complicated and is related to differences in calendars, church traditions and ways to observe this holy day in various cultures. By the 16th Century some Scandinavian and European cultures had combined the Twelve Days of Christmas with festivals celebrating changing of the year. The popular song "The Twelve Days of Christmas" is usually seen as a nonsense song for children. However it is recognised that it is a song of Christian instruction dating to the 16th century religious wars in England with hidden references to the basic teachings of the faith. It is thought that it was a mnemonic device to teach the catechism to youngsters. The "True Love" mentioned in the song is not an earthly suitor, but refers to God Himself. The "me" who receives the gifts refers to baptized persons who were persons of the faith. Each of the days represents some aspect of the Christian Faith that it was important for children to learn. There will always be those sceptics who doubt the truth in this but this uncertainty should not prevent us from using the song in the celebration of Christmas. Perhaps, when all is said and done, historical accuracy is not really the point. Perhaps more important is that Christians can celebrate their rich heritage, and God’s grace, through one more avenue this Christmas.
Our Twelve Days of Christmas represents the traditional rhyme as follows: On the 1st day of Christmas my true love gave to me... A Partridge in a Pear Tree.
The Partridge in the Pear Tree is Jesus Christ, the Son of God whose birthday we celebrate on 25 December, the first day of Christmas. A mother partridge is a feisty bird who feigns injury to decoy her predators so as to protect her nestlings. This self – sacrifice inspired the early Christians to look upon a Partridge as representing Jesus Christ. On the 2nd day of Christmas my true love gave me... Two Turtle Doves.
The Two Turtle Doves represent the Old and New Testaments. Both tell us of Jesus birth, growing up, death on the cross and subsequent resurrection. Turtle Doves mate for life and poets and romantics have long seen them as unifying so it is appropriate that they link the Hebrew and Christian scriptures. On the 3rd day of Christmas my true love gave to me... Three French Hens.
Hens conjure up chickens, eggs, in fact lots to eat. People serve chicken with exciting stuffings such as prunes and apricots and serve them with buttered carrots, roasted potatoes, peas and gravy. No wonder they are looked upon as the precious gifts of myrrh, frankincense and gold that the wise men brought to the Christ Child. On the 4th day of Christmas my true love gave to me... Four Calling Birds.
The Four Calling birds are the Four Gospels – Matthew, Mark, Luke, John. These beautiful birds give us the gift of pretty eggs for decorations. The Gospels bring the gifts of the stories of Jesus’ life. On the 5th day of Christmas my true love gave to me... Five Gold Rings.
Five golden rings, five never ending circles often given in love represent the five major prophets – Elijah, Elisha, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel. On the 6th Day of Christmas my true love gave to me... Six Geese a-laying.
No packaging devised by humans can rival the beautiful simplicity of the egg. The six geese a-laying represent the six days of creation. Genesis 1 reminds us of God’s role as the creator and sustainer of life. On the 7th day of Christmas my true love gave to me... Seven Swans a-swimming.
Elegant birds, swans swim freely around whenever there is an expanse of water. In fabled times swans were regarded as mute but there is certainly nothing reticent about the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit that they represent. First Corinthians 12 verses 8 to 12 give us the gifts of wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy and discernment. On the 8th day of Christmas my true love gave to me... Eight Maids a-milking.
The Eight Maids represent the Eight Beautitudes which spell out blessings for the lowly. A milkmaid would have been thought of as lowly in times long ago. We can find these in Matthew 5: verses 3 – 10. On the 9th Day of Christmas my true love gave to me... Nine Ladies Dancing.
The ladies are linked to the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit. Let us be reminded of the Fruits of the Holy Spirit, Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Generosity, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-control by reading the words from Galations 5:22. On the 10th day of Christmas my true love gave to me... Ten Lords A-leaping.
The Lords represent leadership and we remember the great leader Moses who gave us the Ten Commandments from God. We can find these words in Exodus 20:1 – 17. On the 11th day of Christmas my true love gave to me... Eleven Pipers Piping.
The Eleven Faithful Apostles are represented by the Pipers; Simon, Peter, Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James known as Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, Judas known as James. Judas Iscariot is not in the list because he was the one who betrayed Jesus to the Romans. On the 12th Day of Christmas my true love gave to me... Twelve Drummers Drumming.
The Twelve Drummers represent the 12 tribes of Israel, our forbears in the church. Without them we would not be here today.
Now when we hear what we may have previously thought was a secular nonsense song may we be reminded in one more way of the grace of God working in transforming ways in our lives and in the world. After all is that not the meaning of Christmas anyway
Christmas Day Dinner
We are planning to have a Christmas Day dinner in the Lounge at JUC, anyone who wants to share in a family-type gathering is welcome to attend. We do need to know numbers so can you please let either Delwyn MacKenzie or Margaret Inch know if you want to come. There will be no charge for the meal (donations accepted) but we would ask that people bring a small gift (value around $10) that can be shared.