Dear fellow servants of the Lord Jesus,
“Fully”
“When we were children, we were in slavery under the basic principles of the world. But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive the full rights of sons.” So writes the apostle Paul in Galatians 4:4 and 5.
There is something more in the story of the birth of the Lord Jesus than that, amazingly, the second person of the glorious Trinity was “enfleshed” in the womb of the virgin, Mary. God become man is astounding in itself.
Paul draws our attention to the “when” concerning the “what”. It was when the time had fully come. One word says it all – that God’s eternal purposes, painstakingly and in many ways unveiled over history have reached the time of their fulfilment. But we assume this to our peril.
In our rush to get Christmas over, to sing Joy to the World and then go on holiday, or wait to be able to return unwanted gifts, the Test to get under way, or Mission to start, it’s very easy to lose sight of the long and carefully laid out period of promise. From Genesis chapter 3 on, and for upwards of 2 millennia, God’s people, the faithful among them at least, longed for the redemption he had faithfully promised. And it would not come until the time for its appearance had fully come – by God’s estimation. Simeon in the temple (Luke 2), in grateful relief, understood what was happening as he held the Baby in his wizened arms:
“My eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.”
The Conception and Birth was not just a random event that could have happened any old time. It took place over 9 months at a certain point in history (4BC??) because God in his infinite wisdom planned it that way. And if his plan for the 2nd Coming of his Son is any guide, this was because he is patient with sinners, giving us “extra time” to turn back to him.
Not recalling the “time fully come” nature of the Birth deprives us of remembering the amazing patience of our God with sinful humans and of the sense of urgency to get the gospel appeal out to a lost world. How marvellous is his patience! How glorious is his redemption of sinners!
Christmas
Please pray for the events planned and prepared for over the next week:
Monday & Tuesday 21st and 22nd:
Christmas Kids Club (same program twice) at both St Peter’s and St Andrew’s
Thursday 24th :
YouTube videos for Christmas Eve for Families and Christmas Day Readings and Carols available
11.00pm – Christmas Communion Celebration live on St Peter’s Green
Friday 25th Christmas Day:
9.30am – Christmas Day at St Andrew’s (Any time) Christmas Readings and Carols from St Peter’s (access through YouTube)
Our new Rector
Jason Veitch will begin his ministry among us on Monday 10th January.
His official Commencement of Ministry Service will be on Saturday 30th January at 2pm at St Peter’s. (We will probably need to book for this, but more details to come).
As we celebrate God’s amazing kindness to us in the sending of his Son into this world, may each one of you continue to grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
My wife, Glenda, joins me in wishing you a very blessed Christmas,
In Christ,
Deryck
Acting Rector