Sunday's coming!

Christmas Eve Sermon Adults – we’ve nearly made it. The shops are mostly shut, the food is bought, the presents are wrapped, at least some of us are ready for bed.. Children – you’ve nearly made it. One more sleep, everyone’s arrived, the decorations are magical, at least some of you are ready for bed…   We all just need to wait for Christmas to arrive, to feel ‘Christmassy’, for Christmas to come alive. I wonder what one thing brings Christmas to life for you? Perhaps it’s the moment when you see candlelight on the face of your loved ones When you see a star shining in someone’s window Or an angel atop a Christmas tree When the tinsel or the lights twinkle at you and you feel excitement again When you hear a brass band playing carols Or catch the bray of a donkey, or a bird singing in the near-darkness.   If you haven’t felt it yet, you have about twelve hours until whatever you are feeling, it will be Christmas morning any...

I didn't write this - the "guest Author" is Susan Durber. I will be using it on Christmas day A Christmas story I know a Christmas story that comes in a book with only pictures, and no words, no sounds at all - you have to imagine the words yourself. But this is a Christmas story with no pictures, only sounds. In this story you have to imagine the pictures, and you have to make the sounds.   Once there was a spare room in a house in Bethlehem. This was not a spare room like you might have; with a spare bed and a wardrobe where the Christmas decorations are stored. It was the second room in the house, built on the side, where the animals were kept in Winter. In the summer it was empty and silent, but in the darkest, coldest days of the year it was filled with sounds. And one year, one year in particular, one special year, there were many sounds…   First, there was the usual sound of the cows…   And the usual sound of the donkeys…   ...