It’s the beginning of a new year and once again we will be gathering together on the first Sunday for our covenant service. In this service we renew our commitment to God and each other. The emphasis of this service is not on our promises though, but a reminder of God’s readiness to enfold us in generous love, not dependent on our deserving. This leads us to respond, also in love, with penitent joy and thanks, for God’s amazing grace.

You see God did something special for us at Christmas, he sent his only son down to earth to showus how to live. But that wasn’t the end, Jesus not only lived for us, but he also died for us, Easter and Christmas go hand in hand. For the Good news isn’t just that a baby was born in Bethlehem, but also that ‘while we were still sinners, Christ died for us’ (Romans 5:8)

In his autobiography Kenneth Clark reflects on an experience he had whilst in a beautiful church: “My whole being was irradiated by a kind of heavenly joy far more intense than anything I had known before.” He realised that this experience of God’s love and Joy could change his life, but that created a problem for him. If he allowed himself to be influenced by it, he knew he would have to change, his family might think he had lost his mind, and maybe that intense joy would prove to be an illusion. So he concluded, “I was too deeply embedded in the world to change course.”

So our Christmas present from God was his son, and Christ’s present to us was freedom from sin and the Joy of a new life, now it’s up to you too will you accept it?
The Saviour is waiting to save you
And cleanse every sin-stain away;
By faith you can know full forgiveness
And be a new creature today!

Rev Rick