Fellowship "Elbow Bump" for December 24

Crèche from the Bethlehem L'Arche Community, compliments of Pat.

"And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love" (I Cor 13:13).

In this final week of Advent we have focussed our thoughts on love.  Our hearts have moved increasingly toward sharing expressions of love as we approach Christmas Day.  We can feel it in our desire to reach out and show love to people near and people far away with gifts, phone calls, cards and electronic messages.

Obviously this year is different, due to the lockdown.  The lockdown has removed so many of our rituals, so many of the things we always thought made Christmas.  The shopping, the caroling, the get-togethers have all been put on the shelf for another time.

But love remains.  If you are reading this from your apartment alone, love remains. If you are reading this from your sick bed, love remains. If you are reading this with the realization that you cannot get together with your loved ones, love remains. 

Love remains because of Jesus, begotten of the Father in love, appearing as the incarnation of God's love and kindness, and expressed the fullness of his love on the cross.  Love remains. 

Many things have been confusing to me in this strange year, but one thing is perfectly clear: if we lose everything of how we formerly celebrated Christmas, but find Jesus, then we will have found the Father's will for us this Christmas. We will have found love.

Of the Father's love begotten
ere the worlds began to be,
he is Alpha and Omega,
he the Source, the Ending he,
of the things that are, that have been,
and that future years shall see,
evermore and evermore!

O that birth forever blessed,
when the Virgin, full of grace,
by the Holy Ghost conceiving,
bore the Savior of our race;
and the babe, the world's Redeemer,
first revealed his sacred face,
evermore and evermore!

O ye heights of heav'n, adore him;
angel hosts, his praises sing:
all dominions, bow before him
and extol our God and King;
let no tongue on earth be silent,
ev'ry voice in concert ring, 
evermore and evermore!

Christ, to thee, with God the Father,
and, O Holy Ghost, to thee,
hymn and chant and high thanksgiving
and unwearied praises be,
honor, glory, and dominion
and eternal victory,
evermore and evermore!

"Father God, thank you for your love expressed to us in Jesus's coming. Please help us to show your love to others today."

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We certainly look forward to Christmas worship together!  Please note, we are NOT having Zoom worship for either Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.  Instead, we have pre-recorded the Christmas worship so you can participate when you prefer to do so.  To participate, simply go to the Worship page of this website, click on the picture for "Christmas 2020", then click on the "PLAY" (>) button.  The recording will be available as of 6pm this evening, Christmas Eve.

Don't forget that Fellowship Church is having an online Christmas reception at 11am Christmas Day.  This is our opportunity to see one another and share expressions of love in person. Even if you can only come briefly, please come!  You can join using the regular Sunday morning Zoom link.

And now, let me say, Merry Christmas to one and all! Receive God's blessing:

Come, Lord!
The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you.
 My love to all of you in Christ Jesus.
Amen.

Pastor Mark