Christmas 2007

Come and celebrate with us   Nativity Sunday 23 December, 10.30 am Telling the Christmas story A service for all ages Children and youth taking part Carols by Candlelight Sunday 23 December, 4.30 pm Carols and Bible readings followed by mince pies Christmas Day 10.00 am Celebrate Christmas suitable for all ages Carol Singing at Asda Thursday 6 December, 7.30 pm With the Salvation Army Band and the Church of Christ the King Church. Refreshments afterwards at the Church of Christ the King (next to Asda).

What's Christmas all about? Only 12% of adults in the UK have a detailed knowledge of the Christmas story, according to new research published this month (December 2007) by Theos, the public theology think tank. www.theosthinktank.co.uk Explore the following web sites to find out more about the Christmas story:   www.whychristmas.com www.rejesus.co.uk/christmas Read the Christmas Story in the Bible: Angel foretells Jesus' birth Luke 1:26-38 Birth of Jesus Matthew 1:18-25 Luke 2:1-7 Shepherds visit the baby Jesus Luke 2:8-20 Visit of the Wise Men Matthew 2:1-12 Escape to Egypt Matthew 2:13-18 (links to the Online Bible)

The Bible

For to us a child is born,
    to us a son is given,
    and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
    Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6 (NIV)

Why a Candlelight Service?

No one really knows how candles came to be associated with Christmas.

But in the Bible, Jesus is often compared with light, giving us spiritual illumination. The Gospel of John starts by describing Jesus as a light shining in the darkness:

In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.

John 1:4-5 (NIV)

Later on in the Gospel of John, Jesus said that he was the light:

"I am the light of the World. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

John 8:12 (NIV)

Are you walking your life in the light of Jesus?

updated 8 December 2007