Author: NTC Admin

Today has been quite a day, not one for travelling!

Let us all keep safe and dry!

From Genesis 9

Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him, ‘As for me, I am establishing my covenant with you and your descendants after you, and with every living creature that is with you, the birds, the domestic animals, and every animal of the earth with you, as many as came out of the ark. I establish my covenant with you, that never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of a flood, and never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth.’ God said, ‘This is the sign of the covenant that I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations: I have set my bow in the clouds, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen in the clouds, I will remember my covenant that is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. When the bow is in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.’ God said to Noah, ‘This is the sign of the covenant that I have established between me and all flesh that is on the earth.’

The Hedgehog Class at Lifton Primary School have been learning Joy’s Seven: A traditional Carol.

In this video, Kamila, gives the second contribution from our Foundation Course Members: a short talk about the most famous of our Advent Hymns: O Come, O Come Emmanuel, together with a performance remotely put together by our friends at Bethany Lutheran Church in Dallas.

With the announcement that London has moved into Tier 3, there is yet more nervousness and worry.

Many people’s plans have been thwarted and there is a great deal of disappointment.

Sometimes we just need the reassurance of God’s redeeming and protecting hand.

Isaiah 35

The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad,
   the desert shall rejoice and blossom;
like the crocus it shall blossom abundantly,
   and rejoice with joy and singing.
The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it,
   the majesty of Carmel and Sharon.
They shall see the glory of the Lord,
   the majesty of our God.

Strengthen the weak hands,
   and make firm the feeble knees.
Say to those who are of a fearful heart,
   ‘Be strong, do not fear!
Here is your God.
   He will come with vengeance,
with terrible recompense.
   He will come and save you.’

Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,
   and the ears of the deaf unstopped;
then the lame shall leap like a deer,
   and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy.
For waters shall break forth in the wilderness,
   and streams in the desert;
the burning sand shall become a pool,
   and the thirsty ground springs of water;
the haunt of jackals shall become a swamp,
   the grass shall become reeds and rushes.

A highway shall be there,
   and it shall be called the Holy Way;
the unclean shall not travel on it,
   but it shall be for God’s people;
   no traveller, not even fools, shall go astray.
No lion shall be there,
   nor shall any ravenous beast come up on it;
they shall not be found there,
   but the redeemed shall walk there.
And the ransomed of the Lord shall return,
   and come to Zion with singing;
everlasting joy shall be upon their heads;
   they shall obtain joy and gladness,
   and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

The Children of Lifton Primary School have been singing with Philip, our parish priest, to perform some Carols.

Advent Calendar Quiz

There are 14 letters in Advent Calendar, but how many words can you spell using those letters?

After a little research, it seems that there are:

 5 nine letter words

45 eight letter words

92 seven letter words

186 six letter words

171 five letter words

135 four letter words

77 three letter words

Advent Hymn Quiz

One of the great treasures of our tradition of worship is the joy of singing our wonderful Advent Hymns together. Perhaps it is because they are reserved for a small portion of the year, or because they sum up the hope and excitement of the Advent season, or because the words are matched beautifully with some magnificent tunes which make singing them a pleasure.

Unfortunately this year we can’t!

So instead, so that the words can still help us on our Advent Journey,  here are some lines from ten different well known Advent Hymns. 

Can you work out/Do you know which hymns they are from.

Answers later!

1. Carry on every breeze hope of a new world’s new birth:
   
2. And with the treasures of his grace
   
3. For great thou art, and wonders great
   
4. The wedding song swells loud and strong
   
5. Glad tidings from the King of kings
   
6. Gaze we on those glorious scars
   
7. Announcing peace, proclaiming news of happiness.
   
8. Then when next hew comes in glory
   
9. Born a child and yet a king
   
10. All knees must bend, all hearts must bow

We are very fortunate in having two members of our regular congregations who are studying on the Diocesan Foundation for Ministry Course.

Here: one of them, Nicola, reflects on one of the most influential books traditionally read, or dramatized, at this time of the year.

A favourite Christmas story of mine is that of Scrooge in “A Christmas Carol”.  Dickens wrote the story at a time of high social depravation and harsh working conditions.  Even so Scrooge’s parsimony and lack of empathy is extreme.  How could this happen?

The Ghost of Christmas Past provides an explanation.  As Scrooge looks back at past events he realises that he has been damaged by fear of being hurt by love.  Over time his heart hardened.  Without love he couldn’t relate to others and built a barrier to protect himself.  As Christians we can relate to this.  God’s love is there for us to accept and embrace.  Without letting it in we can feel and behave like Scrooge.

The Ghost of Christmas Present provides Scrooge with the opportunity to change.  He sees what is really happening in his community and what is wrong with his behaviour.   God gives us this chance to change.  If we accept God’s love, we can love people in return.  God’s love can shape our behaviour.

The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come starkly reveals Scrooge’s bleak future if he doesn’t change.  Thankfully he can finally allow love in and feel its positive change on his life.  A good ending for a Christmas story!   And what is best of all is that Jesus’ birth is a great beginning for us.

Felicity Mazur-Park, Director of Music at Bethany Lutheran Church, Dallas, Texas, plays an Organ piece based on the Advent Carol: People Look East.