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RECTOR'S
LETTER DECEMBER 2007
Dear Parishioners I was sitting at my desk wondering what I would write in this month's letter when the telephone rang. It was a car salesman with whom I have done business on several occasions in the past. He is a very decent person, someone I have known for a long time and respect, but someone with a good eye to the possibility of a sale. He wanted to make sure that I wasn't overlooked when it came to some of the special 'deals' on offer. We had an amicable conversation which was entirely non-committal on my part and which ended up by each of us wishing the other a happy Christmas. Having replaced the 'phone I began to think about our conversation and came to a few conclusions. It must be very difficult, I thought, for a car salesman to make a sale at this time of the year when everyone is scraping around to find enough money to finance the Christmas presents and all the trappings of the festive season. It can't be very easy when families are facing increasing household prices in respect of home heating, food bills and transportation costs. It must take a special kind of person, a supreme optimist no less, to set off down a long list of telephone numbers and try to convince a busy person, or a stressed-out person, or a not very wealthy person at the other end of the telephone line that all they need to do is to buy a new car right at this moment in time. I must say that I rather admire someone like that. I admire their diplomatic and psychological skills. Perhaps my salesman friend was trying to prevent me from squandering my money on presents which would soon be forgotten. It would be much better for me to put my hard earned cash into a nice shiny new vehicle instead! After all, it would mean, hopefully, trouble free motoring over the next two or three years. I suppose it's kind of him to think of me in this way; thinking of my future comfort and the reliability of my transport, never mind the substantial debt I would have to take on to conclude the deal! And the strange thing was, what he was telling me felt very enticing. I had to hold myself back from committing myself to dropping in with him for just a 'wee look'. Having read this far, I would forgive you for asking the question, "What on earth have these random thoughts to do with Christmas, with Church, with the real meaning of the season, with the Christian celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ and the gospel?" In my opinion, everything, for we are all called to be representatives of God who have good news to share about his free gift given to us! Christmas is a time of year when we really can go out on the 'sales-pitch' and let everyone know the indescribable glory and love of God centred in the baby of Bethlehem. The Lord Jesus is the gift, so freely given at inestimable cost to God, that is essential to every human being who walks this earth; the gift which speaks of immeasurable love; the one who came to die in our place and work the miracle of salvation and the assurance of eternity with God for us who will believe and trust in him! Scripture speaks truly when in John 3:16 we read, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." Like my salesman friend, are you prepared to start to make connections with those around you, not to sell an expensive commodity that will last only a short while, but to commend Christ to all who need him? That is your calling and mine. Start by inviting your friends and neighbours to our Christmas services. Are you willing to do that? Even though in our secular and material society the prospects of winning a convert may seem slim, you and I must try! If we do, God will honour our efforts and do the rest. But remember this one thing. We have to know and have confidence in our product. Let us make sure that each of us know and trust Jesus Christ this Christmas time as we seek to share him with others. May all of you know God's blessing and happiness this Christmas with Jesus at the heart of all you do. Your
friend in Christ's service, |