A Christmas Carol....

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Welcome to Thought for the Day.

I wonder what makes you feel like Christmas is really nearly here? Is it wrapping up the Christmas parcels? Is it watching your favourite Christmas movie? Or is it treating yourself to a tiramisu latte from Caffe Nero’s  new festive range?

For me I feel like Christmas has all but arrived when I hear the carol singing. I just love carol singing. Some folk from a few churches were out and about last night in the streets of Hartford, and last Sunday we as a church had our Christmas carol service at Christ Church Huntingdon.

Perhaps the reason I love carols is because one of the traditions at my Grandad’s house where we used to spend Christmas as children was listening in to the festival of 9 lessons and carols from Kings College Cambridge. Maybe that’s one of your traditions too.

Christmas isn’t about the commercialism and shopping. It’s not even first of all about the presents or time with loved ones, though that is wonderful.

Christmas is about the arrival of Jesus Christ. And the carols tell us just who he is. Here’s a sample…

“Lo within a manger lies, he who built the starry skies”.

“Our God heaven cannot hold him”

“God of God, Light of Light.. Begotten not Created”

All these carols are telling us the most incredible miracle of all. That God became a man. When Baby Jesus was born in a stable over 2000 years ago, the God who made you, came on a mission to find you. He loves you and he wants to know you personally. The question is will he find any room in your heart?

Here's a final verse of In the Bleak Mid-winter…

“What can I give him, poor as I am? If I were a shepherd I would bring a lamb, if I were a wise man I would do my part. Yet what I can I give him, give my heart”.

Have a fantastic Christmas. Thanks for listening.

Image from https://www.caffenero.com/uk/menu/festive