Advent Candle 5

The Fifth Candle (The Christ Candle)

Advent candle #5

And so the die is cast

in form of child

the God has come.

Earth cradles the King

in poverty

misplaced, misunderstood.

The sacrifice of confinement

clothing for a while

outside eternity

the covenant

signature.

Keith Wallis        

Sunday - Christmas Day

Have a really great celebration and if you can join us for worship at 10:30am.

If you're away visiting friends or family travel safely and give our greetings to them.

May the Saviour bless you and keep you in His care.

Part of the record attempt

Well the latest is that ...........................

IT’S A RECORD 18,414 

carol singers

Or rather it will be IF it is ratified by the Guinness people.  

And WE supplied 100 to that total.

 

note from the pastor

 

I wanted to write and thank everyone who contributed in any way to enable what happened last night.

 

*        From Ruth’s amazing decoration of the church to Jonathan’s brilliant leading of our musicians..... 

*        from the team of those who prepared the church and the candle light to Keith’s careful oversight of the world record attempt...

  *        from Jill and her team who sorted out the refreshments afterwards to the welcomers and greeters....

  *        and Sharon and the children’s leaders who set up the lantern factory in the hall beforehand.

 

Thank you all for making our Christmas celebration so special for everyone who came.

I guess we were all delighted by just how many people came to fill our church last night. So

*        thank you also to all who prayed for our carol service and ...

*        thank you to all who invited others to come and who delivered leaflets...

*        and prayer walked as MAD did delivering leaflets last Sunday evening.

 

As a minister I am often privileged to hear conversations that others do not.

*        So I was encouraged to find quite a number of people in church simply because they had received a leaflet through their door.

*        There were others who were with us because they were coming with someone from church.

*        Some were joining in the fun of our Christmas celebrations and our record attempt...

*        And others who were looking to connect with a local Christian community where their faith might be nurtured.

*        Others were there because their group meets in our church and they had responded to our invitation to take part.

*        No doubt there are many others who received an invitation or a leaflet and felt drawn to come but for many reasons, some simply practical, couldn’t respond by coming but will probably do so in another way this Christmas time.

 

Paul writes to the Ephesians ‘From Christ the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.’ I am so conscious this morning of God’s blessing of ‘our offering of our gifts’ to him in the lives of others who were touched as they shared last night with us.

 

We will gather on Christmas Day next Sunday at 10.30am for a family service. 

If Santa ‘brings you a gift you would like to bring to church to show’ then that would be great.

 

In the meantime, I pray that you would know Christ alongside you and his ‘light’ shining on you this Christmas time.

 

*       Happy Christmas!

David

Advent Candle 4

The Fourth Candle (The Candle of Peace)

Advent candle #4

The dove is loosed

from eternity’s door

bringing the olive branch

warm with love.

Waters of darkness recede

before the dove-light

love-light

peace.

So even now

men of peace stride wars

in alien wisdom,

their pace of hope

shines promise

Keith Wallis

Advent Candle 3

The Third Candle (The Candle of Joy)

Advent candle #3

Heaven’s voice is ringing early

its seasonal chorale

cascading through the well shopped streets

with the waterfall of glory.

And the tills sing out their victory

as the bankrupt bleed

on the battleground of greed.

Yet joy is to be found

in shopping mall and marketplace

when quiet voices

with shepherds’ hearts

respond to heaven’s greater tone.

Keith Wallis

Sunday 18th December

Come and be a RECORD BREAKER with us

 

We've got loads of fliers to deliver, please sign up on Sunday for a road you can deliver to during the week.

Sunday 11th December

A first present to open ?

Advent Candle 2

The Second Candle (The Candle of the Way)

Advent candle #2

The star begins its journey

and eternity spills

upon the lost.

A lesser light beacons

the greater light

and feeble footsteps

find the way

to eternity.

   

Keith Wallis         

Stop press - new book out

Keith has some of his work in this new book published by the Baptist Union.

Bible messages for today

Alongside the Biblefresh initiative in 2011, the Mission Department launched a project for Baptist churches, encouraging Christians to write new psalms and parables for the 21st century. A selection of these have now been compiled into a booklet, which gives a thought-provoking, uplifting, and inspiring snapshot of God’s presence in people’s lives today.

Advent Candle 1

The First Candle (The Candle of Prophecy/Hope)

Advent candle #1

In grey and rainy preparation

clouded days preoccupy.

Trees are mourning their lost finery,

birds flee or prepare for hard times.

Day follows day, treading weary paths,

a joyless melancholic procession,

boughs drip metronomic tears

muddy blankets hide spring’s birthright.

Bones chilled, cheeks besieged by gust and gale,

eyes become refugees daring only to peer

from squinting grimaces.

Beauty hides, bereaved, crest-fallen.

From such dismal obsession the season

promises Light for darkened hearts,

merry dances for weary feet

carolling into heraldic wonder.

Candle one: hope and prophecy

stout sentries guarding hearts from

fear’s incessant onslaught.

A small light in the abyss of darkness

tilting at the windmill of reality,

whistling in the wind.

A multitude of stars hide in nightly clouds

jostling for position to proclaim

the appointed

time

when their light is outshined.

Keith Wallis

Sunday afternoon service 4th December

Advent

Not sure what 'ADVENT' is about ? 
Then it's worth watching this

2 minute guide to ADVENT

Carol Service

I know it's early to be thinking about carols and that everyone is busily wondering how they can fit in all their Christmas shopping......but ADVENT STARTS on Sunday !

_______________________________________________________________

We've been busy looking at the celebration opportunities for the season and have come up with a corker this year!

Our Carol Service will be on

18th December at 6:00pm

AND

this year we're going for the record!

We're joining in with Premier Radio's record breaking attempt for the largest number for simultaneous carolsingers.

 Make a date to be at Church, bring your friends and become record breakers.

Kids Bazaar Saturday Dec 3rd

 

20th Nov services

Sunday morning: Kevin Price will be back with us to lead morning service.

No evening service at HRBC on the 20th - this is where to go.

LUTON BAPTIST CHURCHES

Celebration

at Central Baptist Church, Park Street. LU13ET

Sunday 20^th November @ 6pm

with David Pile

of 'More than Gold'

- using the opportunity of the Olympics -