蜜芽传媒

Introduction: Rev Richard Carter

Good morning. Welcome to our service on this Christmas morning and Happy Christmas everyone.

We are beginning our Christmas Service today where the original Christmas story began. The birth of the baby we celebrate today, the birth of Jesus Christ, began not in a palace, not in in a maternity unit, not in a hospital but in a stable. It is the most astonishing beginning to the story of Jesus Christ and today I鈥檓 beginning this story in Hackney City farm in the east end of London. I am here to imagine the context of the birth that still continues to change our lives and turn the way we see the world upside-down.聽

Music: O come all ye faithful
St Martin鈥檚 Voices and Strings

This is the farm where each year provides the donkey Clover we use in Trafalgar Square and at St Martin in the Fields when we tell the story of the nativity. 聽Here in this stable I can smell the straw and the dung and feel the warmth of the donkey and hear its cry and the crow of chickens. It鈥檚 cold outside. A tough place to be born. This farm like so many other places which depend on visitor support, have felt the anxiety and struggle of the pandemic and the urgency of the need to keep a wonderful place like this going. It鈥檚 been a tough year, We all need a stable, not a romantic fairy tale, but a real shelter for survival. Real homes. This farm is so essential because it roots the children, families, and people who visit in the real world - the world of living creatures like Clover - the world of mud and earth, the food and the care and the nurture we need to be born to live and grow and the vital importance of creation. And it is into a place like this, right into the midst of our physical world that Jesus is born - the word is made flesh and lives among us.

Music: In the bleak midwinter
St Martin鈥檚 Voices and Strings

Imagine you are here with me in this stable. Imagine a mother giving birth to a baby in the straw - entirely vulnerable, entirely miraculous - because every birth is miraculous. This story is our story and this story is happening now. Imagine in your life - in your own stable - a baby born for you who will be the way the truth and the life - Immanuel. God with us. Today with joy and imagination let us tell, sing and pray that story together.

Lord God our loving Father
The birth of your son in Bethlehem
draws us into this stable where you unite both heaven and earth
Call us now as you called Mary and Joseph, shepherds and kings
and the whole company of angels
That we too may come and worship
As we enter into St Martin-in-the-Fields on the edge of Trafalgar Square
At the centre of a hushed London
May we like the angels sing

God's love for the world

Richard
God loved the world so much he wanted all to see
But O how deeply sad he felt that few were truly free

God
I'm tired of all the war and hate
They'd better change, it's getting late
They鈥檝e spoilt the planet burnt the trees
Melted the ice caps into the seas
If only they would follow my laws
Instead of always making wars
This is so far from my garden of Eden dream
My world infected with COVID 19
There is so much suffering, don鈥檛 they care?
I made this world with enough to share
I want a world of love and peace,
A world where joy will never cease
What can I do, what shall be done?
I think I'll have to send my son.
This tiny baby will make them weep
He will pull down the proud and raise-up the meek聽

Music: O little town of Bethlehem
Piano improvisation by Michael Cayton

Reading
In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary.

Mary
Early in the morning I thought I dreamed
That through my door all light streamed
It was an angel of God, bright as can be
Her finger pointing straight at me.聽

Gabriel
Mary! Mary! Greetings, favoured one
God is with you, new life has begun
Do not be afraid, for this is your call
Your son will be the saviour of all

Mary
Why me, what's this for?
He could have chosen the rich rather than the poor
A single mother鈥檚 a tough 聽thing to be
They'll shout and curse and distance me
So why is it that in my heart I feel such joy
And long to be the mother of this little boy?

Joseph! Joseph! I've got something you should know
I'm afraid it may come as a terrible blow
Look, this is really hard to say,
you see I'm having a baby on Christmas Day!

Joseph
Jesus Christ! What's your game?

Mary
How did you know that's his name?

Joseph
What do you mean?
How could this be?
You've always been so true to me.
I don't want to leave but I just feel so sad
I simply can't believe that God鈥檚 the Dad鈥β�

God
Joseph! Joseph!聽 Don't be afraid to take Mary as your wife
She's the best thing you've ever had in your life
You have been called to to something much higher
So marry Mary, mother of the Messiah

Music: Silent Night
Piano improvisation by Michael Cayton

Joseph
I聽was filled with hope by the wonder of that dream
For things are not always, all that they seem.
I knew that a mother she would soon be
But the mother of God that was news to me

Mary! Mary, have no fear,
if you'll still have me I'm still here!

Richard Carter
Do you want to find God - empty yourself of your worries, your fears and your pride. For when you are fully empty, it is then God comes. God fills emptiness. He will come and fill you with - God. That鈥檚 what happens to Mary. A woman of no status, position or power yet one of such courage - who risks all, shame, rejection and even death. God does not say- I feel sorry for you. Or I pity you, or even I will change you. God says I have chosen you. Blessed are you. You are going to be the One in whom my Word is made flesh. You in your own life can be the one who brings God to birth.聽 And so can all of us if we open our hearts - and open the door.

Music: See amid the winter鈥檚 snow
St Martin鈥檚 Voices and Strings

The Poem of the Stable

Narrator 1
This is how the birth of Jesus took place
The Emperor Augustus came out with this decree
That everyone should head home, whoever they may be.
It was a journey no one wanted to face
The Roman version of track and trace.

Narrator 2
Now Mary and Joseph went to Bethlehem but it was not an easy ride
It made Mary wonder if God was really on her side
Mary couldn鈥檛 go much further and was in great distress,
And in those days there was no such thing as the NHS.

Joseph
I'm worried about Mary, I love her to bits
But the pain that she鈥檚 in sends me out of my wits
Out in the streets people just walk past us or stare.
No one in this city really seems to care.聽

Wake up! Wake up! I need help now!
My wife's having a baby and we don't know how!
Wake up! Wake up! Does no one hear?
She鈥檚 ready to deliver鈥�. the birth is near.

Innkeeper 1
Who鈥檚 that shouting in the street,
Waking us up and disturbing our sleep?
We鈥檙e in lock down - no place to stay
So stop disturbing us all and go away

Joseph
Wake up! Wake up! I need help now!
My wife's having a baby and we don't know how!

Innkeeper 2
Stop banging on my door, unless you cease
I'm going to have to call the police
What are you, homeless? A down and out, or refugee?
Go home! Go home! It's nearly three!
People like you are nothing but trouble
Haven鈥檛 you realised I鈥檓 not in your bubble

Innkeeper 1
Have a heart, the poor lass is pregnant and homelessness in lock-down is really chronic
Perhaps you should think of her instead of your next gin and tonic

Music: Coventry Carol from 鈥楢 Christmas Suite鈥� 鈥� Alec Rowley
St Martin鈥檚 Strings

Mary
O Joseph I鈥檓 exhausted what鈥檚 to be done
I need a place to rest, to give birth to our son?
Please help me I am desperate for assistance
How do I give birth to a baby and keep social distance?

Innkeeper 1
Look you two, if you really need a bed
There's no place left but a cattle-shed
There's an ox in there, an ass and some chickens too
It's not a maternity unit, more like a zoo.

Narrator 2
While they were in Bethlehem, the time came for Mary to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her first born son and wrapped him in bands of cloth and laid him in a manger because there was no place for them in the inn.

Catherine Duce
Now who are going to be the witnesses of this child鈥檚 birth? Every birth is a miracle of God but not everyone has eyes to see it. Have you noticed in this last year - when we are stripped of our securities we begin to notice the things of God again 鈥� it鈥檚 like our eyes are opened our ears and all our senses. Have you not noticed the colours seem brighter, the song of the birds have returned 鈥� and perhaps our own lives too begin to magnify the things of God. It is here in crisis 鈥� in the poverty of a stable that compassion聽聽 is born and people of all ages glimpse God鈥檚 coming. How could a new born child change anything? how could the wonder a new born child not change everything? We too like shepherds will be called to come and see. But are we too frightened of what we will have to leave behind? The mystery of God鈥檚 birth among is what we are called to live. In this way the seed of God in our past takes root and our future is filled with God鈥檚 possibility. Come to this stable too and see this thing that has come to pass.

Music: Silent Night
St Martin鈥檚 Voices

Shepherds
Now down on the earth around the sheepfold
We shepherds were sitting tired and cold
Even though it was getting late
we had no place to self-isolate

A cup of hot tea would have been nice
Because my toes had turned to ice.

We鈥檙e all so hungry but too proud to beg
No substantial meal or even a scotch egg

Just at the moment my life鈥檚 so unsteady
But the kingdom of God is never oven ready!

Stop complaining, I'm tired of your moans
Christmas is coming 鈥� it鈥檚 in my bones
You see Mum and Dad whether sheep or a goat
You鈥檝e got to learn to live with hope

Narrator 1
And then it happened: a flash of light聽聽
The world lit up all flaming bright
Was it a new day dawning?
Or was it the result of global warming?

From the top of our heads to the tip of our toes
We felt the Holy Spirit glow.聽

Narrator 1
And suddenly they heard a heavenly band
Singing praises to God with outstretched hands聽

Narrator 1
And all the sheep went:聽

All
Baa baa baa!

Narrator 1
And all the angels cried:

All
Alleluia!

Narrator 1
It was a message from God that Gabriel began to sing
As all the angels flapped their wings

Gabriel
Don鈥檛 be frightened, please don鈥檛 worry
But to Bethlehem you must hurry
Tonight is full of peace and joy
For聽 here is born a little boy
And you will find this baby sweet
In a stable fast asleep
This little baby sleeping curled
Will be the Saviour of the world.

Music: Hark! The herald angels sing
St Martin鈥檚 Voices and Strings

The Poem of the Kings

Narrator 1
In a land far away
Where hot winds blow and palm trees sway
Sipping sherbet around the bar
Were Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar.

Balthasar
We three sat all night and tried to see What the strange sign in the sky could be
For in the darkness a star had pierced the night
Flashing, astonishing, shining bright.

Caspar
Where has it come from and what can it mean?
Is it a vision or is it a dream?

Melchior
We must follow this star like a road of light
Through wind and rain, day and night.

Balthasar
Forget it Melch, let's stay here
I think its meaning鈥檚 far from clear聽

颁补蝉辫补谤听听听听听听听听听听听
No, no, this one is for real, my boy聽

Chris
It fills my heart with unspeakable joy
It seems to speak of peace and life
An end to wars with gun or knife聽

Melchior
The ancient books and stories told
Of a Saviour born to save the world聽聽

颁补蝉辫补谤听听听听听听听听听听听
FORWARD!
Don鈥檛 you think we鈥檝e come too far
No, no follow the star听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听聽聽

Balthazar
At last we found where the baby lay
A baby who took our breath away
And his gentle mother by his side
Seeing us all - humbly cried:聽

Balthasar
Wow, look at the baby鈥檚 face 鈥� it shines so bright
And fills this stable with his light.
Look at his tiny fingers and tiny toes
How God made him, nobody knows
I cannot explain either why or how
But one thing I know- God is with us now聽

Rev Richard Carter
Of course this story which we tell you today belong not just to some people but to all people. It will need a letting go and perhaps a long and tough journey across frontiers and prejudices, perhaps threatening your own best-kept defences and securities. You will need to offer your best gifts and you will be unsure of your return. There will of course be trials and opposition. No-one says that it will be easy. But one this is sure. This will be the most important revelation of your life. This will be the treasure beyond all price. And if you follow the light, you will not be overcome.

Music: Christmas Lullaby 鈥� John Rutter
St Martin鈥檚 Voices and Strings

Sermon: Revd Dr Sam Wells
A couple of days ago I spoke to a woman who said, 鈥楳y sister鈥檚 dying. We鈥檇 planned a last Christmas dinner together. But this Tier 4 has killed all that. Now I can鈥檛 see her at all. I鈥檓 not fussed about wasting the turkey. But I鈥檓 suddenly feeling I鈥檓 never going to see my sister again. It鈥檚 like all the feelings of grief I knew I鈥檇 get when she died 鈥� it鈥檚 like they鈥檝e all gushed out now.鈥� That鈥檚 what鈥檚 happened these last few days. Tiers of one kind have turned into tears of another.

You can think of Christmas like a Russian doll, with three dolls inside each other. The inside doll is the Christmas story. The chaotic Roman census, disrupting everyone鈥檚 plans. Mary distressed and about to give birth. Joseph suspicious about who the father really is. The grubby and disorderly stable, with a cattle-manger turned into a make-do cradle. Borrowed swaddling clothes and gruesome birthing hay. Then glorious angels, shepherds surprised by joy, and magi crossing the desert with necks crooked to follow a star.

The outside doll is the warm glow of Christmas 鈥� hugs, unwise sweaters, relatives with antler alice bands, laughing children, well-worn songs, mulled wine, melodious carols, a full dining table with crackers and trimmings, a festooned tree and rapidly wrapped presents.

The middle doll is the part we usually don鈥檛 mention 鈥� frayed tempers in the kitchen, unfinished business at work, a child crying 鈥楬e always gets the best presents!鈥�, =uncle having too much to drink, lingering resentment.

This year it feels like the outer doll, with the warmth, hugs and laughter, has been snatched away from us. And that middle doll, with the anger, frustration, confusion and hurt, has been the story of the last nine months. Now it鈥檚 all been focused down into a week of wondering whether trying to have a normal Christmas in extraordinary times was a crazed denial of the deadliness of the mutating virus. That middle doll threatens to be the whole story this year, except remotely, by government announcement and confirmatory text that says, 鈥業t looks like we won鈥檛 be able to come.鈥�

Remember, for the holy family, that very first Christmas was everything this Christmas is for us: it was lonely, isolated, disrupted, and dangerous. With the outer doll gone and the middle doll so troublesome, it鈥檚 time to cherish that inner doll.

But look at that inner doll again and remember its story as as true today as it was 2000 years ago. Because at its heart it鈥檚 a story about love. The love that enables a woman to be with her dying sister one last time, the love that makes us realise however rubbish our last year has been there鈥檚 special people in the world who want to be with us even if we鈥檝e lost our job, or found our business reduced to ruins, or crashed in our mental well-being. The real word for Christmas is love, and what we鈥檙e frightened of this Christmas is that if we鈥檙e not together we won鈥檛 find that love, and we fear we can鈥檛 live without it.

Imagine eternity from God鈥檚 point of view. Imagine God having all love pent up like you have right now. But God鈥檚 got that love all pent up potentially forever. Like you, God鈥檚 thinking, 鈥淲here鈥檚 my love to go?鈥� So God creates the universe. But God鈥檚 still got more love to give. So God creates life, and makes humanity, and calls a special people. But God鈥檚 yet got more love to give. So God comes among us as a tiny baby.

This Christmas, fearful, lonely, isolated, disappointed, we鈥檙e all asking that same question: 鈥淲here鈥檚 my love to go?鈥� We鈥檙e not getting an easy answer. We鈥檙e getting something else instead. What we鈥檙e getting instead is the discovery of what it鈥檚 like to be God. God created the universe from asking 鈥榃here is my love to go?鈥�, and came among us to complete the answer to that question. This year our Christmas present is to dwell in the very heart of God.

Music: Christmas Lullaby 鈥� John Rutter
St Martin鈥檚 Voices and Strings聽

Prayers
Lord God our heavenly father, Word made flesh in Jesus Christ, fill us all this day with the joy of your birth, and bless us all across the world as we celebrate your light which has come into the world and which the darkness can never overcome.

Lord God of all the earth - the donkey, the sheep, the camel, the dove, the hillside, the city, the farm and the stable - renew your creation through the coming of your son - that all the ends of the earth may praise you and protect and cherish the diversity and the beauty of all you have entrusted into our care.

On this Christmas Day grant these our prayers for the sake of your son our Saviour Jesus Christ.

The Lord鈥檚 Prayer

Music: God rest ye merry gentlemen
St Martin鈥檚 Voices and Strings

Blessing

Music: The Holly and the Ivy (from 鈥楢 Christmas Suite鈥�) 鈥� Alec Rowley
St Martin鈥檚 Strings