christmas is coming

Christmas is coming.

The weekend just past, seemingly, is the high point in terms of Christmas shopping.

Which leads me to think there must be a lot of very organised people out there who've got their Christmas acts together as early as that.

Next weekend, they say, is when the panic buying sets in - and the weekend after ... well, it shows how out of touch with these things I am because not even then am I starting to panic - I mean, there's still another five days to go before Christmas itself. And does it really matter that much if I'm late?

Nonetheless, the harsh fact of life is that Christmas is coming. And the pace of a lot of things begins to step up.

There's a lot of extra involvement in the local schools for one thing. The P1 and 2 nativity along at the primary school on Wednesday morning, for instance. Which is always a super occasion.

Though if you want to see something which'll mean you never see your child's nativity in the same light again then try 'The Corstorphine Road Nativity'. I'm told it's brilliant. Absolutely hilarious. If you get the chance to go and see it, don't miss the opportunity!

We've got the whole of the P7s coming along here on Thursday, as well, when we'll be putting on a 90-minute Christmas presentation. There's a lot of work involved in prerparing for that and a large part of today's been spent on that.

Scripture Union have done the groundwork, of course. But there's a fair bit we have to do to get things ready here. Printing materials, preparing powerpoint presentations, that sort of thing.

It's an exciting time, and the chance to speak with the children about the meaning of Christmas is a real privilege.

The first Christmas was a busy time. It was easy back then, amidst all the noise and activity, to miss the most remarkable thing of all. The birth of the child who had come to be king.

It's as easy now to miss the heart of it all. We work hard to ensure that Jesus is really central to it all. Delighting in his presence, discerning what he's doing, and daring to do great things.

We showed a clip from Youtube at the start of our worship on Sunday. A clip prepared by 'Advent Conspiracy'. If you haven't seen it, it's worth a look.

'This is the new tradition. This is your new tradition.'

Telling the story of Christmas.

Which seems quite novel for a lot of people. But in fact, of course, is fact.

Something happened a long time ago which changed the course of history.

A child was born. And he's changed our world as well.