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4 Kames Court

Girdle Toll

Irvine KA11 1RT

Dear Friends,

As I write this I am aware of how quickly the season changes. We are now experiencing it becoming dark in the late afternoon. And very many people find that these long dark

nights can have a physical affect upon them, the days of light seem a long way off and

they struggle to cope as best as they can.

Yet, despite the bleakness of these days we look forward once more to the joyful

occasion of Christmas and the reminder of a God who loved us so much that he became flesh, taking upon himself our humanity in the person of Jesus Christ whose birth we will

celebrate. And Jesus’ birth can turn darkness into light. We should always be mindful for

the reason of the Incarnation. Jesus came into the world with a purpose, he came to

deliver us from the oppressive darkness of our sin and rebellion against God and bring

us, reconciled into fellowship with God; to bring us into the light of His presence.

I would like to share these words of Max Lucado from his book, God Came Near, he

writes; “Mary, how young she looks. Her head rests on Joseph. She looks into the face of her baby. Her son. Her Lord. His majesty. So this is he. Majesty in the midst of the

mundane. Holiness in the filth of sheep manure and sweat. Divinity entering the world on

the floor of a stable, through the womb of a teenager and in the presence of a carpenter.

She touches the face of the infant-God. How long was your journey! His golden throne

room had been abandoned in favour of a dirty sheep pen. And worshipping angels had

been replaced with kind but bewildered shepherds.

Meanwhile the city hums. The merchants are unaware that God has visited their planet.

And people would scoff if anyone told them that the Messiah lay in the arms of a

teenager. Those who missed His Majesty’s arrival that night missed it because they

simply weren’t looking. Little has changed in the last two thousand years, has it?”

May you know the joy and peace of His presence and let us share this Good News of

Christmas.

With every blessing

Andrew R Black

2013

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Communion Services

“Taste and see that the Lord is Good”

Our Communion Services will be held at 11am on Sunday 8 December and on Wednesday 11

December at 7pm. All welcome.

Communion Duty Team D- James Wallace, Janet Gibson, Joan McDermott and Mary Brown

Elders are asked to be at the Church on Communion Sunday for 10.30am

The Retiring Collection is for the charity “ CHAS”

CHRISTMAS SERVICES

1 December at 6.30pm- the joint Christmas Carol Service with Girdle Toll

Church

15 December at 11am- Family Service with the Sunday School, Church Choir

and the Community Choir taking part in the service of Christmas Carols and

Lessons. This will also be our Toy service. Donations of toys will be passed onto the local Social Services for distribution to children in need. Last year there were

1400 families in need of presents.

24 December at 6.30pm- the Christingle Service for all the family followed by the Watchnight service at 11.30pm.Carol singing will start at 11.15pm. Tea and coffee served after the service.

Christmas Day at 11am. Family Service. Come and show everyone what Santa has brought you|

New Elders

On 24 November two new elders were ordained, namely, Cheryl Amanda Campbell and Jack

Johnstone. We wish them every blessing and look forward to their contribution on the Kirk Session.

Congratulations to Long Serving Elders

In 1993 Jean Clarkson, Morag Cooper, Helen Gardiner, Joan McDermott, David Rose and Moira

Russell were ordained at elders. They have now served twenty years on the Session.

Congratulations and thanks for all their effort and commitment during this period. Well Done!

Recording of Services

After a lot of effort and endurance (with many thanks going to Jean Clarkson and Irvine Russell),

we are now in a position to provide a CD recording of the Sunday Service. If you are interested in

receiving a copy then please speak to your elder or the minister. Even if you are housebound or ill

and are unable to join us on a Sunday in person then by listening to the CD hopefully you will feel that you are still part of our worship.

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Prayer Chain

Our prayer chain has started. On the vestibule table there is a book for anyone

to add anyone's name onto a list who requires special mention in prayer e.g.

for help through an illness, a bereavement or a difficult time. Please feel free to

add anyone onto this list if you think they would like to be included in our prayers. Their name will be passed onto the members of the congregation in

the prayer chain. Perhaps some of our housebound members would like to

contribute to our church life by becoming a member of the prayer chain? If so

then please speak to the minister or the Session Clerk.

The Guild

On November 4 our church hosted the United Guild Rally. Here are some interesting facts about

the national Guild.

The Guild invites and encourages both women and men to commit their lives to Jesus Christ and

enables them to express their faith in worship, prayer and action. Its motto is: “Whose we are and whom we serve'

The work, worship and focus of the Guild are inspired by its motto. The current projects of the

national guild are as follows:

A Passage from India

Comfort Rwanda

Heart for Art Out of Africa into Malta

Mary's Meals

The Julius Project

Guild groups are free to choose to support any or all of these projects, both prayerfully and financially, while at the same time deepening their understanding of the underlying issues

presented by each project. Guild projects have often been at the leading edge of the Church's

work - addressing issues such as drugs, prostitution and AIDS, as well as support for training

and initiatives for young people. Since 1997 the Guild has supported 36 projects and raised more than £3 million.

From September 2012 to October 2013 the money raised nationally is:

Comfort Rwanda: £45,520.79

CrossReach: £72,993.39

Mary’s Meals: £46,288.38

Ministries Council: £17,588.89 Scottish Churches Housing Action: £35,702.24

World Mission Council: £35,650.02

Total: £253,743.71

Well done to all who are involved with the Guild! If you are interested in joining our Guild then come along on a Tuesday afternoon. All welcome.

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Baptisms

"Suffer the little children to come to me"

Weddings

"That they may be one"

Funerals

"I am the resurrection and the life"

24th July Helen Feenie 11 Blairdenon Way.

26th July Elizabeth Irving 85 Dickson Drive.

2nd September Florence Thom 31 Lauder Court Kilmarnock.

19th September Hugh Bridges 21 Shielhope Place.

10th October John Leslie 19 Shalloch Place.

11th October Jean Ewing 51 Heatherstane Way.

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PARTRIDGE IN A PEAR TREE

For almost three hundred years after the Reformation, Roman Catholics in Britain were forbidden by law to practice their faith openly. The only way they could pass on their religion to young people without arousing the fury or event he suspicions of their Protestant neighbours was to put their teachings onto a sort of code which would sound harmless to those who chanced to overhear it. “Green grow the rushes o” was one of the catechism songs. The best example is a song which is a great favourite at most carol concerts at Christmas – “The Twelve Days of Christmas” The twelve days extend from 25th December to 6th January, the date the church chose to mark the visit of the Wise Men to Bethlehem. The speaker is an ordinary Christina, God is the ‘true love’ who keeps sending gifts.

The first gift is a partridge in a pear tree. To artists of the Middle Ages a mother partridge symbolized Christ, the greatest of all God’s gifts.

The two turtle doves remind us of the sacrifice made by Mary and Joseph – unable to sacrifice a lamb they were obliged to sacrifice two doves

Known for their beauty and rarity, the three French hens signify both the gifts of the Magi (gold, frankincense, and myrrh), and the three theological virtues of faith, hope, and charity

Four calling birds suggest the four Gospels The five gold rings are the only symbols which lack life and movement and are thought to have

represented either the first five books in the old Testament which contain the Sacred Law, or the five obligatory sacraments of the Roman Church

The ungainly but very productive six geese a laying suggest the six days of creation Seven swans a swimming – these elegant birds represent the seven works of mercy The eight maids a milking, providing vital nourishment for everyday life, suggest the eight

Beatitudes – blessed are the merciful, blessed are the peace makers, Chris’s prescription for a fulfilled life

Nine ladies dancing suggest the nine graceful limits of the spirt as listed by Paul – love, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, fidelity, gentleness and self control

Ten lords a leaping match up with the Ten Commandments Eleven pipers piping suggest the eleven disciples left to announce to the world the good news

of the Resurrection, Judas having hung himself Twelve drummers drumming are believed by some to

stand for the twelve Minor Prophets, but others maintain they referred to the twelve points of belief in the Apostles Creed.

Thus Roman Catholics I the 17th and 18th centuries passed on to their young people some of the basic components of their faith. The interesting accumulative pattern to the song, each verse adding some new gift and then working its way back through those gift already mentioned, serves as a reminder of the way back in which God not only bestows fresh gifts on us but keeps renewing gifts previously given.

(based on an article by Hugh McKellar in the Observer, the official magazine of the United Church of Canada, Dec 1978)

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‘In sweet music is such art’: Benjamin

Britten’s ‘St Nicholas’

This year is the 100th anniversary of the

birth of the composer, Benjamin Britten,

and this month sees the feast of St

Nicholas on 6 December. Nicholas was a

4th century bishop of Myra, the origin of

our Santa Claus, but also the patron saints

of Greece, Russia, sailors, and of course

children. Like all the saints, Nicholas’ life

gave rise to some extraordinary legends

and fables – as a child we are told he

prayed for two hours at his first bath, and

he refused his mother’s milk on Fridays

and fast days. Eric Crozier was invited by

Britten to study this life in all its facets to

prepare the libretto for a cantata

commissioned of the composer by Lancing

College for its centenary celebrations in

1948.

The result was ‘St Nicholas’ for tenor, boy

soloists, choir, strings, piano duet and

percussion. Britten wanted to provide

music for the young of all abilities – as a

result it is only the tenor and percussionist

who need to be professionals. The other

parts can be sung and played by amateurs.

In an interview in the 1960s Britten praised

‘the very fresh and unrestrained quality of

music produced by amateurs’ and that

spirit is at the heart of this cantata.

‘Across the bridge of sixteen hundred

years’ as the choir sings, we are treated to

a mixture of waltz and march, storms at

sea and alleluias to depict the saint’s life

from birth to bishopric, from prison to

piety, from Palestine to the saving of three

pickled boys. Britten captures the colour

and drama of this life in a way that Paul

Spicer has likened to a Harry Potter story:

there is the magic of the miracles, the

drama of the storm, imprisonment, and

even the wand of the bishop’s crozier. That

may be an extreme comparison, but the

cantata shows how children and young

people inspired Britten to compose works

like ‘St Nicholas’ that can grip the heart

and even move some to tears. No more so

in this work than when the audience join in

two hymns, ‘All people that on earth do

dwell’ and ‘God moves in a mysterious

way.’

In another work Britten quotes a line by W

B Yeats, ‘The ceremony of innocence is

drowned.’ The innocence of the young we

know only too well in our day is a fragile

gift, easily abused and destroyed. St

Nicholas shines out here in this month of

Christmas as the patron saint of the young,

who expressed in his life and miracles that

love of our Lord which welcomed children

into the divine fold of comfort and safety.

The cantata’s final hymn ‘God moves in a

mysterious way’ invites us to rejoice in the

mystery of grace and creativity that moves

in the lives of composers like Britten. A

grace and creativity that moves also in the

lives of the holy ones of God like St

Nicholas, and that moves in the wonder

and innocence of a babe born in a stable.

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A Choral Coffee Morning

Come and enjoy refreshments, baking and a variety of stalls

along with musical entertainment from

New Irvine Community Choir.

Saturday 23rd November 2013. 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Bourtreehill Relief Parish Church

Tickets £1 from Choir Members or pay on the door (children under 12 free)

New Irvine Community Choir NICChoir@yahoo.co.uk

with

Raffle Baking Bottle Crafts

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Door Duty Teams 2014

Jan 2014 Feb 2014 Mar 2014 Apr 2014

5th

E 2nd

D 2nd

C 6th

B

12th

A 9th

E 9th

Comm 13th

C

19th

B 16th

A 16th

D 20th

D

26th

C 23rd

B 23rd

E 27th

E

30th

A

May 2014 June 2014 July 2014 Aug 2014

4th

A 1st E 6

th D 3

rd C

11th

B 8th

Comm 13th

E 10th

D

18th

C 15th

A 20th

A 17th

E

25th

D 22nd

B 27th

B 24th

A

29th

C 31st B

Sept 2014 Oct 2014 Nov 2014 Dec 2014

7th

C 5th

A 2nd

E 7th

E

14th

Comm 12th

B 9th

A 14th

Comm

21st D 19

th C 16

th B 21

st A

28th

E 26th

D 23rd

C 28th

B

30th

D

Team A Jean Carr, Robert Strachan, Anita Birnie, Nan McPhee, Lex Rodgers

Team B Mary Brown, Morag Cooper, Jim Drynan, Janie McLaren, Aileen & Bill Martin

Team C Irvine & Moira Russell, Iain Burns, Janette Greig, Helena & James Wallace

Team D David & Margo Lindsay, Shirley Bothwell, Ruth Duncan, Evelyn Connell, Jack Johnston

Team E Gordon Robertson, Jean Clarkson, David & Susan Rose, Joan McDermott

Communion Teams Iain Burns, Robert Strachan, Anita Birnie, Nan McPhee, Ruth Duncan, Jim

Drynan, Lex Rodgers, Jack Johnston, Janette Greig, Margo Lindsay, Aileen Martin

Arrive for 10.30am Uplift the collection Count the collection Arrange for a replacement if you are unable to attend

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RECORDING OF SERVICES

When it was first decided to record services the Presbytery Primer Fund met the cost of the

initial necessary equipment

2 audio design two-way compact full range loudspeakers with cradle wall brackets

1 Teac high quality Compact Disc recorder

1 Microtech stand alone DVD /CD Duplicator

Installation labour, hardware, equipment delivery and system commissioning

£1236.00 (ex VAT)

Unfortunately to ensure the recording was of a high quality it was also necessary to install

1 Yamaha 12 channel mixer

1 Adastra induction loop amplifier

2 AKG CS phantom microphones

Labour, cables and accessories £975.00

It has taken much patience and persistence to finally produce suitable

recordings but at long last CDs are being distributed. If you are

housebound, in hospital or residential care or perhaps feel you would find

comfort from a recording of a funeral service or the “Cherished Memories”

service, please speak to Rev. Black or Jean Clarkson. CDs will also be

available in the local library and Drop-in Centre.

“We aim to create a safe and friendly meeting place where people can feel

comfortable. We seek to make known the love of God revealed in Jesus Christ through our words and actions”

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Down

1 ‘ — and see that the Lord is good’ (Psalm 34:8) (5) 2 ‘The wicked man flees though no one pursues, but the righteous are as — as a lion’ (Proverbs 28:1) (4) 3 One of the exiles, a descendant of Parosh, who married a foreign woman (Ezra 10:25) (6) 4 He escaped from Nob when Saul killed the rest of his family and joined David (1 Samuel 22:19–20) (8) 5 City and lake in Central Switzerland (7) 6 ‘Offer your bodies as living — , holy and pleasing to God’ (Romans 12:1) (10) 9 Pouches carried by horses (Genesis 49:14) (10) 12 One who accepts government by God (8) 14 Aromatic substance commonly used in Jewish ritual (Exodus 30:1) (7)

16 He asked Jesus, ‘What is truth?’ (John 18:38) (6) 19 Are (Romans 13:1) (5) 20 ‘You are to give him the name Jesus, because he will — his people from their sins’ (Matthew 1:21) (4)

Across

1 Provisional meeting place of God and the Jews (Exodus 25:9) (10) 7 David’s third son, killed when his head got caught in a tree during a battle with his father (2 Samuel 18:14–15) (7) 8 They ruled much of the west coast of South America in the 15th and early 16th centuries (5) 10 Small deer of European and Asian extraction (4) 11 Seized control of (Numbers 21:25) (8) 13 Terror (Luke 24:5) (6) 15 First World War heroine shot by the Germans in Brussels, Nurse Edith — (6) 17 Stormy (8) 18 A bitter variety of this, together with lamb and unleavened bread, was the Passover menu for anyone ‘unclean’ (Numbers 9:11) (4) 21 Arson (anag.) (5) 22 How John Newton described God’s grace in his well-known hymn (7) 23 Habitation (Isaiah 27:10) (10)

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Annick Childminder, Parent & Toddler Group A fun and friendly atmosphere awaits you and your child at our toddler group. We meet in the

church hall on Tuesdays and Fridays (term time only) from 9.30 – 11.30am. Mums, Dads, carers,

grandparents, aunts and uncles are all welcome. We offer play sessions to children up to the age of 5yrs in a fun and friendly environment. At our group, your child will have the opportunity to

make new friends whilst enjoying a wide range of activities, all of which will enhance their

development through play.

Play sessions cost £1.50 for your first child and £1 for each additional child. This includes a snack for the children and tea/coffee for the adults. You can come along on either day or both days if

you wish. So if you’re not busy, why not come along and join in the fun?

If you would like more information, pop in during any of our sessions or contact Lisa McNaughton on 0771 280 2419. For security reasons, the main doors are closed during our play sessions, so

please knock on the door with the ramp access and someone will let you in.

WHAT’S ON.com

CHRISTMAS FAYRE

This year’s Christmas Fayre will be held on Saturday 7th December from 10am-12 noon. There will be all the usual stalls and hopefully a few new ones. If you have any new ideas or if you want to help in any way, please speak to a member of the What’s on.com. We would like to thank all those who have supported our events over the year and wish everyone at Church a Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy New 2014. See you at the Christmas Fayre!

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1st Irvine Boys’ Brigade The Boys’ Brigade made a promising start this session, enrolling 23 Anchor Boys, 16 Junior

Section and 17 Company Section boys. Two of our Senior boys who were presented with their

Queen’s Badges last session have now joined the staff team; Cameron Scott as Staff Sergeant and

William Dove as a Warrant Officer. William has now begun his Youth Leader Training, along with Nicole Rose

who is a helper with Anchor Boys, and will complete this in the new year. We wish them luck on their course.

Cameron will undertake this training in the 2014 / 2015 session. We are delighted to welcome two new members

to our staff team – Carol Dove is now a helper with our very active little Anchor Boys and Alan MacAulay, who

previously served with 7th

Irvine, is a Lieutenant in our Company Section. Alan has previously worked with boys

from 1st Irvine on various outdoor activities including the Kilbryde Hike and a weekend hiking in the

Cairngorms. Since joining us in September he has taken some of our older boys (and the Captain!) on an exciting

activity weekend at Craggan along with boys and officers from 7th Irvine and 1st Dundonald companies. This

weekend involved climbing Ben Vorlich for the Seniors, a low level walk from The Crannog Centre back to

Craggan (almost 10 miles) for the younger boys & ‘senior’ officers and canoeing / kayaking on Loch Tay.

New friendships were formed and we are looking forward to more joint events in the future.

Each section of the Brigade is now busy with their programme of activities. All are working hard

towards their B.B. achievements in a range of areas.

The Anchor Boys have been getting to know their new friends and learning new skills and games. They

enjoyed their Hallowe’en Party on Friday 1st of November and the North Ayrshire Battalion Fun Day on

Saturday 2nd November. The theme for the Fun Day this year was ‘Pirates’ and there were lots of games and a

craft activity to keep them amused. A Christmas Party is scheduled for them on Friday 13th

of December.

Junior Section have been, amongst other activities, learning the Object of the Boys’ Brigade, the story of

Moses and the Lord’s Prayer, working on their Figure Marching and taking part in Battalion competitions. We

recently hosted the Battalion’s Bible Knowledge competition and would like to thank Janie McLaren and Jean

Clarkson for all their help with this. Janie certainly put all the boys taking part in the quiz at their ease and

accompanying officers from the Battalion complimented them on their manner with the boys. The Junior Section

Christmas outing will be to The Garage in Kilmarnock for a spot of 10 pin bowling.

Company Section boys have been involved in activities where they have a higher level of independence

and input. We have introduced a weekly Squad Challenge which is proving very popular. We have 6 senior boys

working towards their Queen’s Badges. Hopefully they will be taking their turn on the tea & coffee rota

throughout the year so please give them your support! By popular demand, the Company Section Christmas treat

will be a slap-up meal at The Gulab!!!

Battalion competitions for Junior and Company sections are also well under way and we have already

made a good start. Some new competitions / events have been planned for 2013 - 2014 including Extreme Dodge

Ball, Pool and Tennis. We wish the boys success in their endeavours.

The Parents’ Association have begun to raise funds to help with the ever increasing costs of running the

company (e.g. £1044.00 for our capitation fees for this session as well as regular donations to the church) with a

Coffee Morning in November and another planned for the Spring. We hope we can repeat the success of our last

Coffee Morning. We had a lot of support from the parents and the event was hectic from start to finish but there

was a great ‘buzz’ about the place and many people said how much they had enjoyed it. As always, our thanks

go to members of the congregation for supporting these events by handing in donations, buying tickets and

attending on the day and we look forward to your continuing support of the boys and the Company.

We would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

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1st Irvine Boys’ Brigade Anchor Boys – Primary 1-3 (Officer in Charge – Laura Rose : 224899)

Junior Section – Primary 4-7 (Officer in Charge Susan Rose :215050)

Company Section – S1 Up (Officer in Charge – Gail Rose : 215050)

Anchor Boys and Junior Section meet in the church halls from 6.00 – 7.30p.m.

Company Section meet in the Small Hall from 7.45 – 9.30p.m.

Weekly fees for all sections are £1. 50

73rd Bourtreehill Scouts

The 73rd Bourtreehill Scout Group meets in the church hall every Thursday night

Beavers (6-8 yr olds) - 5.45pm-7pm

Cubs (8-10 1/2 yr olds) 6.30pm-8pm

Scouts (10 1/2- 14 yr olds) 7.15-9.15pm

Explorers (14-18 yr olds) 8.15-10pm

GOD SAYS

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A Special Gift

Christmas is the time for giving special

gifts to those we love. This can be both a challenge and an adventure, as we seek

out just the right present. Thinking about

what makes that gift special, reminds us

of God’s gift to each one of us at

Christmas in the person of Jesus Christ.

A Personal Gift The best gifts are always those which are really

appreciated by the person receiving

them. The birth of Jesus tells us that God

knows each one of us personally and

wants us to know him too. Amazingly,

the creator of the universe relates to us

on our level, ‘The Word became flesh and blood and moved into our

neighbourhood’ (John 1:14, The

Message).

A Practical Gift When buying a gift

for someone, we want it to be practical.

A middle-aged woman posted her Christmas wish list on the refrigerator for

her husband to read. She requested

‘something that will make me look sexy

and beautiful.’ To her surprise the

husband gave her an exercise bike as a

gift! Santa may bring what we deserve; God delivers what we don’t deserve i.e.

life with him. This is God’s gift to us

through the death and resurrection of

Jesus, which brings forgiveness, joy,

peace and a new start.

A Permanent Gift Unlike some gifts,

God’s gift to us has lasting value beyond Christmas Day. Jesus spoke of ‘life in all

its fullness’ ie eternal life. This is a

friendship which can start today and last

forever, ‘For God so loved the world that

he gave his one and only Son, that

whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.’ (John 3:16).

A Purchased Gift A popular form of

present today is the gift voucher; we

don’t need to spend the money, just claim the value of the gift ourselves. This

is the good news of the gospel, because

Jesus has already purchased salvation

with God for us. Our part is simply to

receive this gift by faith for ourselves,

recognising that there is nothing more we can do to attain God’s forgiveness

other than accepting it through Jesus

Christ. ‘At Christmas time, when we

receive presents we don’t really need,

God offers us a gift we cannot do

without.’ (J John).

So as we celebrate again this Christmas season, with Paul we can say of this baby

in the manger, ‘Thanks be to God for his

indescribable gift’ (2 Corinthians 9:15).

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Christmas – the Gateway to Life

These words from John 1 have inspired

carol services world-wide:

In the beginning was the Word,

and the Word was with God, and the

Word was God. The same was in the

beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was

not anything made that was made….

Have you ever seen the mighty Gateway

Arch of St Louis, Missouri? Taller even

than the Eiffel Tower, it is known as the

Gateway to the West. But God’s

gateway is none other than a Person, whose title is ‘The Word.’ We sing about

Jesus in the famous carol: He hath ope’d

the heavenly door. And we are blessed

for evermore

The dimensions of this Gateway to Life

are stupendous:

The height of Christmas

Christmas began long before the

reign of Caesar Augustus. It was actually

by the pre-existent Christ that the

Creation itself burst into being (Hebrews

1:2), and John is careful to get Jesus’

size right, before he says a thing about Him. Let’s give Christmas its proper

dimension of limitless height!

The breadth of Christmas

John writes in universal terms. ‘Through

him all things were made… that through

him all men might believe… the true light that gives light to every man was

coming…’ The embrace of Christ is not

limited to a single region. The adherents of some belief-systems are easily

identified by their dress-code, hair-styles

and diets; not so with those who pass

through the gateway opened by Jesus.

We come from everywhere and every

culture.

The depth of Christmas

Yet John’s prologue does not neglect the

darker side of Christmas:

He was in the world, and though

the world was made by him, the

world did not recognise him. He

came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.

The irony of it….Why, no sooner was the

Bethlehem baby born than a frenzied

attempt was made to kill him – involving

the murder of every baby boy in the

area. The rejection, pain and persecution - from the first Christmas

onwards - inspires our world-wide

prayers at this holy season.

The length of Christmas

Back to the positive! “Yet to all who

received him, to those who believed in

his name, he gave the right to become children of God.”

There is no end to the light that shines

from Christ into the lives of those who

‘receive him.’ The gateway to life that he

provides by his coming will accommodate

all who are meek enough to accept him – up to today.

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We can spread it out before the Lord

‘The people walking in darkness have

seen a great light ‘(Isaiah 9:2)

‘Melt-down’ is an over-used cliché today,

much resorted to by journalists – but

Isaiah’s word ‘darkness’ is better, when

describing a situation in which no one is certain what to do, nor where any future

hope can be found.

Fascinatingly the prophet Isaiah – in

foretelling the coming light of Christ into

the world – was writing in what could be

called the tense of the prophetic past. So

certain was his vision, that he wrote of God’s blessings in the future as events

that had already happened. Other

prophets did the same, as they cast

themselves forward in time, seemingly to

look backwards on the sure actions of

God in coming days.

And yet in 733 BC, Isaiah’s own people

were facing the biggest menace they had

ever known. Assyria, boasting the

world’s first professional standing army,

was massively armed; unprincipled,

heathen and contemptuous of every god

and religion in sight. But Judah’s young king Hezekiah, faced by a threatening

letter from Assyria’s king Sennacherib,

was to find encouragement from Isaiah.

Prayerfully taking the letter into the

temple, he ‘spread it out before the Lord’

(2 Kings 19: 14). Isaiah for his part sent a message of godly defiance to

Sennacherib. Unexpectedly there then took place the God-given collapse of the

hostile army, and Sennacherib’s

withdrawal.

Believers today can learn from Hezekiah.

Whatever happened to the epic of the

Reformation? To the writing of Bunyan, the preaching of Spurgeon, the great

awakenings under Wesley and

Whitefield? What became of the triumph

of the Sunday Schools, the rock face of

marriage, the hold that the Christian

Sunday once had upon our islands? What

of the persecution of Christ’s disciples in many countries today? How to react

when faced by some banner headline of

violence, secularism or aggressive

atheism?

Answer: Take it and spread it out before

the Lord – with the message of the prophets and apostles at your side. For

tomorrow has always belonged to them,

never to the military dictators, terrorists

or political opportunists.

We will then, like Hezekiah, gain a fresh

confidence from the light of Jesus’

Advent among us. Aware of events on every continent we will even be surprised

to learn that Christ’s is the fastest-

growing family of belief in the world.

Such a Light can never be put out.

Augustine declared, as long as sixteen

centuries ago –

“This Child of Bethlehem fills the world”

Celebrate his coming!

This Advent, spare a thought for our brothers and sisters in the Persecuted Church

around the world, who are forced to celebrate Christmas in secret. Some of them are

being especially scrutinised during the Christmas Season because their opponents know that the birth of Christ calls for a celebration that is contagious, and their joyful

exuberance is hard to keep under wraps.

Whatever our circumstances, with or without the trees, lights, gifts, parties and family

feasts, we can all truly celebrate the incarnation of Jesus. Because of his birth, not only

our lives but the future of all creation is gloriously bright. We can celebrate the glory of

the Christ of the cross and the empty tomb, the one who came in lowliness but who will

return in glory and triumph. We can also revel in his abundant grace that overflows into our lives and keeps on giving long after other gifts have faded away. His incarnation,

his presence with us is the meaning of Christmas. Let’s go celebrate!

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TEEN MEETS GOD: Billy’s story

I didn’t have any idea what to expect

when I went to Soul Survivor, a Christian

festival for teenagers, for the first time.

I’d been to Christian events before, but

that didn’t do much to prepare me. I’d

never seen so many enthusiastic, God-loving teenagers in one field, especially

not in such a chilly damp field.

On the first night we all went to the ‘Big

Top’, where everyone met twice a day for

a service which involved singing, a

sermon and prayer. I sat with an open

mouth the entire evening. You could have spent the service filling my mouth

with odds and ends you’d found from

around the tent and I wouldn’t have

noticed. Nor would I have cared. I was

completely blown away.

I’d been to church my entire life, and I had quietly accepted it all. I’d been to

services once a week on Sunday, and

murmured those songs from the 1980s

like everyone else. I nodded at what

seemed like appropriate times during the

sermon, and even pretended to take

down notes.

But I’d never hung off every word like I did at Soul Survivor. Throughout the

week, my friends and I attended

seminars on every subject under the sun.

I didn’t need to pretend to take notes; I

was actually writing them down. We

went to the services and the worship band played songs; I didn’t half-

heartedly murmur the words, I shouted

and danced and waved my arms in the

air like the people who used to wind me

up so much by being too enthusiastic in

worship! Because, for the first time, I got

it.

I understood what I’d been doing for 15

years on autopilot. It wasn’t about

having to make sure you went to church

once a week. It wasn’t about having to

say your prayers twice a day. It wasn’t

about just repeating the lyrics to the worship songs. Christianity is about

celebrating what Jesus had done for us.

It isn’t a list of dos and don’ts; being a

Christian is about living your life as a

massive ‘thank you’ to God.

Billy is 18 and lives in Surrey.

Expecting a Baby!

The Advent season can make you wonder: how did Mary feel when she was expecting

her first child? The huge responsibility of knowing that the Saviour of the universe was

growing inside her and that it was her job to keep him safe, alive and kicking!

Those of us who have had children will remember the great expectation we felt; and how

we did everything possible to keep ourselves healthy so that nothing hindered the

development of the baby within us. Expectant mothers take regular health checks, keep

an eye on weight gain, blood pressure and any other health issues. They can also often

sit talking to their 'bump', dreaming of what their baby will one day become.

This advent, let’s make it our prayer that Christ will continue to grow in our hearts

unhindered in any way. May the seed of his spirit planted in us grow, watered by his

word, to bear much fruit of righteousness. May God grant us the grace to avoid and

remove from our lives anything that may taint damage or corrupt the precious seed of

faith that grows within us. May our lives be regularly checked against, and found in tune

with his holy Word.

May we always walk in step with you, Jesus. May your Holy Spirit and your precious

Word always be the fresh air we breathe. In Jesus name, Amen.

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Don’t forget your second child this Christmas

Get your camera out this Christmas for your second (and third) child! A recent study has found that while many parents document everything their first child does, they can be simply too tired and busy to do the same for their second (and third...) child. Yet in later life, it can hurt the younger members if the family album does not contain a good amount of photos and keepsakes from their youngest years.

So this Christmas, when it comes to shopping, writing Christmas cards, wrapping presents, decorating the cake, decorating the tree, taking part in the school nativity, singing at the carol service and opening those presents – why not photo-document the fun that your younger children are having? The survey was carried out by Venture Photography, who urge: “Those early months and years go by so fast..”

The Christmas present your children will love the most

This Christmas there is one very special Christmas present that only you can give your children. Don’t give it all at once, on Christmas day, but in regular chunks throughout the month (and on into next year). It is your time in letting your child talk to you.

Sounds silly? Think again: nearly 30,000 head teachers across the UK are now so concerned at certain trends in modern family life that they have launched a national campaign to wake parents up.

The problem is this: parents enjoy their mobile phones and TV in the evenings. It is so easy to get engrossed in these that they cut time in talking with their children (who can be much harder work!). So children are put to bed without much conversation and no story-time.

Days and weeks (and years) slip by, and children do not get a chance to develop their speaking and listening skills. Eventually, the child arrives at school – and really struggles to know how to talk and how to listen in the classroom.

The head teachers are warning that the problem is now so critical across the UK that many parents risk damaging their children’s long term social development. The campaign, Ready to Learn Everyday, has been backed by the school minister, and will be distributing four leaflets through nearly 30,000 schools.

The campaign urges parents to turn off electronic devices. “Give your child your attention. Don’t check your mobile phone at the same time as they are talking to you. Switch off the television and laptops well before bedtime and chat with your child, or read a bedtime story together instead.”

The guidance also urges parents to be patient when their child is talking, and not to interrupt them. Instead, ask them questions, discuss their day, and have a family meal together where possible. Praise your children when they in turn listen to you, and follow your instructions.

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Get rid of that extra weight this Christmas

Do you feel heavier than you would like to be? It may not be excess body fat that you are carrying, but guilt. Recent research has found

that people who have done something wrong carry the mental strain

of it around as a physical sensation of extra weight.

In tests at Princeton University in New Jersey, psychologists found

that people who are carrying the guilt of lying, cheating or stealing,

for example, suffer in this way. It seems that emotional baggage is translated into a physical feeling of ‘carrying’ the guilt.

“Guilt is important because it plays a role in regulating our moral behaviour. It can help

us correct our mistakes and prevent future wrongdoing,” an expert said. The Bible urges

people who are guilty not to ignore it, and pretend it never happened. “Whoever conceals

his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses them will obtain mercy,” says

Proverbs 28:13 And after all, getting rid of our burdens was the whole point of

Christmas. Jesus said: “I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” (Mark 2:17)

What will your family row about this Christmas?

Hopefully your family will not have any rows this Christmas, but if you do, one very likely

subject will be a dispute over who does the washing up. It seems that when it comes to

family discussions over domestic chores, rows over who does the washing up loom the largest. A recent poll by Beko has found that one in four women say their partner “never

lifts a finger” to help with housework. One in ten men responded that their partner was

“more capable of doing the dishes” than they were.

Another good subject for a row is who has control of the TV remote.

About half of all families in the UK fight over this at least once a week,

and Christmas television is bound to spark a few remote control wars.

The most frequent row we have over TV is the volume level, followed by our annoyance at channel surfing and the deletion of our favourite

recorded programmes. Happy Christmas!

Say ‘sorry’ – it really helps

The very British habit of apologising for problems beyond our control may not make sense, but it does make friends. Such apologies lead other people to view us as more

trustworthy.

From Hugh Grant (apologising for everything) in Four Weddings and a Funeral, it seems

that “superfluous apologies represent a powerful and easy-to-use tool for social

influence”, according to a professor at Harvard. “Even in the absence of culpability,

individuals can increase trust and liking by saying, ‘I’m sorry’.”

A handy thing to remember as the busy festive season approaches, when you’ll need all

the goodwill from others that you can get. Proverbs 15:1 put it this way: ‘A gentle

answer turns away wrath...’

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Get your sleep

A good night’s sleep clears your mind - literally. A recent study has found that our brains use our sleep time to flush toxic material out of the brain’s cells. This is because the

brain only has limited energy at its disposal, and must juggle its jobs a bit. Think of it

like one of the Christmas parties you will attend this month: your hosts can either

entertain you or clean up the plates and clutter, but they can’t really do both at the same

time. The study was done at the University of Rochester in the USA.

Those jobs around the house – they could help you live longer

This Christmas, if some of the presents require a bit of effort to put together, go to it!

And if members of your family want to go for long walks across cold muddy countryside,

make sure you join them.

It seems that people who regularly carry out DIY projects around their homes have a 23

percent lower risk of premature death. People who jog or cycle or even walk quickly can

reduce dying early by up to 25 per cent.

For while couch potatoes may look comfortable and certainly see more TV programmes,

they are risking heart disease and type 2 diabetes. The study appeared in the journal

Epidemiology.

Good news for all Christmas shoppers

As you stand in endless queues this month, here is good news: queuing is actually GOOD for you. (Though that may be hard to believe just now!) But according to a recent study,

standing in line can lead to more patience, better financial decisions and a greater sense

of reward.

“When people wait it makes them place a higher value on what they’re waiting for, and

that higher value makes them more patient.” Says one behavioural expert. The study for

Ask Jeeves, the online search engine, was carried out at the University of Chicago Booth

School of Business.

27 December - Frazzled Friday

Beware the Friday after Christmas. Apparently it is the day when all the festivities will

finally catch up with us. Suddenly we may feel over-fed, over-drunk, and overwhelmed

with too many people in the house. The only thing we still want more of is money. Many

of us will choose this day to have a peep at our bank account, which will only increase our unhappiness.

Statistically, it seems that by 27th December the average adult will have put on 4lb in

weight, and one third of men over 40 will not be able to fit into their favourite jeans. New

Year’s diets, here we come!

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Why Facebook may not help your Christmas

festivities

This seems desperately unfair, but chatting with your

close friends on Facebook as Christmas approaches will

do more than make you happy. The rise in your self-

esteem from those happy encounters will lower your self-

control - and tempt you to snack on unhealthy food. A

study at Columbia and Pittsburgh Universities found that those who spent more time talking to close friends on

Facebook had a higher body mass index and more credit

card debt.

Facebook also poses another conundrum: the more

‘friends’ you have on it, the more anxious you are likely to be. Why? Because our

Facebook friends come from different ‘social circles’ in our lives. As an expert from

Edinburgh University’s business school puts it: “Facebook used to be like a great party for all your friends where you can dance, drink and flirt. ... Now with your mum, dad and

boss there as well, the party becomes an anxious event, full of potential social

landmines.” Especially at Christmas time, when you want to tell the world about the

hideous gifts you have received...

How many meals will you have to cook over Christmas?

42 per cent of parents cook more than one evening meal, in

order to cater for the fussy eaters in their families.

Nationally, the cost of making multiple meals adds up to a

staggering £213m a year, according to E.ON the energy

supplier. This Christmas, how many people in your family

will be willing to eat the same thing at each meal?

Christmas unwrapped

You may welcome your Christmas presents this year, but will you be

able to unwrap them? A recent report from Which? magazine reveals

that four in 10 of us have hurt ourselves while trying to open the

packaging on everyday household items.

Brillo Mr Muscle soap pads, Listerine mouthwash, Warburtons crumpets

and WH Smith rounded blade scissors are named and shamed, but top

of the list comes the Oral-B Vitality electric toothbrush and all things wrapped in moulded

plastic packaging. Opening those can end in bloodshed.

No wonder, for 89 per cent of us use scissors, eight per cent of us get out the Stanley

knives, and four percent of us use a razor blade. The remaining two per cent of us seemingly go berserk - and resort to smashing the thing with a hammer. Whatever you

use, be careful: in the last two years, a million Britons ended up at their GP or in A&E,

just because they were trying to open a tin can.

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A child was asked to write a book report on the entire Bible. – this is what was written! Through the eyes of a child: The Children's Bible in a Nutshell In the beginning, which occurred near the start, there was nothing but God, darkness, and some gas. The Bible says, 'The Lord thy God is one, but I think He must be a lot older than that. Anyway, God said, 'Give me a light!' and someone did. Then God made the world. He split the Adam and made Eve. Adam and Eve were naked, but they weren't embarrassed because mirrors hadn't beeninvented yet.. Adam and Eve disobeyed God by eating one bad apple, so they were driven from the Garden of Eden.....Not sure what they were driven in though, because they didn't have cars.

Adam and Eve had a son, Cain, who hated his brother as long as he was Abel. Pretty soon all of the early people died off, except for Methuselah, who lived to be like a million or something. One of the next important people was Noah, who was a good guy, but one of his kids was kind of a Ham. Noah built a large boat and put his family and some animals on it. He asked some other people to join him, but they said they would have to take a rain check. After Noah came Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Jacob was more famous than his brother, Esau, because Esau sold Jacob his birthmark in exchange for some pot roast. Jacob had a son named Joseph who wore a really loud sports coat. Another important Bible guy is Moses, whose real name was Charlton Heston. Moses led the Israel Lights out of Egypt and away from the evil Pharaoh after God sent ten plagues on Pharaoh's people. These plagues included frogs, mice, lice, bowels, and no cable.

God fed the Israel Lights every day with manicotti. Then he gave them His Top Ten Commandments. These include: don't lie, cheat, smoke, dance, or covet your neighbour's stuff. Oh, yeah, I just thought of one more: Humour thy father and thy mother. One of Moses' best helpers was Joshua who was the first Bible guy to use spies. Joshua fought the battle of Geritol and the fence fell over on the town. After Joshua came David. He got to be king by killing a giant with a slingshot. He had a son named Solomon who had about 300 wives and 500 porcupines. My teacher says he was wise, but that doesn't sound very wise to me. After Solomon there were a bunch of major league prophets. One of these was Jonah, who was swallowed by a big whale and then barfed up on the shore. There were also some minor league prophets, but I guess we don't have to worry about them.. After the Old Testament came the New Testament. Jesus is the star of The New. He was born in Bethlehem in a stable. (I wish I had been born in a stable too, because my mom is always saying to me, 'Close the door! Were you born in a stable?' It would be nice to say, 'As a matter of fact, I was.') During His life, Jesus had many arguments with sinners like the Pharisees and the Suspenders. Jesus also had twelve opossums. The worst one was Judas Asparagus. Judas was so evil that they named a terrible vegetable after him. Jesus was a great man. He healed many leopards and even preached to some Germans on the Mount. But the Suspenders and all those guys put Jesus on trial before Pontius the Pilot. Pilot didn't stick up for Jesus. He just washed his hands instead. Anyways, Jesus died for our sins, then came back to life again. He went up to Heaven but will be back at the end of the Aluminum. His return is foretold in the book of Revolution

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Witnessing Make me a witness Lord Though sinful I and weak My trembling word can scarce be heard So loud my failings speak Make me a witness Lord That all at home may see A constant daily growth in grace And glory give to Thee Make me a witness Lord To those I daily meet That I may be a messenger In neighbourhood and street Make me a witness Lord That souls may on Thee call And glorify thy name adored King Jesus, Lord of all A candle loses nothing by lighting another candle

6 Broomlands Place

Irvine

This may be a small note but a

big ‘Thank You’ for the Church

flowers I received last week

and also for the prayers said on

behalf of my sister in Canada.

Again I repeat Relief Church

has a caring membership, again

‘Thank you’

With blessings

Maisie Scott

Prayer of Thanks at Christmas

Loving Father of Christmas, In this year when we have

welcomed the birth of a baby, born to be King of this

country for a generation, we thank you for the

everlasting gift of your precious son, Jesus, King of all

Kings, whose reign will last for ever and ever.

Thank you that he became one of us; that he lived

and died and rose again so that we might be offered

the gift of eternal life. Please open our eyes and ears

and hearts this Christmas, by the power of your Holy

Spirit. May we see, hear and experience the peace

and joy, comfort and life, which is your Christmas

present to us, wrapped up in the presence of Jesus.

Emmanuel, God actually with us, today!

Thank you, thank you Lord. Amen.

By Daphne Kitching

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True responses on Science tests

One horsepower is the amount of energy it takes to drag a horse 500 feet in one second.

You can listen to thunder after lightning and tell how close you came to getting hit. If you don't hear it, you got hit, so never mind.

When they broke open molecules, they found they were only stuffed with atoms. But when they broke open atoms, they found them stuffed with explosions.

When people run around and around in circles, we say they are crazy. When planets do it, we say they are orbiting.

While the earth seems to be knowingly keeping its distance from the sun, it is really only centrificating.

Most books now say our sun is a star. But it still knows how to change into a sun in the daytime.

A vibration is a motion that cannot make up its mind which way it wants to go. Christmas in my heart Christmas is in my heart twelve months a year and, thanks to credit cards, it's on my Visa card statement twelve months a year also. Sums up Christmas Three phrases that sum up Christmas are: Peace on Earth; Goodwill to Men; and Batteries not included. Red What's red and white and red, red and white, and red and white? Father Christmas rolling down a hill. Stronger Statistics prove we're all getting stronger. Fifty years ago you needed an estate car to hold £50 worth of Christmas presents. Twenty years ago, it took two people to carry £20 worth of Christmas groceries - now a five-year-old can do it. Children’s version of the Christmas story - When the three wise guys from the east side arrived, they found Jesus in the manager. - When Mary heard that she was the mother of Jesus, she sang the Magna Carta - Jesus was born because Mary had an immaculate contraption.

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Santa What do you call Santa’s helpers? - Subordinate Clauses.

Snowman What do you get when you cross a snowman with a vampire? - Frostbite.

Wise A little boy rushed home from school and said excitedly: “I got a part in the Christmas play!” “What part?” asked his mother. “I’m one of the three wise guys!” The Christmas stars Any astronomer can predict with absolute accuracy just where every star in the universe will be as the clocks chimes midnight on Christmas Eve. He can make no such prediction about his teenage daughter.

Runs over A father gave his daughter a young puppy for Christmas. An hour later, he found her in the kitchen, looking sadly at a puddle in the centre of the floor. “Look Dad,” she said, “My pup runneth over!”

Getting ready for Christmas…In this season of endless parties, socialising and constant hospitality, please remember:

In this season of endless parties, socialising and constant hospitality, please remember:

No woman ever yet shot her husband while he was washing the dishes. Light travels faster than sound. That's why some people appear bright until you hear

them speak. He who laughs last, thinks slowest. Everyone has a photographic memory. But sadly, some don't have film. On the other hand, you have different fingers. I just got lost in thought. It was unfamiliar territory. Seen it all, done it all, can't remember most of it. Blessed are those who can laugh at themselves, for they will never cease to be

amused. Woman’s ambition: to be weighed and found wanting.

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With Christmas in mind... Thankfully our Saviour is not Father Christmas. He gave his best to us because we

were not good. - Moe Bergeron He who has no Christmas in his heart will never find Christmas under a tree. Christ became what we are that He might make us what he is. - Athanasius God became man to turn creatures into sons; not simply to produce better men of the

old kind but to produce a new kind of man. - C S Lewis In Jesus Christ heaven meets earth and earth ascends to heaven. anon Surely royalty in rags, angels in cells, is not descent compared to Deity in flesh! H Law The hinge of history is on the door of a Bethlehem stable. R Sockman Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents for a

minute and look around. New Year’s Eve is coming soon…

The bagpipes are the missing link between music and noise. - E K Kruger The inventor of the bagpipes was inspired when he saw a man carrying an indignant

asthmatic pig under his arm. Unfortunately, the man-made sound never equalled the purity of the sound achieved by the pig. - Alfred Hitchcock.

Bring not a bagpipe to a man in trouble. - Jonathan Swift Miscellaneous observations on life...

The love of God is broader than the measures of man's mind. Forget your mistakes but never what you learned from them. I haven't lost my mind--it's backed up on disk somewhere. If swimming is good for your figure, explain whales to me. Some days you are the bug - Some days you are the windshield. Drive carefully. It's not only cars that can be recalled by their maker. Advertising: The science of arresting the human intelligence long enough to get money

from it. - Stephen Leacock

Crossword Answers ACROSS: 1, Tabernacle. 7, Absalom. 8, Incas. 10, Roes. 11, Captured. 13, Fright. 15, Cavell. 17, Cyclonic. 18, Herb. 21, Sonar. 22, Amazing. 23, Settlement. DOWN: 1, Taste. 2, Bold. 3, Ramiah. 4, Abiathar. 5, Lucerne. 6, Sacrifices. 9, Saddlebags. 12, Theocrat. 14, Incense. 16, Pilate. 19, Exist. 20, Save.