Sermon - MIdnight Mass 2006

Midnight Mass 2006 - SERMON

(Big respect to IKR who gave me the best bits and the jokes!)

It is my first Christmas here, and I can say that I have looked forward to it with some excitement. I have seen the preparations taking place to make a wonderful Christmas – in the churches and the communities – and I can tell you that I have enjoyed being involved. It is also a privilege to be able to preach here this evening – at the celebration of Christmas – the birth of Christ.

Christmas is an important time for any community – we all work hard to get the little things right, and as I waved goodbye to twenty or so “Santa’s helpers” from the Rectory this evening, I could see that we enjoy getting the BIG things right too!

And I suppose that is why we are here tonight, to get the final preparation done just before Christmas Day begins. To meet as a community – the people of God – to start the celebrations properly. To do the right thing! And I am sure that we will have a better Christmas for meeting together to begin this day.

On that first Christmas night, the angel announced to the shepherds, ‘I am bringing you good news of great joy for all people…’ and that is the message of Christmas today... Every one of us will probably approach Christmas with different memories and different experiences, every one of us will have different feelings – some will be sad, others will feel incredibly happy, but whatever our thoughts and our feelings, the birth of Jesus is incredibly good news for us.

Because a Saviour is born - a Messiah, a wonderful counsellor, mighty God, everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace, and he will bring light into darkness, and that saviour will be concerned for justice and for righteousness.., and he will be concerned for every one of us.

In 1903, after many attempts, the Wright brothers were successful in getting their "flying machine" off the ground. Thrilled, they telegraphed this message to their sister Katherine: "We have actually flown 120 feet. Will be home for Christmas." Katherine hurried to the editor of the local newspaper and showed him the message. He glanced at it and said, "How nice. The boys will be home for Christmas." He had totally missed the big news that man had actually flown, and seen only part of the message. If we are missing the celebration of the birth of Jesus and just concentrating on making Christmas fun then we too will be missing part of the message.

The good news for tonight is that the celebrating the birth of Christ should be done, not just in church, but at a party too! I have always believed that the best church services start in church and end in the pub (it looks like some of you got that the wrong way round this evening though) hahaha

That message is certainly to enjoy ourselves, to celebrate the good news of great joy for all people, Jesus is born once again, into the hearts of all people who work for the good of others, those who build community, and those who call for peace and justice. God always wants the best for us, and we can show our thanks to God when we celebrate and be joyful. People expect church to be a miserable place – but why should it be! Everyday can be Christmas in church!

There’s a story about a man who found himself in terrible financial difficulties. He was so desperate that for the first time in his life he got down on his knees and prayed to God for help. 'Dear God, I desperately need your help. I have no money to spend on Christmas presents for my family. Could you possibly arrange it so that I win the Lottery?'… The lottery draw is held, but he wins nothing.

And so he sends another prayer to God. 'My business has gone bust and if I don't get some money soon I'll lose my car and my Christmas will be very difficult. Please fix things so I win the lottery.'… Again, lottery night came, but again he didn’t win… And so he prayed to God again. 'Please God, I've lost my car and now they're trying to take my house. Please help me to win the Lottery or our Christmas will be ruined.'… When lottery night came again, he still failed to win anything. Undeterred, he prayed to God again. 'I am now a bankrupt, my house has been repossessed by the finance company and so has my car. We are now living on the street, but all I need to get my life back together and perhaps enjoy some kind of Christmas is to win the lottery.'…

Suddenly there's a flash of brilliant light as the heavens open and the man is confronted by the very voice of God himself. ‘Do me a favour will you, buy a ticket.'

Many people expect great miracles from God in times of trouble, but the greatest miracle of all has already happened – it is that child being born to save us all. That child, weak and defenceless, ultimately tortured and killed, was powerful enough to hold up the whole world in love and offer salvation to all. That is the joy of Christmas… God is there for every one of us…the rich and the poor, the black and white, fat and thin, the lovely and the unlovely

In the birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus, God proclaimed that we would never be alone, uncared for or unloved. And through the life of Christ we were given a way of life that could change the world.

On that first Christmas Day, the star shone to show where the baby was. And today, in the world some people are stars, shining brightly for justice, love and peace. Those who call for an end to war; those who celebrate God’s wonderful creation by dedicating their lives to protecting it. Those who give all they can to build better lives for others, free from exploitation, famine and poverty and then there’s us! I want to be a star too – shining – being useful and making a difference in peoples lives, but sometimes it’s a bit cloudy, and I don’t shine too brightly.

But this Christmas – at the celebration – God is calling us ALL to be stars! Stars who can make a real difference in the lives of others, following the example of the Christ child, who once again is born into the hearts and the imaginations of people. This year, I will be asking myself what I can do to shine as a brighter star for the good of others and our community.

May your Christmas be an outrageous celebration of joyfulness, because the hope and the good news of Jesus is for all people, even us. AMEN