JourneyOnline
In a first for the Queensland Synod, the Moderator Rev Bruce Johnson has recorded a video Christmas message available on the JourneyTelevision YouTube channel.
Or see here.
Text is below.
Christmas message
As the world around us joins the Christian celebration of Christmas, we need to be open to listening to the hopes and doubts and concerns of the wider community.
Despite the fact that the story of a baby born in a stable is widely known, many are not sure how that event can touch their lives today.
As you share the year’s Christmas celebration with family, friends and your church community, take the time to share how Jesus’ life, death and resurrection has given you help, or hope or purpose.
Take confidence in your own story and allow that to be used by God to bless another’s life. As Christ is seen in your life and mine this Christmas, let us pray that many will experience the reality that God is with them in their situations.
May I also take this opportunity to wish all associated with the Uniting Church in Queensland a happy and holy Christmas.
We look forward with joy to the year ahead. May God’s love and grace be with you.
Text of video message:
The most memorable Christmas I have experienced was during my time in Gladstone.
The week leading up to Christmas was particularly difficult. I had spent time with a family as the father died, then conducted his funeral.
On Christmas Eve I conducted the funeral of a three-year-old child who drowned at a Christmas party.
On Boxing Day I received a call to say that the husband of one of our congregation had collapsed and died at a family Barbecue. He was only in his 40s.
The most significant part was sitting in the kitchen with the Father of the little girl who had drowned. As I sat there in silence, he paced the room like a caged lion.
Then suddenly he spoke, “Can you answer a question for me?” he said. I said, “Probably not, but you need to ask it anyway.”
Sure enough he said, “I know that there is a God out there somewhere, but where is he when my daughter drowns?”
Then from somewhere I heard myself saying, “I don’t know. But in a couple of days, Christians throughout the world will be celebrating the conviction that the God you believe is out there somewhere came to earth as a baby and grew as one of us.
“Christians believe that if we want to know what God is like, we should look at Jesus. So when I ask what is God doing while you are in such pain, I think about Jesus.
“There is a story that once when Jesus was with a couple of friends whose brother had died, the bible says he wept.
“I suspect that God is weeping with you. God understands the pain of losing a loved child in a situation that was unfair, so I think he understands just how you are feeling and I believe he is weeping with you.”
Ever since that day I have had a much deeper appreciation for the importance of Christmas.
Christmas holds a message of hope and joy for all people, even for those who are going through great pain and struggle.
Because the Christmas story tells us that God is not way out there looking at us from a distance, but God is with us. Each and every one of us.
I pray that as you celebrate Christmas according to the traditions that are important for you, you will have that deep sense that God is with you, that his love and grace are sufficient for you.
As the world around us joins the Christian celebration of Christmas, we need to be open to listening to the hopes and doubts and concerns of the wider community. Despite the fact that the story of a baby born in a stable is widely known, many are not sure how that event can touch their lives today. As you share the year’s Christmas celebration with family, friends and your church community, take the time to share how Jesus’ life, death and resurrection has given you help, or hope or purpose. Take confidence in your own story and allow that to be used by God to bless another’s life. As Christ is seen in your life and mine this Christmas, let us pray that many will experience the reality that God is with them in their situations. May I also take this opportunity to wish all associated with the Uniting Church in Queensland a happy and holy Christmas. We look forward with joy to the year ahead. May God’s love and grace be with you. The most memorable Christmas I have experienced was during my time in Gladstone. The week leading up to Christmas was particularly difficult. I had spent time with a family as the father died, then conducted his funeral. On Christmas Eve I conducted the funeral of a three-year-old child who drowned at a Christmas party. On Boxing Day I received a call to say that the husband of one of our congregation had collapsed and died at a family Barbecue. He was only in his 40s. The most significant part was sitting in the kitchen with the Father of the little girl who had drowned. As I sat there in silence, he paced the room like a caged lion. Then suddenly he spoke, “Can you answer a question for me?” he said. I said, “Probably not, but you need to ask it anyway.” Sure enough he said, Then from somewhere I heard myself saying, “I don’t know. But in a couple of days, Christians throughout the world will be celebrating the conviction that the God you believe is out there somewhere came to earth as a baby and grew as one of us. “Christians believe that if we want to know what God is like, we should look at Jesus. So when I ask what is God doing while you are in such pain, I think about Jesus. “There is a story that once when Jesus was with a couple of friends whose brother had died, the bible says he wept. “I suspect that God is weeping with you. God understands the pain of losing a loved child in a situation that was unfair, so I think he understands just how you are feeling and I believe he is weeping with you.” Christmas holds a message of hope and joy for all people, even for those who are going through great pain and struggle. Because the Christmas story tells us that God is not way out there looking at us from a distance, but God is with us. Each and every one of us. I pray that as you celebrate Christmas according to the traditions that are important for you, you will have that deep sense that God is with you, that his love and grace are sufficient for you.
