The first of our festive afternoons when we welcomed back, Tom, Rosemary and Mike from Seaford Baptist Church to delight us with some Christmassy music, and a short message from Rosemary to help us prepare for Christmas.

What a lovely afternoon we all had, plus the opportunity of joining in with the singing. 

Rosemary’ s message was entitled, ‘bitter and sweet, yet God’ and Rosemary posed the question, “What would we look for in the mother of God?” We would probably think about worldly attributes and yet God’s expectations are way beyond ours! Mary was humble and modest, not at all arrogant or proud. She knew the scriptures and God was at the heart of everything she did. And because of that, Mary found favour with God and was used to bring about God’s purposes.

Although Mary questioned the angel’s message in Luke 1 v 28-33, she believed and was able to respond, “I am the Lord’s servant, may it be to me as you have said.” ( Luke 1 v 38). Mary accepted God’s will for her life which would be bitter and sweet.

Do we always turn to God in every circumstance? Rosemary encouraged us to follow Mary’s example.  

The team then sang that beautiful song by Graham Kendrick – Thorns in the straw – the chorus of which reads:

And did she see there
In the straw by his head a thorn
And did she smell myrrh
In the air on that starry night
And did she hear angels sing
Not so far away
Till at last the sun rose blood-red
In the morning sky

These words remind us of the real message of Christmas – that Jesus, God’s Son, came as a baby to die on the cross for the sins of humankind that we might be reconciled to God and have eternal life.  

We enjoyed tea and homemade mince pies and the opportunity to share together.  What a great start to our Christmas countdown!