Christmas Day - 2012

This was the first Christmas in many years that we were not preaching elsewhere, so we spent the morning in the church where we normally worship which is only downstairs. The service began at 10.00 a.m. and ended at 11.30 a.m. The whole church including the gallery was full. There were a number who came for the first time.

Good to sing the familiar carols, like "Joy to the world," O come all ye faithful" Hark, the herald angels sing" "Angels from the realms of Glory" and "Silent night" These carols have stood the test of time - they have a message.

I personally love to begin Christmas Day service with "Christians awake, salute the happy morn" I don't think many of our people today know this song. I've not heard this carol sung in recent years.

Major Pascoe our pastor spoke on "Don't miss the Christ our of Christmas" She pointed out the way people today write Christmas as X-mas. She gave three reasons -

Maybe they have no time. No time to write Christ, so substitute with X.
Maybe they have no knowledge of Christ. Christ is unknown, so they use X. Unknown Mass
Maybe they have no space. In Singapore space is now at a premium. The city is building "shoebox" units - room enough for a shoe is it? People have room for everything else but Christ.

While she was still speaking I thought of the song, "Have you any room for Jesus" and the prayer
"Room and time now give to Jesus."

The songsters sang a song written by Major Joy Webb.

The children start to carol in the night,
The candles glow, and everything is bright,
The time we love so well is casting it’s old spell
If only it was always Christmas night.

For Christmas can be everyday for you,
and this year’ll be the best you ever knew.
If the love this child and part can be held within your heart
then Christmas can be everyday for you.

O everywhere the people stop to pray
To celebrate this very special day.
And friend is meeting friend, some happy hour to spend
If only it was always Christmas Day.

Tomorrow may hold everything you fear,
So take this day and hold it’s memory dear,
And you will find it’s true, whatever you may do,
That Christmas can be everyday for you.

After the service we adjourned to the Social Hall to have our Christmas lunch. There was plenty of food - western and eastern. It was a great time of fellowship.