Luke 1:46-69
And Mary said, 
“My soul magnifies the Lord,
    and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.
     For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
for he who is mighty has done great things for me,
    and holy is his name." 

Sadly,  singing isn't on the menu for Christmas this year, and no doubt that will seem strange to us (a carol service... without carols?).  Sure, God's people have always sung: Moses led sung worship after crossing Red Sea; Hannah sung praise to God when giving Samuel to Eli; David regularly sang songs; when the temple was built the people rejoiced in song.  For God's people, singing is for life, not just for Christmas, and yet we will perhaps feel the lack of it even more acutely during the festive season than we have the rest of the year.   That is probably because this is a time of great joy, and singing is a natural expression of that (and also because we love a good carol!).  However, we need not be less joyful just because we can't join in with the singing.  The wonder, excitement, hope and beauty of the coming of Christ can (and should) still warm our hearts and be cause for much rejoicing.

We will see more of this on Sunday, but when we open up one of the most famous songs in the bible - Mary's song (the 'Magnificat') - it is striking how joyful she is.  Here is a young, teenage girl whose life is turned upside down. In that culture her pregnancy out of wedlock could have meant being kicked out of her home, shunned by her friends, despised by her community, and ditched by her husband to be.  And yet she responds with joy! She rejoices in God her saviour.  She rejoices that God has chosen to use her.  She rejoices in God's character.  She rejoices in what God has done for her.  

We mustn't elevate Mary to a special status (after all she too knows she is a sinner in need of a saviour) but we can learn from her.  She gives us a great example of how to respond to the coming of the Christ.  Pray that God will help you to 'be more Mary.'  We might not be able to join in with her singing, but we can join in her joy.  
 
Hark! the herald angels sing
Glory to the new-born King!
 
Joy to the world! The Lord is come
Let earth receive her King!
 
O come, let us adore Him
O come, let us adore Him
O come, let us adore Him
Christ the Lord
 
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel
 
Rich

Please see the video below for a review of Ian Barclay's new book by Phil Moon which has just arrived. 
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If you would like to purchase a copy please email the office (office@bhmc.org.uk) and forward £5.00 direct to the BH bank account 40.52.40 Account no. 00016162. 
If this is not possible please forward a cheque in f/o Bishop Hannington Memorial Church to the office.

You may be interested to know that there's a consultation going on at present about admissions criteria  for Aldrington for 2022-23. The relevant paperwork is on the school website, see link below: 
www.aldrington.org/Admission-Arrangements-Consultation-2022-23/

​I love Nativities. I love everything about them. When Morag was teaching it was her job to run the school nativity and they were always fantastic. I love seeing the Angel Gabriel try to out perform Mary because that is the role she really wanted. I love seeing children walk behind another child dressed in a donkey outfit while another bangs together some coconuts. I love the tea towels and the dressing gowns that are worn by shepherds and inn keepers alike.

But while all those moments raise a smile, there is one moment that can draw a tear. And it’s when Mary is given the baby. Usually she looks after for it for a minute but then before long she will drop it on its head or just swing round it like it were a doll (because of course that is what it is). 

But why does that draw a tear?

Because when I remember that this baby is the one who made the stars in the sky. This baby is the one who holds all creation together. This baby is the one who was wrapped in light and was seated in the glories of heaven.

And now, this baby stooped so low. This baby became wrapped in human flesh. This baby entrusted himself to a teenage mother who was at the bottom of the social scale.
I love nativities because it would be safer to give a real baby to primary school children than it would have been for God to give himself to humanity.
But that is what happened at Christmas. 
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And he did that for you and for me.
I love nativities because I love Jesus.
Jesus who… ‘made himself nothing by taking the very nature[b] of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death – even death on a cross!’ (Philippians 2:7-8) 
Happy Christmas.
Ben

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​Just in case you missed it, James was born on Friday evening at 7.30, weighing in at 7lb. Everyone's doing well, and we're all thanking God for a safe arrival!

​At KO over this past term, we’ve been looking at the early chapters of 1 Kings. One of the things that stands out in those early chapters is the sheer amount of time spent on the preparations for and the building of The Temple.
It is surely one of the high points of the Old Testament, God dwelling amongst His settled people – wow!
There is so much to say about the temple, but I want to focus in on the Inner Sanctuary (Most Holy Place).
  
19 Solomon prepared the inner sanctuary within the temple to set the ark of the covenant of the Lord there. 20 The inner sanctuary was twenty cubits long, twenty wide and twenty high. He overlaid the inside with pure gold, and he also overlaid the altar of cedar. 21 Solomon covered the inside of the temple with pure gold, and he extended gold chains across the front of the inner sanctuary, which was overlaid with gold. 22 So he overlaid the whole interior with gold. He also overlaid with gold the altar that belonged to the inner sanctuary.
1 Kings 8:19-22
 
That’s some nice interior design work there! I mean, it would have been one magnificent room – a perfect cube of gold and if that’s not splendid enough it was home to the ark, the symbol of God’s presence with His people. When the temple is completed God descends in a cloud of glory to the inner sanctuary, almost saying “This inner sanctuary, this is my room, my Holy room!”
Yet as splendid as this Most Holy Place was it was also a reminder of distance… in Israelite worship, only one priest (with all the appropriate sacrifice back up) once a year would be allowed into this Holy Place, into the very room of God. It was a picture of separation…
 
But fast forward to the New Testament, to Revelation 21 and there we get a glimpse of the glorious future awaiting God’s people it’s described in stunning graphic detail:
 
16 The city was laid out like a square, as long as it was wide. He measured the city with the rod and found it to be 12,000 stadia in length, and as wide and high as it is long. 17 The angel measured the wall using human measurement, and it was 144 cubits thick. 18 The wall was made of jasper, and the city of pure gold, as pure as glass.
Revelation 21:16-18
 
Our future is described as life within a glorious city…
Our future is described as life within a perfect cube of gold.
Our future is described as life within the Most Holy Place.
 
Wow.
No more separation, no more distance, no more once a year – right up in the very presence of the Lord forever!
Simply breath-taking.
 
Christian, this is your future if you are trusting in the Lord Jesus. This is what His once for all sacrifice on the cross has achieved.
What a reason to praise God today?
 
Stephen

We invest tons of energy seeking favour—wanting to be desired, known, and loved. But even if we measure up to others, no one can fill the void, meet the need, or “cover the cost” of our intimacy-hunger.
There’s no way, then, to calculate the worth of this declaration from God’s messenger: “peace to those on whom his favor rests.” Don’t consume it as a quick snack. Slowly relish it.
It’s more than we could ever expect,  more than we deserve, more ours than we realize. Through Jesus’ finished work – taking our disgrace, giving us His righteousness – we now live in God’s full, permanent, unwavering favour. The rest of Advent/Christmas 2020, may God make this more real to us than anything else.

At Christmas, don’t forget Easter
A long time ago, I gave a talk at Christmas, and afterwards a friend came up and said “Nice talk about Easter, Phil.” Or words to that effect. I was a bit deflated at the time, but thinking about it since, I think we do need to talk about Easter at Christmas. After all, Easter is why Christmas happened.
In Romans 1:16 we read this: “For I am not ashamed of the Gospel…” Isn’t it strange how at Christmas time, we can do just that? Be ashamed of the Gospel. We can talk of the incarnation, of God becoming a man and how extraordinary it all was. Simply wonderful news, so let’s celebrate. It’s less appetising to talk of why we need Christmas, of why Jesus actually came. And in a particularly Christmassy kind of way, we can in fact, be ashamed of the Gospel.
So let’s not be afraid, or ashamed of the Easter Gospel news, when we celebrate Christmas and talk to our friends about it over these coming weeks.
Happy Christmas. Happy Easter!

If you normally deliver leaflets around the parish the leaflets are outside the church office ready to be collected or will be at the back of church on Sunday.
There are some packs with nobody allocated to them.  There are only between 20 and 40 leaflets in each pack so don't take long to deliver.  Therefore if you have a spare 30 minutes it would be great if you could pop to the church office and pick up a pack.  This will save the Church staff having to distribute the remaining ones.

This Sunday there will be another chance to join other members of BH on zoom for a chat.  Everyone is welcome.  Join through MyChurchsuite or the website.  It will start at 11:30 (slightly later than before).

PART 4
We are continuing in our series running up to Christmas when I give a thought for the day focussing on lyrics from some of our most beloved Christmas Carols.
 
Last time we looked at Silent Night, learning about how on a not-so-silent night the glorious good news message of Christ the Lord, the Saviour being born!  (see 01/12 if you missed it).
 
Today we are looking at a verse from It came upon a midnight clear:
 
For lo! the days are hastening on,
By prophets seen of old,
When with the ever-circling years
Shall come the time foretold,
When the new heaven and earth shall own
The Prince of Peace, their King,
And the whole world send back the song
Which now the angels sing.
 
There are other carols that probably deal with the theme of Christ’s return, but I wanted to choose a carol some of us might be less familiar with. Again, go and have a listen (and a singalong!) to it.
 
You may think it unusual that I am talking about the return of Christ, what we would call His ‘second advent’, when this season is all about His first advent. Christ’s birth is of upmost importance, praise God that He took on human flesh and dwelt among us. And yet as the prophets of old as mentioned in the carol above were longing for God’s appearing, we too are eagerly waiting and anticipating Christ’s second coming! If it was good news that He came, shouldn’t it be excellent news that He is coming back?! 
 
Pause for reflection on Titus 2:11-14 (particularly vs 11 and 13)
 
We long for the return of Christ the King, the Prince of Peace. Particularly on the back of this year, where we have seen so many things ‘go wrong’, its reminds us that our current existence isn’t what it is meant to be; things are not ok right now. We need our king to return!
 
So as you reflect this Christmas, as you sing carols, as you enjoy time with family…we rejoice for Christ’s first coming….and we long for His second coming.
 
Have a blessed Christmas.

Matt

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This Saturday (12th) there is a special event happening on Youtube for all the family. Faith in Kids are hosting a special Christmas Bake Along. Martha Collison (The Youngest Bake Off Contestant Ever) will be guiding us through how to make Gingerbread Men with Ed Drew helping and explaining to all ages the reason for the season.
 
The event premiers at 14:00, but will be available on YouTube afterwards.  All the details you need (including ingredients list) can be found here: https://faithinkids.org/christmas-bake-along
 
And to whet your appetite below is a trailer. It will a great video for all ages to watch with or without children!
 
Ben
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6HEXC0PsvGU

​Christmas trivia and Festive fun for good causes
 
As so many events that charities ordinarily rely upon have had to be cancelled this year, Brighton & Hove Mayor, Councillor Alan Robins, has agreed to be part of a second online quiz after the success of the first one on October 28th.
 
This one looks set to be bigger, better and is already ballooning in popularity. In other words, a real cracker! On the 16th December at 7pm the Mayor’s Big Christmas Quiz takes place online with tickets available at just £5 (+ fee) on Eventbrite.
 
The Charities: Leo House, Together Co, Off The Fence, Brighton Fringe,
The Sussex Heart Charity
 
This time around, given the time of year and the fact that many companies won’t be having their traditional office parties, this is an opportunity to create a team (liaising via What’s App) and to keep the banter going with mince pies and sherry at home. The Quiz will be hosted by Off The Fence Trust’s Head of Income Generation and Comms, Roy Stannard who enjoys the constant trickle of comments and jokes that run down the page in Chat on the hosting platform, YouTube. 
“It’s a good cause and a good excuse to have a bit of fun pre-Christmas with your friends and work mates. And if your local councillor is taking part you can challenge them online!”
 
After registering for the event on Eventbrite you will be sent an email with the link to the live stream to be used on the night. 
There will be a tie-breaker at the end of the quiz, when one participant or team will win a very special prize.
 
So fill up your advent calendar and have some fun at the same time – all for a good cause.
  
Book via Eventbrite: https://tinyurl.com/y4o3zuav
  
IF you can’t make the evening, there is the opportunity to donate anyway via The Mayor’s Just Giving page:   https://justgiving.com/campaign/bmc2020

6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. 8 So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God. 9 He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, 10 but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. 11 And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher. 12 That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day.
13 What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus. 14 Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.

One of the most amazing testimonies I’ve ever heard came from one of my best friends. She suffered severe social anxiety for most of her childhood, struggling to speak to people. Then she read the words of 2 Timothy 1:7 “the spirit God gave us does not make us timid but give us power, love and self-discipline”. She began to feel more and more confident in who God has called her to be and threw off the spirit of timidity that had trapped her. She became far more confident talking to people and later became president of her university Christian Union, getting up the front, speaking to big crowds and talking 1-to-1 with non-Christians about Jesus. The Holy Spirit has the power to do things like that within us. As someone who’s often a stutterer and a stammerer myself I always find this such an amazing encouragement.

The Spirit of God resides in each of us as Christians. It is an incredible gift from God, given to those he has chosen through his power and not ours, and it is our job to fan into flame that amazing gift that God has given us and grow it more within ourselves each day. Why do we do that? For the same purpose that God has chosen us, to tell others about him. To use that Spirit to grow the power, love, and self-discipline, our greatest weapons against the suffering we may endure when we share our testimony about the work Christ has done within us and seek to bring others to that knowledge. That is the Spirit of a God who has saved us and called us to a holy life. That is the Spirit of God that was present within Jesus as he destroyed death and brought us to life immortality. That is the spirit that will empower us to be the people God has called us to be.

And yet, how often do we fall into the trap of mumbling our invitations to come to a church event or join our online service? How often do we change the subject when people bring up the fact that we’re Christians and go to church? How often do we forget the power that drives out timidity within us? How often do we feel ashamed of our testimony?

Last week many of our prayers were dedicated to having boldness to talk to our friends about Jesus and invite them to online services over Christmas. Let’s keep praying that we would be fanning into flames the powerful spirit God has gave us, so that we might be the answer to those prayers.
Alex

As we look towards Christmas the James Hannington Memorial Trust (JHMT) highlight projects we would like to invite the church family to support.

This year we are supporting the work of our local charity Off The Fence. Paul Young was in church last Sunday to tell us more about the work they are doing locally.

We are also supporting the work of Martin Povey who has been working as an evangelist with the Association of Evangelists (AofE) travelling around the UK proclaiming the good news of Jesus in schools, colleges, universities, and churches! This Sunday we will be hearing more about Martin's work.

Please see this week's and last week's BH News' for more information on both projects. If you wish to support either or both please make payments direct to the JHMT bank account as follows.
CAF Bank Account Name: The James Hannington Memorial Trust
Sort Code: 40 52 40. Account Number: 00016678

If you would prefer to use a cheque, please send direct to Roger Bellamy at 1 Beechwood,
Millglade, Small Dole, West Sussex BN5 9YS with the cheque made payable to JHMT.

The Dawn of Hope (part of the series of Goldstone Church Daily Advent Reflections)
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Readings
6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
(Luke 2:6-7)
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5 But he was pierced for our transgressions,
    he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
    and by his wounds we are healed.
6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
    each of us has turned to our own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
    the iniquity of us all.
(Isaiah 53:5-6)
 
Poem – written by Heloise Hearn (a Haiku)
What a heavy load
Resting on that tiny babe
A broken world’s hope.
 
Prayer
Heavenly Father, I praise You and thank You for the birth of Jesus Christ, my King! Help me to learn from the humble circumstances of Jesus’ birth. The lack of room for Mary and Joseph did not delay You from coming to earth to be with me. Thank You that You are Immanuel, “God with us” – God with me. You are a God of purpose, intention, perfect timing, and unconditional love. I give You all the glory. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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We have recently been sent the above picture of the James Hannington Venetian window above the High Table and Dining Hall of St Peter's college in Oxford. 
​One for the archives!!!

I expect you have often heard it joked that Jesus’ birth was far from a silent night what with noisy animals, visiting shepherds, to say nothing of the sounds of a woman giving birth and a baby’s first use of his lungs!
 So perhaps the night Jesus was born wasn’t ‘silent’, as such, but considering the world-shaking, epoch-defining, planet-changing nature of what was happening it was very, very quiet.
 
Hebrews 1 describes Jesus like this:
 In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.
 
The radiance of God’s glory was born into the world and yet somehow the stars restrained themselves from bursting into song! The stones didn’t shout but continued to glorify God by their quiet stoniness despite the LORD our Rock and our Redeemer arriving in flesh and blood! It’s hard to believe that the creation that was stirred into being through him didn’t burn with a furious joy at his coming! Even the shepherd-terrifying shout of the angels outside Bethlehem was pretty restrained considering the circumstances.
 
It was a silent night, a quiet start, a slow reveal.
 
But the news is out now - Christ has come. God’s redeeming grace has dawned. Shout it! Sing it! Cover it with tinsel! But don’t stay silent about Jesus this advent.