We had an excellent Sunday today. Today was, what is becoming, our annual carol service with our Brazilian friends. Community Baptist London (CBL) meets on a Saturday evening in our building; the leaders and a few others also join us on a Sunday morning. Last year for the first time we held a joint family carol service, and we did the same again this year. It is harder work to organise, but has again been a fantastic blessing. We do some singing in Portuguese and some of the Bible readings in Portuguese, though the main talk is only in English. All the kids are in. We had Nathan (a session musician from CBL) playing drums, with Ling on piano and my guitar, and made a joyful noise with traditional and newer Christmas carols and songs.
It was great to welcome a few new faces, including a lady who had been given an invite in Kilburn. No idea who was handing those out! Also a mate of mine who I have been studying Ephesians with came with his girlfriend for the first time. There must have been about 60 people there altogether and nearly 50 stayed for lunch, which Helen cooked with some help from Ling.
The message was split up to help the kids (and adults) stay attentive. We were looking at Luke 1v26-38, the angel Gabriel greeting Mary. Focussing on four points - that just as God was with Mary, so in Jesus he is "God with us" - that he is the King of God's Kingdom, the son that was promised to king David so many years before - that he is also the Son of God, not born in the ordinary way, but really God taking on human nature - remembering that nothing is impossible with God. I reminded us that often God does things that look weak or foolish, but actually his ways are far more powerful and wise than we can imagine. But God's willingness to appear weak and/or foolish in his ways shows to us the reality of his love for us, and that therefore Jesus is a Lord we can trust.
The kids sang "On That Very First Christmas" from the Colin Buchanan DVD "King of Christmas" and a group from CBL sang two Brazilian Christmas songs exceedingly beautifully.
News from the rest of the week. Sadly Pam had to go into hospital this week. We aren't exactly sure what the diagnosis is, but she may have had a minor stroke.
The kids enjoyed all their Christmas activities at school. Reuben sang "When Santa Got Stuck Up The Chimney" with his class and Joshua played his recorder and cello (yes cello!) both in front of the whole lower school and a large number of parents. I will try and post a bit of video later in the week.
Christmas here we come!!!!
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