Copyright ©All Rights Reserved.   

 

Deadline for submissions for the next copy of the Lighthouse Magazine is Sunday 8th February 2009

 

Click to download a full PDF copy of the

Lighthouse

Put Christ Back into Christmas

by Roger Bradshaw

 

Commercialism and materialism have attacked our Christian values. At Christmas a walk around any shopping centre gives ample evidence of this statement.  Very little is displayed that portrays the real meaning of Christmas.

 

As a child I considered myself lucky if I got a colouring book and crayons, and doubly lucky if there was a toy under the tree.  Our stockings were not like the ones used today which are overstuffed with gifts.  Mine was small with a few nuts and an orange in the toes.  My brother and I were always happy to receive these small gifts.

 

Have you been as guilty as I was of trying to give my children more than I had received at Christmas, thinking I was making things better for them?  It seems like each generation tries to go one better than their parents, giving more and more in material things.  In our greed, we have created a generation of materially-minded people.

 

Christmas will be here again soon, that beautiful season of the year when we Christians celebrate the gift of God – the gift of his only Begotten Son, the gift of Salvation.

 

John 3:16 – For God loved the world so much that He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. (NLT)

 

The dictionary defines Christmas as: “the annual commemoration by Christians of the birth of Jesus Christ on December 25.” (Collins Concise Dictionary).  Perhaps it is the time to get back to basics, the basics of love for our fellow men.  Instead of showering people with a never-ending supply of material gifts we should start using some of the spiritual gifts we received from Christ – gifts of talent, time, teaching and serving others.

 

In wondering about what to say about Christmas, I came up with the following.  We are encouraged to “Put Christ back into Christmas or to take the X out of Xmas.”  That’s generally considered a noble thought and would be a very good starting point.  I think, however, Christ would not want to be bottled-up into a single day.  Let’s put Christ back into our personal and family life every day of the year and not just remember Him at Christmas or Easter – or if He’s really lucky on Sunday as well.  Try putting Him in charge for a while and see if you aren’t better off for it.  We are celebrating the birth of the King, after all!

 

Ask God what he wants you to do this year, and the next and try to make it happen. It may not be easy and may at times make you feel uncomfortable, it may be something completely different than you have ever done before.  God uses whoever He has available to Him to do His work.  It’s time to start working for Him again.  Think of all He did for you – can you do less?

 

Make a decision today to start living as a Christian should live.  Don’t put off ‘till tomorrow and miss the opportunities God is giving you to share Christ’s sacrifice with someone this Christmas and every day.  Start making a difference in your own home or with relatives, co-workers, fellow students, neighbours and the church.

 

Prayer – Dear Lord, as the day celebrating the birthday of the great gift of your Son draws near, help us to be careful in giving gifts to our children as you were in bestowing your many gifts on us.  Help us as parents, shopkeepers, politicians, and yes, even some of us churches, to put Christ back into Christmas. In Jesus’ name.

 

Amen.

MEN’S BREAKFAST

 

WHY NOT COME ALONG, BRING A FRIEND, AND ENJOY A FULL ENGLISH BREAKFAST

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FOLLOWED BY A GAME OF CARPET BOWLS ON FEBRUARY 21ST 2009

OVER 60’S OUTING

 

On Wednesday 13th August 2008 49 members assembled at the Church at 11.00 am for coffee. Before boarding the Kings luxury coach to Dunwich, we sung the hymn “Praise my Soul the King of Heaven” and Eric Blowes - who was suitably dressed for a hot summer’s day - gave us a short message and prayer for journey mercies.  The weather did look promising to start with but as we boarded the coach at 11.30 am the rains came down in no uncertain terms, but it did prove to be a passing shower.

 

We had all looked forward to this annual outing to Dunwich, arranged by Eric Spurgeon (and Joyce arranging the coffee) since the holiday break of Over 60’s activities. We also looked forward especially to the thought of the fish and chips (or whatever you prefer) awaiting us on arrival at the Flora Restaurant on Dunwich beach.

 

We had a pleasant journey to Dunwich passing the river Stour on the A137, the river Orwell on the way to Ipswich and with the undulating scenery of Suffolk countryside, passing small villages, churches and woodlands, not forgetting cornfields and growing crops.  Villages such as Leiston springs to mind and Middleton. Trevor, the driver, took us a long way round as the weather proved rather damp.

 

Arriving at Dunwich beach brought back happy memories to some of days gone by. Sadly the cliffs are crumbling now making it dangerous to walk on these days. However we found that the Flora Restaurant has doubled its size with excellent cuisine and a “five star” service!

 

Thank you Eric  Spurgeon for arranging this outing. God was with us and we look forward to another trip next year.

 

Eunice Stubbs  

 

 

 

TITHING

 

It was usually the first week in December when Parson Woodforde of Norfolk held his Tithe Audit Day.  This was the day when about twenty of the larger farmers of the village came to pay their tithe.  On this day Parson Woodforde would provide them with a dinner consisting of huge amounts of food and large quantities of drink, especially strong beer which he brewed himself.  Most times the food would include at least four large plum puddings.  The most important farmers would dine in his parlour and the lesser ones in the kitchen of the Parsonage.  In most cases he would be relieved of their company around midnight, some, it has to be said, the worse for drink!

 

In the twenty-six years that Parson Woodforde was the parson of Weston Longville, from 1776-1803, the average amount of money he received from his farmers was approximately £260 per year. In all these twenty-six years, although the Parson was relieved when the “Frolic”, as he called it was over, and his farmers gone home, the collecting of his tithes was trouble free.

 

This situation was not the case everywhere though.  Lots of farmers resented having to give one-tenth of their crops and produce to the Church. Some Parsons still claimed their tithes in kind. William Cowper, poet and hymnwriter, was aware of this situation when he addressed the poem below to the Reverend William Unwin, Rector of Stock in Essex.  The Reverend Unwin was the son of Cowper’s friend and companion Mary Unwin, who looked after him, especially in his periods of deep depression.

 

 

Man’s way leads to a hopeless end

 

God’s way leads to an endless hope          

Village Carols

6:00 pm

14th December 2008