Multicultural Ministry Matters

Angels from the realms of glory, Wing your flight o’er all the earth; You who sang creation’s story, Now proclaim Messiah’s birth. Come and worship, come and worship, Worship Christ, the newborn King! Shepherds, in the field abiding, Watching o’er your flocks by night, God with us is now residing; See: there shines the infant light: Come and worship, come and worship, Worship Christ, the newborn King! Sages, leave your contemplations, Brighter visions beam afar; Seek the great Desire of nations; You have seen His natal star. Come and worship, come and worship, Worship Christ, the newborn King! Sinners, wrung with true repentance, Doomed for guilt to endless pains, Justice now revokes the sentence, Mercy says: come, break your chains. Come and worship, come and worship, Worship Christ, the newborn King! Though an Infant now we view Him, He shall fill His Father’s throne, Gather all the nations to Him; Every knee shall then bow down: Come and worship, come and worship, Worship Chris...

Christmas is a fun time for most of us, because everyone’s happy and nice to each other. We meet our family – sometimes people we haven’t seen for years. And we give each other gifts and reminisce about old times and share our hopes and dreams. And it’s all fun and lovely. But then we hear things like this: Each year police and support services prepare themselves for a spike in domestic assault cases over the Christmas to New Years’ eve period. A combination of financial strain, families spending more time together, and increased alcohol consumption contribute to the rise in figures. Nina Funnell, ‘For many women, ‘tis the season of fear, not joy’, National Times December 21, 2010 The prophet Isaiah spoke to people who were oppressed and afraid, because they were under threat from their enemies. Isaiah 9:1-2: 1 Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honour G...

It’s the last week before Christmas. Many of us are probably stressing about last-minute Christmas gifts. But really - why worry so much? The best Christmas gift isn't stuff. Most of us have more things than we know what to do with anyway. The best Christmas gift is – yourself . Christmas is a time when we can meet family members and friends, and catch up and chat and joke and laugh and share our lives with them. And that makes sense because on that first Christmas day, God gave us a gift. Not a thing; not a toy. God gave us – himself . The Apostle John says, at the beginning of his gospel: John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:14a The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. Jesus is God. And in giving us Jesus, God gives us – himself. On that first Christmas, he came to live with us. Not just visit - to live, to make his "dwelling", his "home" with us. It’s the difference between tourism and im...