It’s almost Christmas.  For many churches that means nativity plays and carol services.  For Dunfermline URC those will come later so this morning presented a bit of a challenge.  How to preach on Christmas… before it’s Christmas.

This is what I came up with.  Your thoughts and comments are very welcome.

Sermon Text (for those who like to read)

When the world was dark
And the city was quiet,
You came.

This week’s sermon almost didn’t happen.  I was really busy and thinking about simply rehashing last week’s offering.  But as I started to rework it I deleted it and started again.  And I’m glad I did.  As usual your comments, reactions and thoughts are most welcome.

This sermon was preached on 14 December, the 3rd Sunday in Advent, at Hamilton United Reformed Church.

Lawrence Moore’s brilliant lectionary blog Disclosing New Worlds is back!  A superb resource for anyone who preaches or who wants to get some great insights and commentary on the weekly lectionary passages.

Yesterday I was at Lanark Greyfriars leading worship. Despite a random powerpoint disaster - disaster is probably a bit strong, the pictures were fine but the music decided not to play - (you know the kind: works before service, doesn’t work in service, works fine after service) it was ok.

It was the first Sunday of Lent and the readings were about Jesus’ time in the wilderness where he was tempted by the devil.

I often wonder why people give stuff up for lent. I’m not a big fan of stopping things, and would even advocate you do something new or different for lent. But I guess the practice of giving up comes very much from Jesus’ 40 days in the barren wilderness with nothing to do but think. I said yesterday that the temptations Jesus faced were the kind of things we are all faced with and are often the things we let get in the way, between us and God. Power, glory hunting, self-reliance.

So maybe giving up something is a good idea, but I think I’m going to spend more time doing the things I find hard, reading the Bible and praying. Maybe that means some other things will go to make room for these but that’s ok. And I’m still eating chocolate!!!