Some of Tim's Sermons

I wonder if I might begin by sharing a poem with you, written by a bloke called Bob Hartman.

Lights and bells,
Bells and lights.
Cold pale mornings,
Long dark nights.
As winter’s grey
Grabs hold and bites,
Christmas comes
With sounds and sights.
Lights and bells,
Bells and lights.

Lights and bells,
Bells and lights.
Angel songs,
Stars like kites.
Good news rings out
From Heaven’s heights.
And Jesus comes
With sounds and sights.
Lights and bells,
Bells and lights.

Lights and bells,
Bells and lights.
Stable rafters
And starry brights
Paint shadow crosses
On wood uprights.
The baby turns …
Turns wrongs to rights.
Lights and bells,
Bells and lights.
For you and me
Turns wrongs to rights.
Lights and bells,
Bells and lights.

What kind of bells can you think of? Door bells, bike bells, church bells, fire bells. What are they used for? Calling attention, celebrating, Warning.

There are lots of lights around at this time of year. Who has got lights up on their houses? Why?  To shine into the darkness. To celebrate together. They’re pretty.

During the last year we’ve had some spectacular examples of bells and lights being used to celebrate, perhaps most strikingly for the beginning of the Olympics. There was the mass bell ringing across the country, which was joined with here at Holy Trinity I believe. And then there was the fireworks display at the opening ceremony. Bells and lights together celebrating and announcing the start of something awesome. Something that has been described as a once in a life time event. I certainly don’t expect to go to another Olympic games event, or for them to return to this country in my lifetime.

Of course, bells and lights have been used to celebrate Christmas for many centuries. It doesn’t feel like a once in a lifetime event, it comes round every year. The celebrations come round every year because the event itself, the thing that we celebrate, the birth of God as a human being, as Jesus, son of Mary, is a once in history event.

Isaiah, one of God’s prophets looked forward to this once in a history event.

Who saw the Strictly Come Dancing Final? Who was impressed by Louis Smith baring his torso and strong arms, demonstrating his power and strength in the show dance? God’s baring of his mighty arm looks so much less impressive, a bare baby’s arm – chubby and dimpled in a manger. An arm with a wrist that would be shattered by a nail. An arm that reached out to his friends with peace when Jesus was raised to life. An arm that is strong enough to hold us safely in the storms of life.

I do feel for primary school teachers at this time of year. Every child has to have a part in the school nativity production, and there is always going to be at least one parent who thinks that there child ought to have had a bigger role. Tradition dictates that there is one Mary, one Joseph, one donkey, and three wise men. Beyond this we can really start expanding the cast. Plenty of shepherds and of course hosts of angels and a sky ful of stars. All completely understandable. But I wondered if you notice who is missing from the cast list? Jesus. Usually played by a doll. Again, completely understandable. I wonder though whether sometimes we get distracted by the lesser lights – the angels and stars and forget that the greater light is the one that has come into the world in a once in history breaking through into the darkness. The writer of Hebrews reminds us that the light and glory of Jesus is far greater than that of the angels. The angels are glorious because they reflect the glory of God and proclaim it to the world. The stars are glorious because they point the way to the glorious presence of God come to earth in Jesus.

John summarises this once in history event for us, “In him was life, and that life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it … The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

If a once in a lifetime event like the Olympics or the Jubilee were worth celebrating with lights and bells, how much more is this once in history event. As we go into the new year it is my prayer that we will be like clear sounding bells that celebrate the grace of God in our lives. That we will ring to announce God’s presence in our homes and neighbourhoods, our workplaces and our schools. I also believe that we called to shine with Jesus’ light into the dark places of the world. The darkness has not overcome the light, but we know that there are still dark places. We are called to take Jesus’ light into those places, with courage and faith.

Lights and bells,
Bells and lights.
Cold pale mornings,
Long dark nights.
As winter’s grey
Grabs hold and bites,
Christmas comes
With sounds and sights.
Lights and bells,
Bells and lights.

Lights and bells,
Bells and lights.
Angel songs,
Stars like kites.
Good news rings out
From Heaven’s heights.
And Jesus comes
With sounds and sights.
Lights and bells,
Bells and lights.

Lights and bells,
Bells and lights.
Stable rafters
And starry brights
Paint shadow crosses
On wood uprights.
The baby turns …
Turns wrongs to rights.
Lights and bells,
Bells and lights.
For you and me
Turns wrongs to rights.
Lights and bells,
Bells and lights.