What are the sacraments or ordinances? The sacraments or ordinances given by God and instituted by Christ, namely baptism and the Lord’s Supper, are visible signs and seals that we are bound together as a community of faith by his death and resurrection. By our use of them the Holy Spirit more fully declares and seals the promises of the gospel to us. (New City Catechism)
Because minds are fickle and hope grows faint:
take bread, take wine,
take promise.
Because the world shouts out to us false names:
take depth, take water,
take covenant.
Because our flesh is weak: enact;
embody,
and impart.
Because our souls can wander far:
take hands, take part,
take heart.
Because this world is passing: let
these signs contain
the lasting part.
How is the Word of God to be read and heard?With diligence, preparation, and prayer; so that we may accept it with faith, store it in our hearts, and practice it in our lives.(New City Catechism)
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we have also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For most people, Christmas is now over. The supermarkets are already stocking hot cross buns. But in the traditional church calendar, today is the last day of the season of Christmas – a season lasting twelve days, as we remember in the old song. Why remember Christmas for twelve days instead of one? If nothing else, it gives us a chance to think about what it really means, once the distractions have died down, and to look more closely at what comes next in the story.
On the Twelfth Day of Christmas
Tradition says to put away the tree,
Though yours perhaps has already come down,
The children sullen, home a new-year frown,
And resolutions stowed in the pantry.
“Back to work,” you say. And in the streets
The same straight-fixéd gazes all around,
Ear-buds containing every inward sound. My-true-love-sent-to-me, pit-pat your feet.
Perhaps you’ve still some toys to play with, or
There’s thank-you letters now for kids to start.
Yet on the twelfth day, Jesus still grew strong
And Mary treasured all things in her heart;
And stars still blazed for those who journeyed on,
Not numbed like us who know the yearly score.
“At least there is hope for a tree: If it is cut down, it will sprout again, and its new shoots will not fail.”
(Job 14:7)
And new life sprouts where old life is cut down:
See little shoots burst forth from severed trunk;
The earth is singing where its joy was sunk;
The smallest hope will make the largest sound.
And see the stump of Jesse? In the ground
Are rumblings of roots. The soil is drunk
With prayer and fear. What once was lost is found!
It shall not shout; the hope’s a baby still.
Yet stars are guiding wise men to its bed
And shepherds know the shepherd from the herd.
In winter snow, an unexpected thrill
Is stirring in the leaves. The rocks which said,
“Prepare the way,” now echo at His Word.
Moments of success are rare:
The Consolations of Writing 