This Christmas the Church of St Mary’s, Rufford is decorated with Angels. Preaching at Rufford Today Dr Helen Hindle (who is discerning  call to the distinctive Diaconate) asked us to think about what Angels have been messengers in our live, and to whom could we be messengers.

A Précis of Helen’s address :

I saw a cartoon recently.

There were 2 hamsters in a cage, lounging around next to an exercise wheel.

They contemplated the exercise wheel, and one hamster, said to the other…

I used to run every day, but lately it’s just been a rack for my clothes.

And indeed there were some small items of clothing draped on the wheel.

It was something that resonated….

Last Christmas I got a second hand exercise bike from Facebook marketplace.

It was great.

I did use it most days during the winter… then gradually stopped.

Indeed, the last time I went to  use it, there was a towel draped over the handlebars.

I haven’t made new years resolutions for next year– I will try to do more exercise…

But there are some reflections from the gospel passage that I plan to take into the year ahead – and I invite you to join me…. in looking backwards and in looking forwards.

First of all. Let’s set the scene.

Throughout history God reaches out in love

  • In creation
  • Coming to us in Jesus and the Holy Spirit
  • Through messengers
    • Prophets
    • Angels
    • And ordinary people

In Luke’s gospel and into Acts there is theme of messengers who point towards who Jesus is.

In the gospel passage we heard today (Luke 2.15-21):

  • The angels had already told the shepherds about the good news of the Messiah
  • The shepherds responded as they hurried to Bethlehem and talked about what they had seen and heard.

And I wonder…

Can we find our story in this story in the Bible?

  • Looking backwards to the messengers that have pointed us towards Jesus.
  • And looking forwards – to how we can share the good news

Who are the messengers that have pointed you to Jesus?

Perhaps it was

  • Parents?
  • Sunday School Teachers?
  • Friends?

Or has it been, unexpected people in unexpected places?

Sometimes children can teach us to see things in a different way.

Sometimes comments from work colleagues or neighbours – not necessarily Christians, can make us stop and think.

And we shouldn’t be surprised when it is through the wisdom of older people.

Several years ago a friend told me a story of when she was a child.

Her grandma took her to the village church, and as they stood in front of a stained glass window, her grandma said?

Can you see that man in the middle?

Well that is Jesus

And I want you to remember that whatever happens in your life, you will never be alone.

Jesus will always be with you.

This had stayed with her.

And as she shared the story with me, I felt my own faith renewed, as I was reminded again.

Whatever happens in my life, Jesus will always be with me.

We are not promised an easy life as Christians, but we are promised that God will be with us.

Here at Rufford, the stained glass windows have many stories – I have not investigated them all yet- and right now, they are surrounded by angels – messengers from God.

Messengers from God can come in many ways.

And they come throughout our life – and at different points on our spiritual journey… messengers who say look … here is Jesus – not necessarily in those words.

Messengers might come at those times when we have lost sight of Jesus… or are struggling to make sense of the Bible or our life.

They point us towards God and God’s ways.

They remind us that God is with us.

So today, let’s give thanks for those messengers who have pointed us towards God.

When the shepherds heard the good news, they responded quickly.

They hurried to Bethlehem to see Jesus.

I wonder what Mary thought as the shepherds told her all about the angels and the message they had been given.

I wonder if it strengthened her faith, having this message reinforced.

At this time especially, with the exhaustion of giving birth, and the reality of this baby – this scrap of humanity that she had put to bed in manger.

We are told that she pondered all these things in her heart – and I wonder what it meant for her…. This visitation from these shepherds.

These very ordinary people – people like us…

Who perhaps as they visited Mary, ministered to her.

Who might we be called to minister to?

Where might we be called to share the good news of what we have seen and heard and experienced?

The writer Jeff Lucas said that when he was a new Christian, he would tell everyone about Jesus.

They might ask -would you like a sandwich, and he would reply

“No thank you – I have the bread of life”

“Do you have the bread of life?”

Every conversation, he said, was a desperate monologue -and his victims would be looking desperately to escape…

But then Jeff said, for him eventually the pendulum swung the other way…and he stopped talking to people about faith at all…

But there is another way a way that is built on love –

  • on relationships and dialogue.

When we respond to the prompting of the Holy Spirit.

When we know how much God loves us… and loves all people…

We are filled with a love that bubbles over

A love that does not force itself on people

A love that listens, and is kind

A love that tries to see things from other people’s point of view

Sharing the good news is sharing the love that God has for all people

  • for the transformation of the whole world

As part of that, we all have a story to tell… and it’s a story that grows.

The shepherds talked about what they had seen and heard….

… their first story was to tell Mary what the angels had said

… and then they went out rejoicing…

For my friend’s grandma… built on a lifetime of experience, she could say…

This is Jesus… and whatever happens he will never leave you.

What is your story?

What does your faith mean to you?

So, I don’t have new years resolutions as such…

I might try and do more exercise…

But will you join me in

  • giving thanks for the messengers that have pointed you to Jesus
  • And praying that we too can be messengers of God’s grace.

It might be as simple as standing in front of a stained glass window, seeing Jesus, and remembering aloud that whatever happens God is with us.