CHRIST CHURCH @ THE COLLEGE
Rev Mark Bonnici • Christ Church @ The College • www.christchurchatthecollege.com.au
Why the Carols? There’s always a premise to most things, an idea a thought an event which spurs us to a consequence. Part of the reason why Christianity is so established today and why the resurrection of Jesus continues to challenge people’s rationality is because there is so much historical evidence in the way of archeology and architecture which evidences to us that something significant happened around 8AD in 1st Century Palestine. Before the time of Jesus (in terms of buildings etc) there was no evidence of the any architecture or written text which raised the idea of resurrection apart from predictions in the Jewish Old Testaments and some other remote writings. We are not talking about the idea of a reincarnation though, the separation of spirit from the body, but a physical bodily resurrection from the dead. That’s what Christians are convinced of and that’s why we celebrate the birth of Jesus every year. Every year we want the world to know that there was a time when God revealed his nature and attributes to us in the physical person of his son Jesus and when you see Jesus you have finally come face to face with the living God. This is why we run our Christmas Carols event each year and why we sing these songs from days gone by, because they each tell something about the birth of God’s son. This is why we celebrate Christmas with our families and give so many presents to loved ones and friends. All these things represent the joy which we have that we can have a living and significant relationship with the creator of the world. More significant to me though is that the resurrection of Jesus does in fact lead to joy and that celebration is the spirit in which we present Jesus to the world around us. Even within the context of suffering and trials at
338-356 Wentworth Rd Orchard Hills
6 November 2013 www.glenmoregazette.com.au
times, God’s people were always able to retain their joy and hope because the implications of the resurrection had so changed their futures that it impacted their present. Some of us are struggling presently because we have no future hope or purpose and we aimlessly live through life. As we head towards the back end of this year it’s a great time to consider Christmas and why we do what we do, to remember just how great our God is and how blessed we are that he offers us true and eternal life! Now that’s worth celebrating indeed! You are very welcome to bring the family and celebrate Christmas with us this year! Christmas Family Service Christmas Eve, 24th December @ 7pm. Christmas Day Family Service, 25th December @ 9am. 338-356 Wentworth Rd Orchard Hills Bless you, Rev Mark Bonnici