Pembury Baptist Church

Dear friends,

I'm sure you've had an experience like I had today. I had a friendly chat with an acquaintance which included all the usual Christmas subjects: about this being a 'busy time of year'; about what we were doing at New Year's; whether we had bought all the Christmas presents and so on. I soon realised from our conversation that in all their busyness, they would at no time be celebrating the true meaning of Christmas - the birth of Jesus. I invited them to our Carols by Candlelight service and our Christmas Day service, knowing that they would not only enjoy these, but that they would also hear about the Christmas gift who is Jesus.

It really is possible for many people in our culture to be so busy over Christmas and yet to never once celebrate or hear in a relevant way about the real meaning of Christmas. I really believe this is tragic and presents all of us who are Christ followers with a challenge. Are we going to let Christmas go by like that? Over these coming three weeks at PBC there are special opportunities for you to experience moments of wonder and worship as you thank God for Christmas. These opportunities, of course, are also opportunities for you to invite your colleagues, neighbours, friends and family to hear about the real meaning of Christmas, perhaps for the only time over the advent period.

The best invitations are personal. We've made some excellent Christmas invitations, designed by Rob Sayell, for you to give out to anyone that you know. We will also be sending everyone on the PBC e-news list an e-vite which can be e-mailed on to friends, family and colleagues. Please take advantage of these - you never know how your friend could begin their journey of finding Christ by attending one of these services.

Of course I want to give my thanks at this time to all the PBC community working so hard to make our services the excellent opportunities for worship and wonder that they will be. People are giving a lot of time and effort for which I'm really thankful - I know it will be worth it. Our Carols by Candlelight services have a compelling mix of popular carols, contemporary performance and an inspiring short talk. The 5pm service on Sunday will be about an hour and more appropriate for small children, whilst retaining the special Carols by Candlelight feel. We went from one Carols by Candlelight service to two a couple of years ago because we wanted to set the challenge of filling two services. Last year we basically achieved this - let's try again this year. 

Simon, Philip and I are putting special effort into our Christmas Eve reflective service this year, which I will be leading, because at 11:30pm on a Christmas Eve when the world quietens down, and people gather with anticipation to focus on Christ and worship him, it truly is a unique occasion. If you haven't been before, why not put it in your diary this year? It's late - but it is only once a year! Our Christmas Day service is always a fantastic family celebration, very appropriate for visitors to hear about and enjoy our telling of the heart of Christmas.

We won't be having a service on the morning of the 28th December this year, but we will be having a prayer gathering in the evening for those who want to come out. I made the decision because the whole church works so hard every week of the year, and especially over Christmas when we put on some big extra services, that it was wiser on this particular Sunday morning in the year to give breathing space in which the church can rest and be with family or friends. Because any service that we put on requires a huge 'behind-the-scenes' team, putting on a service is neither straightforward or easy, and, for one Sunday, I don't want people to be rota'd or required to serve. Instead, I want us to build into this busy period of our church life the opportunity for many in the church to rest, to be with family or friends and be fresh for the New Year. I know some might find this a controversial decision, but I am confident it is the right one. I look forward to seeing you all on the 4th January in the morning or evening when I will be kicking off a new year of serving Jesus with our new series called 'Vital Signs.' 

I heard from a PBC attender this week that they had been in the Post Office buying stamps at the counter when they heard a voice behind them in the queue which belonged to a PBC member, sensitively sharing with someone else in the Post Office queue that the real meaning of Christmas is 'God with us.' I won't say who this evangelist was, but let's just say that you can't take the mission out of the missionary... I hope their bravery inspires yours.

Lastly - does anyone have a reasonably big fishtank or vivarium with some fish, animal or reptile (crocodile?) in it that we could carefully bring to PBC to make a special appearance during the Carols by Candlelight talk? Please let me know ASAP. 

With love at this Christmas time; may you know God's richest blessings in this advent period as we wait with anticipation for the coming of our Saviour.

Wayne Alexander

Pastor - Pembury Baptist Church