Day 10 - Tell Out my Soul

 Today's Angel is in the window of another of our local shops - this time it's Card Market, on Green End.

Mary's song when she meets Elizabeth, her cousin; a song of praise to God, but also a prophecy - of how the child in her womb will be the Lord, the Mighty one, and one who will challenge those with proud hearts and stubborn wills, while the hungry will be fed and the humble lifted high. Christ's coming is good news - but even before Christ's birth, there are some who will not see it that way when they are confronted by God's commitment to all of his people instead of the chosen few. Already, Mary is taking the message of the Angel and making it her own.

Day 9

 

Today's Angels were made for us by Helen Trigg and Joan Cook.

The angel on the Christmas tree

Looked down and quietly sighed

At the tinsel and the sparkling lights

The lady had applied.

The gaudy colours everywhere

The Freezer full of food;

The cards from friends upon their strings

Could never lift her mood.

Festive spirit was skin deep

With no-one there to share

She'd tried so hard to cheer things up

But who would see, or care?

And then at last a box appeared

"A gift for you" it said

She hadn't ordered anything

A mistake? She scratched her head.

But as she opened up the box

And read the note, with tears

The feeling in the small flat changed

Away with all her fears!

"You always said you wanted these"

Upon the note she read

"I can't be with you so this scene

Will have to do instead."

And as she pulled the figures out

The Mother, with her Child;

"Merry Christmas, from your son"

The Angel watched, and smiled.

Day 8

Today's Angel is one made by one of our Members, that is about to be passed on to someone as a sign of hope for Christmas. 

Angels: servants of God, doing God's will. In Isaiah 6, the prophet sees Seraphim in a vision, waiting upon God; two wings cover their faces, two more their feet; with two more, they fly back and forth, proclaiming the holiness of God. And yet, when the call goes out, "Who shall I send?" it is not an Angel who must take God's words to the people, but the astonished, even terrified, Isaiah. How much easier it might be if every message from God was delivered by an Angel! And yet we too - broken, fallible and uncertain as we are - are called to be God's messengers.

Day 7 - The Angel Gabriel from Heaven came

Today's Angel is one made by our members, and in the window of BookShrop, on Green End. There are other angels in shop windows in town too - how many can you find? 

Too many pictures of the Annunciation have Gabriel as a Golden-haired, beautiful man with wings. In this Basque Carol, we are shown a different image: "his wings as drifted snow, his eyes as flame". It's an altogether more alarming - but also awe-inspiring - image; this, one of the most powerful of God's servants, appearing to a young woman with startling news: God has chosen her! One of the amazing things about Mary is that she accepts not only Gabriel's presence, but the message also - that she, out of all women, has been chosen to bear the Messiah.

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Day 6 - Mary

 Today's Angel was made by Becky Thomas.

A young, unmarried, woman. Gentle Mary, meek and mild? Or a personality, already able to understand the implications of Gabriel's message to her? Mary, the one chosen; Mary, who shows strength and courage; Mary, who realises early on that her child will be what Gabriel has told her; Mary, who continues to support and follow her son all the way to Golgotha; Mary, who goes to the tomb three days later. Mary, who hears what the Angel has to say to her, and, like many other messages, ponders them in her heart. Mary, who doesn't just accept God's message to her, but becomes a willing participant in it, shaping her whole life around the message that she hears in those moments. Mary, who trusts in God. Mary, who to some may have seemed an unremarkable young woman - but as God knows, and Gabriel sees, has that inner strength and devotion to Yahweh that makes her utterly extraordinary. As the Angel leaves her, Gabriel knows that his message has reached the right person. Mary, the strong; Mary, the faithful one who will bear the Messiah and live out the rest of her life devoted to Him.

Day 5

 Today's Angel is part of a Hand-Carved Nativity Set. 

I don't feel like an angel. I'm just doing what I can. Helping others isn't anything out of the ordinary really, it's just what I do. And it's a shame, when people get stuck on their own. I started volunteering during Lockdown, for something to do really - and it was about helping me as much as anyone else. I've enjoyed it - it's given me a sense of purpose. Dropping off shopping, going to the Chemists for people, just phoning someone up to say hello. "You're an angel", they say. Well, it's nice to be appreciated - but like I say, it's helped me as much as it's helped them. So I can't be an angel really, can I?

Day 4 - Zechariah's Angel

 Today's Picture of Angels comes from Pete and Elizabeth Shingler.

I stand in God's presence, and I serve only Him; I have the privilege of hearing God's voice, sending Good News. When humans see me, they usually cower in fear; for I am awesome in their sight, a winged and majestic figure. I can say this, for I know as well my place: I am one of God's creations, just as they are, and I am required always to worship and do the will of my master. Poor Zechariah! So faithful and yet so lacking in faith! It's easier when you stand, knowingly, in God's presence.