The final day! Today's angel is the other one from my Hand-Carved Nativity Set:
Christmas Day, the waiting is over, and the time to celebrate has come. Across the world, voices will be raised, and the invitation is made to all who believe to join together in worshipping the one that has come for our sakes. Sing, choirs of angels! We add our voices to theirs and with all who have ever answered the call of Jesus: "O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord!"
Today's Angels are the final set from the White House School!
The angels, the shepherds, the Sages, Simeon and Anna in the temple; this carol gathers them into one, joining in the praise of Christ. The final verse, written later, though, is something to remember: "Though an infant now we view him, he shall fill his Father's throne" - we worship not a baby in a manger, but the Son of God, reigning with the Father, and the Holy Spirit - "Every knee shall then bow down"
Today's Angel is on the Banner outside St. Johns!
Today's Angels are in Rowlands Pharmacy and Colour Supplies - there are also Angels in Fiona's Cafe, and Dodington Jewelers, but you may need to go inside to find them!
"Who have winter, but no Christmas" - words that somehow seem especially poignant as the inevitability of the restrictions of this year, those who mourn loved ones, the enforced loneliness of many, may seem to bite all the more strongly in the winter of 2020. And yet, there is hope: the hope that the Angels sang about, the hope that we are called to share. We can add our voices to the heavenly host: "Praise to God, the Christ has come!"
The Video for today's carol is courtesy of the North Cheshire Methodist Circuit.
Today's Angels are more from the White House School.
The Angels are sent first to the Shepherds, the ones who care for others; and Jesus calls himself the Good Shepherd. Just as they had protected their flocks, Jesus would protect his -at all costs. Blessed are the merciful, for they too will be shown mercy; and so, on this night, it is to those who protect the sheep that the Good News will first be proclaimed.
There they were, out on the dark hills. Gathering around the fire, keeping an eye and an ear open for the cry that meant that one of the flock was in trouble. Weather beaten, rough and ready types; handy with a cudgel to drive off raiders - human or animal - that might take a fancy to their Master's flock. It was a necessary job, but not a well-regarded one; when they went into town, smelling of unwashed wool and unwashed bodies, people tended to move away from them. Other than that, nobody bothered them, or paid them much attention. And then, in the sky, came a golden light. Dawn? Had the night passed so quickly? But it was in the wrong place. The light grew, a shape appearing within it, and terrified they threw themselves to the ground; and the voice came: "Don't be afraid! Good News! Go into the town, and find the Saviour: the Messiah is born! Find the stable, see the child!" And the light grew, and the trumpets sounded, and in wonderment the shepherds looked at each other as the sky above filled with Angels singing out their message of joy, of hope, and of praise.
More Angels from the White House School today!
It's almost time. The ranks of Angels, forming up in the sky, but currently still hidden. Waiting for the moment, when they shall be revealed - not in their glory, but in God's Glory. Beneath them, the world is dark. Well, mostly. There's a fire or two, and in the distance a few glimmers that indicate a town. Sparks in the night, that will soon be dim in comparison to the light that will shine. One has the honour - one alone will appear and declare the message to those below, before all join in raising the song - that God's own Son is born among them. Soon, all will be glorious. For the moment, shrouded in darkness, they wait.
Today's Angels are some of those knitted by our members, that will over the next few days be winging their way to their new homes!
The difference a comma makes! While sometimes Midnight Communions may seem to be where "merry gentlemen" rest on the way home from the pub, in fact we are being told "Be happy, good people! Don't be afraid - for the Saviour is born!" Again, there is that echo of the cry of the Angels - "Do not be afraid; there is Good News for all - tidings of comfort and joy!"
Today we have more Angels courtesy of the White House School.
I thought I saw an Angel as I walked along the road. She was bent down, phone in one hand, the other touching the arm of an old man who had slipped and fallen. "It's all right," she said, "Don't be afraid. I'll stay with you." Then she talked more urgently into her phone: "I think he's broken his hip. How long before you can get here?" The response obviously didn't please her, and there was a flash of angelic fire in those eyes. "Can I help," I asked. "Well, you could lend me your coat!" It was cold - the old man had slipped on the unmelted ice on the pavement. Then I noticed that her own coat was already balled up and acting as a pillow. I took mine off, and handed to her. As I did, a passing breeze caught it and it ballooned out behind her. Almost like wings. Then, she placed it over the man. A few minutes later, an Ambulance arrived, and the old man was carefully lifted onto a wheeled stretcher. I reclaimed my coat. "Where did she go?" said the Paramedic. "She's an Angel," whispered the man as they loaded him into the ambulance. "They're always busy." And sure enough, I saw her, walking quickly and purposefully into the church across the road. Moments later came the sound: "Hark, the Herald-Angels sing" - and even in the gloomy street, it seemed like there might yet be Good News to share.
Today's Angels are in the windows of Severn Hospice Shop and Halifax Bank.
One of the best-known of all carols, and one that reminds us that the message that the Angels sing is one of the most important for all of us: to give glory to Christ, who despite being God, was prepared to lay that glory aside for our sake. We can therefore joyously sing those final words: "Born to raise the sons of earth; Born to give them second birth".
Today we have more Angels courtesy of the White House School.
In dark of night, the Angel came
Standing on the empty air
In Its eyes were sparks of flame
Its open wings with light did flare.
"Listen Joseph! Do not fear!"
The voice with quiet thunder sighed;
"Through Mary will the Lord draw near
In her God's power can't be denied."
"Now take her for your own", he said
"And know that God remains with you
Cherish her and raise the child
You know this is what you must do."
As Jesus grew and laughed and cried,
Good Joseph remained faithful, too;
Mary staying by his side
"And know that God remains with you!"
Today's Angels are more from the White House School.
Through the years, the voice of the Angel stayed with him. He was a craftsman, who knew his way around a piece of wood, not a priest who knew his way around the scriptures; nevertheless, he always tried to be a decent man and do the decent thing. When Mary had come to him, told him, hadn't he tried to be reasonable? To break things off quietly, not heaping on even more disgrace than she would surely receive? And then had come, in his sleep that night, the Angel's voice: "Don't be afraid. It's true. Mary's child is God's promised one." He'd needed to hear it; and as the years went by, he still needed to hear it. The hurried wedding; the knowing looks around the town; the comments about how the child "doesn't look much like you"; the anger at the whispers about his beloved wife. Without the Angel's voice, would he have had the strength to shrug it all off? To have treated the boy as his own? He'd needed that memory: that knowledge that, in his own way, he had been chosen too. He would always remember the voice of the Angel.
Pictures from two more of our local businesses today - Walkers Bakery, and Hype Hair and Beauty!
Mary and Elizabeth aren't the only ones involved of course. Somewhere there is her betrothed: someone we know so little about. A Carpenter; someone who spends at least part of his life living in Nazareth; the figure in the background. Nevertheless, he has a role - and he will need to be persuaded too of Mary's story. He wasn't there when she was told the news; and let's face it, it's a pretty big thing to swallow, your betrothed telling you that she's going to be bearing God's own Son. Who on earth can persuade Joseph of this news? Who indeed...
Today we have the first batch of Angels courtesy of the White House School - thank you to all the Children and Staff there for joining in! There will be more pictures from the White House over the next few days.
I am the Everyday Angel. My wings are well hidden, and my eyes do not shine, but I am still an angel. I do not wear a white robe, and my halo is away to be cleaned, but I still have plenty to say. I chat to everyone, and I help them where I can; even as I strip off my mask and apron and gloves ready for the next patient I am thinking about how even this is a sign of how I care. I don't sing "Happy Birthday" as I wash my hands; I sing a good old fashioned hymn instead. "Risen with healing in his wings" it says in one that I like. It's good to know that even an Everyday Angel can bring healing. I just wish I could heal them all.... but then, even an Angel can't do that.
