December 24^th 2023 

December 17^th 2023 

December 16^th 2023 

 

Christmas Decorations
Today you're going to make a star decoration.
Just follow the instructions like the Magi followed the star!

We don't know much about the 'wisemen' or 'magi' - we don't even know how many there were!
The three things we do know are that they followed a star, they were looking for a new-born king, and that they brought three gifts - gold, frankincense and myrrh.

Like these wise visitors, we should offer our gifts to Jesus as an act of worship.
Jesus - King, God & Saviour.

(Click on the image to download a printable PDF)

December 15^th 2023 

Go Tell it on...Cam Peak?

Here's the next advent reflection from the Congregational Federation resource.
(There's an invitation to join in prayer, discussion questions, a craft activity and some songs.)

(Click on the image to download a printable PDF)

December 14^th 2023 

December 13^th 2023 

PRAY FOR THE CONGO
This information and the prayer prompts are taken from 'Operation World'.
(Explore international prayer resources by clicking here.)

COUNTRY PROFILE

The Congo has past troubles, but future potential. After two decades of Communism, the past dictator eventually became president of the new democracy. But in the years between he provoked a civil war that devastated the land, killed thousands, and displaced over 300,000 people. Currently, this nation's troubles pale in contrast to some of its neighbours. Pray for good government, for wise economic policies, for good stewardship of natural resources, and for justice to rule in society.

CHURCH

The Church needs revival and restoration. Congo has been Christianized - superficially, at least - but never truly converted. The majority of the population are Christian, but some sources claim that up to 50% are actually animists. What is undeniable is that for a vast number, Christianity is a thin veneer over traditional African religion. The upheaval of the 1990s was a major setback for many ministries. Pray for a new move of the Spirit, greater than the revival that blazed through the region more than 50 years ago. Churches need to be swept clear of flawed worldviews and false beliefs, and instead filled with the Spirit's power and led by biblical truth.

TRAINING LEADERS

Training for Christian leaders is a point for concern. Pray for full restoration of this strategic ministry. UWM has a four-year residential school and a TEE programme. The Salvation Army runs a Bible college. CMA has a Bible school in Brazzaville and a facility in Pointe-Noire that includes a Bible school and TEE centre. The Evangelical Church of the Congo has a Seminary and Bible Institute; the Haggai Institute is active in training leaders as is MANI. Beyond theology, biblical leadership and management principles also need to be instilled.

YOUTH & CHILDREN

Young people were denied ministry during the Marxist days, and in subsequent years, few churches developed ministries to children or youth. Religious meetings are still prohibited on university campuses. The student movement Groupe Biblique Universitaire et Scolaire du Congo (GBUSC) has three full-time staff and three volunteers who serve 120 students. GBUSC also runs mission camps and gives away large numbers of the Gospels to young people. Pray for a flowering of youth and children's ministries in this nation where 41% of the population are under age 15.

December 12^th 2023 

Peace on Earth

Christmas Bells by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882) I heard the bells on Christmas Day Their old, familiar carols play,     And wild and sweet     The words repeat  Of peace on earth, good-will to men! And thought how, as the day had come, The belfries of all Christendom     Had rolled along     The unbroken song Of peace on earth, good-will to men! Till ringing, singing on its way, The world revolved from night to day,     A voice, a chime,     A chant sublime  Of peace on earth, good-will to men! And in despair I bowed my head; "There is no peace on earth," I said;     "For hate is strong,     And mocks the song  Of peace on earth, good-will to men!" Then pealed the bells more loud and deep: "God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;     The Wrong shall fail,     The Right prevail, With peace on earth, good-will to men."

December 11^th 2023 

  

Isaiah's Prophecy
"Always winter, but never Christmas" - this is how Mr Tumnus explained the last 100 years in Narnia to Lucy. A never ending winter that shrouds the world in ice, and the  freezes the inhabitants souls in fear.

As we look around our world it can make us afraid and we begin to feel the creeping spiritual coldness that fear brings. Fear and distress are a natural human response to the chaos that surrounds us, especially if we are without an extraneous source of hope and peace. In desperate times we can try to find comfort in the wrong places - that's certainly what King Ahaz and Israel were considering (Isaiah 7) but Isaiah, the prophet, was reminded that 'the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom' (Isaiah 8:11-22 & Proverbs 1:7). However, in Isaiah 9:1-7 we discover that the distress, darkness and fearful gloom felt by this rebellious people will be overwhelmed by a 'dawning light' (vs. 2). A child will be born (vs. 6). His government and peace will increase, He will reign forever and God is zealous that this will be accomplished (vs. 7). 

If you are experiencing fear and distress, I would encourage you to look to Jesus.
He is the fulfilment of Isaiah's prophecy.
He is God's promise accomplished.
He is your 'Prince of Peace'.

December 10^th 2023 

December 9^th 2023 

 

Christmas Decorations
It's a 2-for-1 on Christmas crafts today!
(We're combining two days to give you a complete decoration & activity.)

Each Christmas we remember that the eternal God was born in human flesh.
The infinite was limited, the powerful became weak, the creator entered creation.
It's a wonderful revelation, God stooped down and lifted our fallen humanity.

Jesus has come. You can stop striving to be 'good enough'.
Emmanuel - God With Us!

(Click on the image to download a printable PDF)

December 8^th 2023 

Carol Singing not Carol Sinning!

Here's the next advent reflection from the Congregational Federation resource.
(There's an invitation to join in prayer, discussion questions, action points and some songs.)

(Click on the image to download a printable PDF)

December 7^th 2023 

PRAY FOR IRAN
This information and the prayer prompts are taken from the SAT7 Advent prayer resources.
(Download a printable PDF copy of by clicking here.)

COUNTRY PROFILE

It is striking that Cyrus the Great, the founder of the first Persian Empire, was the ruler who allowed the Jews to return from exile and who drafted a declaration of religious tolerance that was unprecedented in the ancient world. In modern times, Iran signed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948 and is also, in theory, committed to religious freedom. The reality is very different. In fact, Iran seeks to enforce its interpretations of Shia Islam on almost all of its population.

• Four decades since the Iranian revolution have seen a move of God that has resulted
in one of the fastest growing churches in the world. Research suggests that Iran has over one million Christians – even though they must mostly meet in secret.

• Christians who are active in witness face arrest, loss of employment, loss of their own
or their children’s education, imprisonment, internal exile and crippling fines, as authorities seek to stem the growth of the Iranian Church.

• Many converts have left Iran in order to be free to practise their faith and there is a rapidly growing diaspora Christian community.

AUTHORITIES

The Iranian authorities clamp down hard on any form of perceived dissent from the country’s Islamic regime. In September 2022, protests broke out in Iran following the death of a
young woman in police custody, detained for allegedly not wearing the hijab properly. Under the slogan “Women. Life. Freedom”, young women courageously removed and set fire to their headscarves, inspiring protests in many parts of the country, as well as in the U.S. and Europe. People of diverse religious, ethnic and cultural backgrounds came together on the streets in condemnation of police and regime brutality. During the protests, over 500 people, including children, were killed and many thousands arrested. The hardliners inside the regime have adopted the policy of using greater force and have introduced lengthy jail terms for women breaching hijab rules.

Pray for peace and justice for Iranians, and that restrictions on freedoms there will be lifted.

PERSECUTED CHRISTIANS

“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it” (Matthew 16:24-25).

Christians in Iran carry Christ’s cross with them every day, choosing to follow Him despite rejection by family and friends, isolation, oppression, discrimination and persecution. Pray for our brothers and sisters in Iran that they will be renewed in their hope and faith in Jesus Christ, and that His love will overflow in their lives and, through them, into the lives of many others.

December 6^th 2023 

December 5^th 2023 

The Saviour Comes

'The Birth of Christ' by Botticelli

From: Messiah by Alexander Pope (1688-1744) The Saviour comes, by ancient bards foretold! Hear him, ye deaf, and all ye blind, behold! He from thick films shall purge the visual ray, And on the sightless eyeball pour the day: ’Tis he the obstructed paths of sound shall clear, And bid new music charm the unfolding ear: The dumb shall sing, the lame his crutch forego, And leap exulting like the bounding roe. No sigh, no murmur, the wide world shall hear, From every face he wipes off every tear. In adamantine chains shall Death be bound, And Hell’s grim tyrant feel the eternal wound. As the good Shepherd tends his fleecy care, Seeks freshest pasture and the purest air, Explores the lost, the wandering sheep directs, By day o’ersees them, and by night protects; The tender lambs he raises in his arms, Feeds from his hand, and in his bosom warms; Thus shall mankind his guardian care engage, The promis’d Father of the future age.

December 4^th 2023 

 

Zechariah & Elizabeth
The good news of the gospel promises to dispel the sadness, sorrow & shame that can so often shroud our souls in darkness. To some of you reading this it may sound too good to be true; the stuff of fairytales even - but it is true!

In Luke chapter one we encounter Zechariah & Elizabeth, a faithful couple, who continue to trust in God despite their ongoing personal struggles. They find themselves in the unbroken chain of faithful witnesses that have persevered during 400 years of spiritual silence. With no prophet, no voice, no word; the nation of Israel has been longing for something to shatter the silence...
And here it is - Luke 1:13-17 - the voice of the archangel, Gabriel.

I have three practical applications I think we can draw from the lives of Zechariah & Elizabeth.

1. We must always remember that it is God who has promised to remove our shame.
   (Luke 1:25 & Isaiah 54:4)
2. The sadness, sorrow & shame of this life should not be seen as a punishment from God.
   (Luke 1:6)
3. Living a Spirit-filled life will give new purpose to our existence and bring life to others.
   (Luke 1:41-42)

December 3^rd 2023

December 2^nd 2023  

Christmas Decorations
We've got a simple craft activity and reflection for you today.
(You might even choose to use glitter...or not...it's up to you!)

At Christmas we remember the greatest and most precious gift that has ever given.
God sent his son into the world, to rescue the world and restore our broken relationship with Him.
Having received Jesus, we should seek to follow God's example and live generously.

Consider what it might feel like to give your most precious treasure away.
How could you 'live generously' this Christmas?

(Click on the image to download a printable PDF) 

December 1^st 2023 

Congratulations!
You've opened the first door on our digital advent calendar...I'm guessing that was a first?
(I sincerely hope the lack of chocolate hasn't left you too disappointed.)

This is the first day in December, and the countdown to the 25^th has begun.
Keep checking back each day to discover what little treats have been tucked away here for you.
Over the month you'll discover a variety of activities, carols, reflections, poems, videos and more!

At the start of the first week of advent we've provided a reflection from the Congregational Federation.(With games, readings, questions and craft you'll find a new instalment every Friday in December.)

(Click on the image to download a printable PDF)