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Christmas at Twelve Apostles’ Church

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Dear Friends

The days are short and the nights long, a cold chill remains despite the unseasonably warm weather and many suffer from a persistent low mood, lethargy and irritability. In these islands in the western ocean, at the edge of the world, many struggle with their feelings and emotions throughout this period.

And there, in an insignificant town in Palestine, a child is born. And our world is set ablaze.

Christ is born, glorify him.
Christ from heaven, go out to meet him.
Christ on earth; be exalted.

Sing unto the Lord all the whole earth;
and that I may join both in one word,
Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad,
for him who is of heaven and then of earth.
Christ in the flesh, rejoice with trembling and with joy;
with trembling because of your sins,
with joy because of your hope.

St Gregory the Theologian, Oration 38, 1

Christ, in his great love for you and his great love for me, has once again counted us worthy to celebrate with joy his birth according to the flesh.

But this is not a celebration of an event two millennia ago—a repeat of last year, and the year before, and the year before that for as long as any of us can remember—this is the celebration that Christ can be born in me, in you, in everybody.

“However, the Most High,” the first martyr Stephen proclaims,

does not dwell in temples made with hands, as the prophet says:

‘Heaven is my throne,
And earth is my footstool.
What house will you build for me? says the Lord,
Or what is the place of my rest?
Has my hand not made all these things?’

Acts 7:48–50, Isaiah 66:1–2

And the Apostle explains in more detail,

Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?
If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.

First Corinthians 3:16–17

Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters in Christ, we are the manger, we are the place that receives Christ, we are where Christ comes into contact with humanity. And will Christ find in me a place, a throne, prepared for him or will he find me resistant to him and to his Gospel?

Christ is born, glorify him.
Christ from heaven, go out to meet him.
Christ on earth; be exalted.

Come! Come out to greet our incarnate God and Saviour. Come out to meet him,

Christ born in Bethlehem,
Christ born in a cave,
Christ born that we may receive eternal Life,
Christ born in us!

Come and see!

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I wish to you all, to your families and friends, a joyful Christmas celebration: may it be a blessing to you.

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We serve a meal following the Liturgy on Sundays. All are welcome.

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Do you, or someone you know, want to join our mailing list and receive our weekly email? Then let me know.

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Sermon

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, one God, Amen.

It is a natural part of our existence, dear brothers and sisters in Christ, to mark an event by sharing a meal together. Weddings, baptisms, Christmas, even funerals, are so often marked by sharing food together. We receive a guest into our homes and offer hospitality—perhaps a simple drink, perhaps a banquet—so that we may feel connected with one another. This is more than mere sustenance, more than assuaging hunger or thirst: this is about practising hospitality, about actualising our humanity, about being truly human.

“When Augustus reigned alone upon the earth,” (Doxasticon on ‘Lord I have Cried,’ Vespers of the Nativity) at the evening of this Age, God sent his Servant, his beloved Son, “to say to those who had been invited [to the Great Banquet] ‘Come; for all is now ready.’” And on hearing this invitation, I prevaricate and dither. “I have bought a field, and I go out and see it,” since I have become attached to this land, this existence, “I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I must go to examine them,” since my possessions mean more to me than dining with the Lord, “I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come,” since I care more for the pleasures of this Age. The Lord freely offers to me Life, and I prefer to associate myself with death.

And so I must change, I must repent. I must “seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness,” (Matthew 6:33) and place my invitation to the Great Banquet first in my life. God shares freely no mere sustenance, no assuaging hunger and thirst according to the standards of this Age, God offers to me Life by offering to me union with him through his Son.
…

Read last Sunday’s Sermon, The Great Banquet.
Archive of Past Sermons.

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Services this week

Friday 22nd December
Discussion on the Epistle to the Hebrews, 8 pm
Online only

Saturday 23rd December
Great Vespers, 6.30 pm
At St Francis’ Hall, Eastleigh

Sunday 24th December
Matins & Divine Liturgy, 9 am
Great Vespers, 6.30 pm
At St Francis’ Hall, Eastleigh

Monday 25th December
Matins & Divine Liturgy, 9 am
At St Francis’ Hall, Eastleigh

Online session is via Google Meet: please get in contact for the details.

Please join us: all are welcome, come and see.

Attending Church

We meet at St Francis’ Hall, Nightingale Avenue, Eastleigh, SO50 9JA. Come and See.

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Can I help you?

I am here for you, you need only ask. Is there a way I can support your life of faith? Get in touch.

Can you help the parish?

Yes, absolutely. Offer yourselves to the Lord: pray! Make available to him all your talents and ask him how he would like you to use them — listen for his reply.

Your prayers!

With love in Christ

Fr Alexander
[email protected]