Are you poor enough to celebrate Xmas?

While we complain about the cost of Christmas each year, have you ever wondered at the cost Jesus paid?

The Bible reminds us that Jesus left the glory of heaven for the squalor of a first century stable. Jesus willingly paid this cost, and ultimately the cost of his life, for you and me. Jesus who is God in the flesh, would rather die for us than live without us.

Most of the people who truly welcomed Jesus and celebrated his birth were among the poorest of their society. It was not kings, princes and business leaders but shepherds who first heard the news of Jesus’s birth. Jesus was born into a tradesman’s family, not an industrialist’s.

We do well to remember this at Christmas time when we are tempted to engage in an orgy of materialism and self indulgence. To truly celebrate Christmas and welcome Jesus as our saviour and king, God says we must humble ourselves and give up our self reliance and self confidence. We must acknowledge our great spiritual poverty and accept Jesus on his terms, not our own.

So I ask you as I ask myself: Are we poor enough to celebrate Christmas?

On behalf of the Christian Churches of Ryde I wish you and your families a happy and a “poor” Christmas, 2005.

Rev Greg Burke
Senior Minister
St Annes Ryde
Anglican Church

Christmas Church Services 2005

Holy Spirit Catholic Church at 191 Cox’s Road North Ryde invites all young people, young adults and families to its Christmas Eve Midnight Mass at 12am for praise and worship at the birth of Jesus Christ.

Mass will be followed by a light supper and a chance to share the joy of the festive season.

Other mass times are as follows: Christmas Eve Children’s outdoor mass at 6.30pm (bring folding chairs); Christmas Eve Mass at 9.30pm; Christmas Day Mass 8.30am and 10am. Note there will be no 6pm Christmas Day Mass. Inquiries Fr Stan Kluk 0407 937 761 or Holy Spirit Parish 9888 2569.

The Uniting Church of Gladesville: Boronia Park’s Christmas Eve service starts at 8pm for a festival of Lessons and Carols. At 8am Christmas Day, Rev Jackie Sommerville will lead the Boronia Park Christmas Services. Phone 9809 2215.

St Chad’s Anglican Church, Putney will hold their Christmas Eve service from 7pm, with the Family Carols Service and Holy Communion at 9pm. On Christmas Day Holy Communion will begin at 8am.

North Ryde Community Church will come together on Sunday December 18 at 9:30am for a Service of Reflection. Carols in the Paddock and a sausage sizzle begin at 6:30pm. The Christmas Eve service will start at 7pm with a family service of carols, songs and a Christmas play. Rev Jill Ison will lead the Christmas Day service from 9am. Phone 9888 9978.

Visit St Mark’s Church

St Mark’s Anglican Church in Figtree Road Hunters Hill will be open for visitors on the second Sunday of each month from 12.30pm to 4.30pm.

Original part of the Church was built in 1858 as the Chapel School house Tarban, the present Fig Tree. In its original form, it is the oldest public building in Hunters Hill.

The original structure was added to three times before 1874 while the 1862 addition is documented as an Edmund Blacket building.

St Mark’s was moved from its original site on the corner of Church & Joubert Streets in 1962. Inquiries Margaret Spinks 9817-1429.

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