Thank you to everyone who has journeyed with me on The Blog this past year and listened in to Beside The Burn each day. It has been so encouraging to hear your excitement at learning new things each week as we have taken a little time to delve deeper into the stories that we hear each Sunday. As you can imagine I have been learning lots of new things as well and I can’t wait each week to share them with you. I hope you have a very Happy Christmas and a Peaceful New Year. Next week on the blog while I take a break from recording Beside The Burn, I will be sharing The Chosen with you. It is an eight part dramatisation of the New Testament story of Jesus which I hope you will enjoy. There might not be as many other articles but there should still be a Jigsaw each day.
Happy Christmas!
On the Burnside Blog today we reach the end of our journey with Ruth through Advent, Finding “Hope Under Bethlehem Skies”. This is a short devotional video drawing us towards Jesus.
The full playlist on Spotify
Or search for “Finding Hope Under Bethlehem Skies” on Spotify
https://open.spotify.com/
The Playlist as it grows on YouTube
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLq2dO6q3VUIY5l1NKZ7v-VnhF57R6uV2b
The Song For Today
Andrew Peterson - "Matthew's Begats"
Perhaps this is one of the greatest songs you will ever listen to. (You may need to listen to it several times)
Let’s Pray For Social Witness
Tritonville Close is an independent sheltered housing complex for older people in Dublin. Give thanks that it is a happy community where every resident is valued and respected. Pray for Richard Zipser, resident manager, and the residents this Christmas season as they come together to celebrate. Experiencing loss Pray that those feeling the pain of loss, or dealing with trauma, whether recent or from a long time ago, would know and be assured of the hope and restoration that Jesus, Light of the World, can bring this Christmas. General Council Pray for those who teach in schools who will be looking forward to the holiday break and for their refreshment as they prepare to return to their vital roles in January. Council for Training in Ministry In Ephesians 3:8, the riches of Christ are described as “unsearchable”, “incomprehensible”, “incalculable”, “immeasurable”, “boundless” in English versions. So many different words are used by translators because it’s impossible to describe the immensity and wonder of the riches of Christ. Today particularly, we mark his birth – God becoming man, Jesus Christ, the one who blesses his believing people with such riches. Praise him! |
“Reading Between The Lines” a series working through the bible looking at the well known phrases.
You Must Be Born Again
Paul Tripp
The Gospel: One Chapter At A Time is a resource from Paul Tripp, in which he summarizes each book of Scripture in a brief video segment and reveals how it points back to Jesus Christ. 2 Corinthians Summary https://www.paultripp.com/bible-study/posts/048-2-corinthians-summary |
Each day this week Keith & Kristen Getty are releasing a Christmas Carol and encouraging us to sing along at home.
Today's carol, "Elizabeth," was written by Kristyn Getty and Ellie Holcomb and recorded live at the Grand Ole Opry House as part of the Sing! Conference. It draws the listener into the story of Elizabeth, who while pregnant with John the Baptist, was filled with the Holy Spirit and blessed the coming King within Mary’s womb—the Living Hope who would fulfill centuries of promises and overcome the grave!
A collection of their favorite Christmas songs recorded over the years in a Spotify Playlist
https://gettymusic.us10.list
A song by Poor Bishop Hooper about Elizabeth
Hope
In his Christmas Message, the Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, Right Reverend Dr David Bruce, recalls the time earlier this year when he was asked if he had a theme for his second year in office. On finding out it was ‘Hope’ his inquirer responded, “Hope? Catch yourself on!” https://t.co/XFBcU7HBok |
Christmas - But Not As We Know It
Peter Lynas writes - “In the days of Prime Minister Boris, a decree was issued that all should receive a booster jab. And everyone, well, almost everyone, went to their nearest vaccine centre to register.” Read more here : https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/its-christmas-but-not-as-we-know-it |
Amid growing hostility and proposed changes to the law, police have warned Indian Christians that they cannot protect them against violent attacks. Instead, they’re advising them to close their churches and cancel Christmas.
Read More Here:
https://www.premierchristianity.com/
Songs Of Salvation
Luke records the songs sung by Mary, Zechariah, the angels, and Simeon in response to the coming of the Lord Jesus. Read what each of these songs teaches us about salvation in the article "The Song of Salvation" https://blog.truthforlife.org/the-song-of-salvation?src=21SPLC0C&utm_content=191805025&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter&hss_channel=tw-38740252 |
Christmas Grief
If you’re grieving this holiday season, consider finding solace in the sorrow and robust hope of Christmas carols. https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/joy-grieving-world/ |
The Bible
You can read a chapter from Andrew Ollerton's book The Bible. Read 'Messiah puts a face to the name: The birth of Jesus' Follow the link https://www.hachette.co.uk/ |
NEW HOPE AT CHRISTMAS BLOG
Moderator’s Chaplain, Rev Niall Lockhart reflects on hope as we find it in the story of Joseph. Read: https://t.co/VMsWQMDlnX |
By Josh Garrels
Mary Consoles Eve by Sandra McCracken, a beautiful song imagining Mary speaking to Eve.
I’m very aware as I write this article, that by the time you read it our family plans for Christmas may well have had to change. I feel like every conversation I’m having with people involves the phrases lateral flow, PCR, or booster jab. I did expect this Christmas to be different from last year. Maybe that was naïve of me. And yet, here we are in another Christmas period full of uncertainty due to Covid-19. It’s most likely Jesus was born in September – I’m starting to think we should move Christmas!
Read More Here -
https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/expect-the-unexpected-this-christmas?utm_source=twitter
Check out an animated version of the children's nativity story, ‘The Impossible Promise’ from the Bible Society
https://www.biblesociety.org.uk/get-involved/christmas/
Hark the Herald Angels Sing / King of Heaven | Tearfund International Choir
Alfie Spreading Christmas Cheer all around Burnside.
You have to watch this. https://twitter.com/C_lyons13/status/1473966896701755396 |
The times for yesterday’s Jigsaw
Jean 2:37
Eddie 3:16
Derek 3:18
The Challenging snow covered Friday Puzzle for Christmas.
Play the "Burnside Friday" puzzle!
https://www.jigsawplanet.com/?rc=play&pid=36a7e52f966c