Join us during Advent as we realise, “Christmas Is Different - Jesus Is Better”. Each day we delve into the book of Hebrews, fix our eyes on Jesus and realise that He is better than everything else. Better than the worst things of this year, but also better than the best things we have ever experienced. Each day there is a short video based on a passage from Hebrews. By Christmas Day we will have read through the whole book of Hebrews, but more importantly we will have looked to Jesus each day and discovered that “Jesus is Better!”
You may have missed the weekend Beside The Burn, here are the devotions for Saturday and Sunday again.
Let’s Pray Malawi
Give thanks for the relatively low numbers of Covid-19 cases in Malawi so far. Pray for the ongoing work and witness of the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian in the country. Volker and JinHyeog Glissmann Pray for Volker (PCI global mission worker in Malawi) as he works off-campus as a programme developer for Theological Education by Extension College in Jo’burg, South Africa and revises the College’s HIV & AIDs course, strengthening the theological reflection within the course. |
Here is a short devotional meditation from the Bible Society and Movement Day UK
Canon J. John has been recording a word of the day since the first lockdown began in March. I may be a bit late at discovering this but they are still worth sharing, and all presented in less than a minute.
Next week I plan to share some wonderful Christmas Carol services from around the world on the Blog. This week I am going to share some Christmas Concerts by well known Christian Artists and Groups. Today Michael W. Smith.
Enjoy this humorous Zoom version of the 12 Days Of Christmas from the Bible Society.
Advent Devotional
Jesus, Light of the World from Max Lucado, Billy Graham, Anne Graham Lotz, and Eugene Peterson On each day leading up to and through Christmas, four best-selling authors come together to help us focus on Jesus and His gift of life—as well as lead non-believers to the Savior who came. Experience a deeper meaning to the season as you celebrate the birth of Jesus, the Light of the World. Free to download. https://link.faithgateway.com |
Jupiter and Saturn are getting closer to each other in the night sky otherwise known as a conjunction. On December 21st 2020 – Winter Solstice, the two gas giants come very close together forming what many are calling the Christmas Star. They will appear closer than they have for the last 800 years!
How to see the Christmas Star
You may need to check your sky a few nights in advance to see whether or not you will be able to see the conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn. The reason being, it will be very low in the sky just after sunset in the west. In addition to this, both planets will set shortly after.
Sunset will be just before 4:00pm GMT and the conjunction of the two planets will set around 6:00 pm so there is a very short viewing window. I would recommend looking from around 4:30pm GMT. You may find it increasingly difficult to see the Christmas Star after 5:30pm GMT depending on your location. I have based these times for Oxford UK so they may differ depending on your location.
Read the full article here:
http://twitter.com/VirtualAstro/status/1338189480478576642
The Christmas Star Part 2
Astronomers have floated the idea that a similar conjunction of planets could be a scientific explanation for the star of Bethlehem in the Christmas story.
According to the Gospel of Matthew, Magi, or wise men, came to Jerusalem after Jesus’ birth, asking, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”
After consulting the chief priests and teachers of the law, the sitting king pointed the Magi to Bethlehem, according to the words of the prophets: “But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.”
There, they found the child Jesus with his mother Mary, the star resting over their house.
It’s possible that what the wise men saw was the conjunction of Jupiter and Venus on June 17, 2 BCE, according to John Mosley, program supervisor for the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles.
Read the full article here:
https://www.sltrib.com/religion/2020/12/09/do-you-see-what-i-see/
The times for yesterday’s Jigsaw
Jean 11:40
Derek 14:04
Over the next couple of weeks as we approach Christmas some of the Jigsaws will reveal the snow from this time in 2010. Today a photograph of Burnside that I have used as a Background for our weekly services.
Play the "Burnside Snow" puzzle!
https://www.jigsawplanet.com/?rc=play&pid=3c85299c5bd5