CAROLS COLLATED (SPOT THE CAROL)

These three kings of orient are
unfairly competing with one little drummer boy,
all dashing through the snow for the last boughs of holly
to lay them before the King.
 
Meanwhile, three ships come sailing in
and certain poor shepherds leave their hot chestnuts,
all keen to hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace. 
 
Later, in royal David’s city,
there are ladies leaping, pipers piping
and drummers …
drumming, apparently. 
The restless cattle are lowing big-time;
no wonder the baby’s awake.
 
All have come to proclaim the Messiah’s birth:
a king-of-angels baby who out-shines any wondrous star. 
A child born of Mary on this most holy night;
born to give us second birth. 
This is the Saviour who is Christ the Lord,
come to redeem us all.
 
‘Come – receive – your - king.’
 
Merry Christmas.

COME TO THE TABLE

I love eating meals with friends.  I had the pleasure of sharing food with friends at Osteria Del Portio in Ealing one recent Tuesday at an Alpha night, where friends brought out cake to help me celebrate my birthday.  On the following Friday I shared a Chinese Takeaway with friends in their new home, surrounded with packing boxes, on plastic plates and using plastic cutlery – it was wonderful.  Friends make the meal.

At community group we considered the Last Supper when Jesus shared a Passover meal with his closest friends – not a ritual, but part of our relationship with our Saviour.  Afterwards I re-read the accounts of this meal in Mark 14, Luke 22 and John 13.

Jesus sent Peter and John to prepare a guest room – somewhere out of the way for Jesus and his closest companions to recline at table and enjoy each others company.  To sing, drink and eat; to share each others company before taking a walk together in the olive groves.

What strikes me is the eagerness and sense of urgency in Jesus’ words that evening – he was set on conveying important things to his closest friends while he still had time. What also strikes me is the intimacy Jesus enjoyed with those he loved while a man here on earth.

The key message for me however is Jesus’ anticipation of the Kingdom of God – Jesus’ statement that he would not enjoy a drink of wine again until the Kingdom of God comes.  This is what gives the ‘last supper’ such significance.

And now we get to join the disciples down the ages at the Lords Table, to break bread together, as a community.  We come to celebrate his death and to echo the prayer He taught us, ‘Thy Kingdom Come’.  It’s a wonderful opportunity to commune together and to commune with Jesus.  I invite you to join us. 

Come to the Table

Come, we have a guest room
where you can recline with your servant king.
He will bathe your sore, dusty feet;
and you can rest.

Come, commune; join his other friends
and together give thanks, sing hymns
and toast the coming Kingdom.

Come to the table with honest hearts.
Come and find mercy, 
find forgiveness and new purpose.

Come, celebrate the covenant
that confers on us a Kingdom,
bought by the blood
of the one who came to serve.

Do this in remembrance. 
Do this with eagerness. 
And when you pray say, 
‘Thy Kingdom Come’.

DIRECTIONS TO REDEEMER

Here’s everything you need to know about finding our Sunday venue Ealing Town Hall…

Nearest Tube Station Ealing Broadway
Turn left at the top of the stairs out of the tube exit and walk down the hill towards the Uxbridge Road. Cross over the road and walk up the main high street on the right-hand side of the road. keep going for 5 mins & you’ll eventually see the Town Hall appearing on the horizon (don’t worry it’s not that far… 5 min walk at the most!). Once at Ealing Town Hall look for our signs and the friendly faces on the door.

Bus Routes
Buses that run right by the town hall are… 83 65 207 427 607 E8 E11 E7… all stop directly outside Ealing Town Hall.

Traveling by car
There’s a car park behind the Town Hall next to Perceval House which costs £2. That’s for the whole day, so you could go to one of Ealing’s great restaurants or shops after the meeting if you fancied it. There’s also free parking on the residential streets behind the Town Hall (Gordon Rd) and on the Uxbridge Road. Just be sure to check the parking restrictions since each street can be slightly different.

Address
Ealing Town Hall, 
New Broadway, 
Ealing, 
London, 
W5 2BY