Revd. Christopher Humble
Circuit Superintendent
Last Sunday saw us come to the end of the liturgical year as we celebrated the feast of Christ the King. Instituted by Pope Pius X1 in 1925 at a time of growing secularism and the rise of ultra-nationalism. The themes seem remarkably relevant still today. Designed to emphasise the kingship of Christ whose kingdoms transcends all geographical borders. The Revised Common Lectionary was adopted in the 1990’s by both the Methodist Church and the Church of England and other major denominations, so we share the same Bible readings every Sunday with the Roman Catholic Church. There is something very powerful in that reality. As sisters and brothers in Christ who share a common baptism into his Christ’s Church we search the same scriptures to find meaning, encouragement and challenge as we seek to live as disciples of Christ and seek his kingdom.
This coming Sunday 30th November marks the start of the Advent season, the days incorporating the four Sundays before Christmas Day. Advent Sunday is also the first Sunday of the liturgical year and we will be embarking on Year A in our three year cycle of lectionary readings. So let me wish you a happy new year! A new year because the lectionary invites us to trace the salvific events of God through the Old Testament prophecies and the characters of John the Baptist, Joseph and the Virgin Mary as their testimonies point us to Jesus Christ, then on into exploring his childhood, adult life and ministry culminating in his passion, death and resurrection; followed by his resurrection appearances and the coming of the Holy Spirit and her presence in the life of the Church and the world.
Advent is a word which comes from the Latin meaning to come. We watch and wait for the one who is coming, Jesus Christ our Lord. Imagine the scene of deciding to paint a wall or hang fresh wall paper in a room of your home. Before the work begins it is preferable to remove the old coverings. Scraping the paint off and stripping off the old paper can be hard work but for the best results is vital. Before the new paint or paper can be applied the old has to be removed. This might be a helpful analogy for understand a penitential season like Advent (or Lent!). Interestingly both seasons have violet or purple as a dominant colour for those who wear vestments or display hangings or frontals in decorating church furnishings. They are the colour of penitence and repentance. So, we ready ourselves for the festival and feast of Christmas by seeking to prepare our hearts and minds for Christ coming. We make room for the coming of Christ by getting rid of the things that might block his entrance.
So I wish you a reflective Advent as you might find time, amidst the busyness of the domestic preparation of present buying, parcelling up and wrapping, card writing, posting, baking and every other tasks of necessary preparation, to reflect on what God’s coming among us means.
When Christmas comes I wish you a joyful celebration and pray that the Prince of Peace whose birth we celebrate might influence the hearts and minds of all people to seek a just and lasting peace in all the places of conflict in our world.
Grace and peace, to you and a Happy Christmas when it comes,
Chris Humble
Revd. Christopher Humble
Southport Circuit Superintendent
PS. Our Circuit did not achieve a match in the Stationing Matching Group Round One in our seeking a replacement presbyter for the appointment based around Ainsdale, Lord Street West, Russell Road and part of Formby but we await Round 2 in the middle of January. The Circuit Listening process will resume in the Spring as we discuss again further ways of sustaining the life of our Circuit.
Please continue to pray for discernment in all these matters.