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by Caryl MollIn a few days, Christmas week and all its fanfare will descend upon us all. I anticipate that for some folk it will be preceded by the usual shopping hysteria – endless gifting, decorations, redundant “Christmas Carols” and extremely tired feet. Not to mention the accompanying mental fatigue. We shouldn’t be surprised to find ‘exhaustion’ in its wake.In my younger days, I was confused by this “Humbug” of Christmas - the brimming stores, the incurred debt and endless parties? It was hard to see Jesus in all of it. It felt totally farcical. I imagine that some people can be confused like I was. Whether we enjoy the fanfare or not is not the issue. The real question is ‘What does Christmas really mean to us?” Is it about Christ or not?I am aware that many, many people battle with loneliness and depression during the Christmas season. I am one of them.  Even though I am enormously blessed to have my family around, I miss my childhood family, the old farm and friends who have gone by the wayside. There are so many cherished memories. It’s easy to fall into the trap of allowing these to continually replay in our minds and let ourselves fall into the darknessIn addition, I am personally not entirely comfortable with receiving gifts – for me, gifts are just a reminder that we don’t need all this ‘stuff’ and that we can do with so much less. After all, Jesus’s gift should be enough, shouldn’t it?Please don’t be too alarmed. My reticence isn’t without hope. What Christmas means to me personally is embraced in two little songs. Let me explain…Some years ago, when my children were in primary school, I was confronted by the real meaning of Christmas. The realisation hit me so hard at the time that I breathed it in and allowed it to really filter into my soul. Yes, it happened during the primary school’s annual ‘Carols by candlelight’ performance where I had volunteered to play the piano for the choir.In this post, I’d like to give a shout-out to our own, dear Sandy Mol who was the music teacher at the time. What an amazing lady! She has a heart for Christmas all year round and imparts this to her pupils. At the end of each year, Sandy would put on a spectacular performance with the kids. It was a truly inspirational effort as us parents were allowed to listen to our children’s message. But when I was asked to help out with playing the piano, it became something entirely different. I was a nervous wreck. I familiarised myself with the songs and fervently committed myself to the task – practising for hours on end in the hope of stilling my nerves. It was the only way I knew how so that I would be able to help her out.There were two songs, in particular, which I really fell in love with… so much so that I still play…

by Herman GroenewaldChristmas to me has always been a family time to celebrate the birth of Christ, going to church together and sharing a Christmas dinner.It has always brought to my mind those left out in the cold, on the streets of cities and towns sleeping under carboard boxes without food. Many a time I joined a few friends to take food to these street people late on Christmas night in the middle of Johannesburg.It helps me to remember that Jesus was first seen by ordinary people, the shepherds in the fields. For many years I have worked amongst the informal settlement people of Lanseria sharing the good news on a Sunday. The news of great joy for everyone.  Luke reminds us.8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”However so many people today still do not know about the good news or the true meaning of Christmas. It is a continued reminder about sharing the news to those without, the avenues are many.For a number of years, before moving overseas our daughter would arrange presents for some of the children in the Lanseria informal settlement and we would then have a party with them on Christmas morning.Christmas also brings to my mind what the shepherds did after seeing the Christ child.6 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. The importance to me of Christmas is the sharing of the message of Good News and the Glory of God and that here is a celebration in heaven when it happens. 13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,    and on earth peace to those on whom his favour rests.” Blessings,Herman Groenewald

by John Doyle "And the Angel said to them Fear not for behold I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto us is born this day in the City of David a Savior Who is Christ the Lord." Luke 2:10-11 I am sure like me you enjoy the Christmas season. I love the cheerful decorations that my wife Barbara has put up in our home, Barbara and I love spending time with family and friends, and eating Christmas goodies. One of my very favorite parts of Christmas, though, is singing Christmas Carols with my daughter Jenni playing the piano and we all take the opportunity to join in with her singing the Carols together. One of my all time Christmas favorite's is “JOY TO THE WORLD” This is one of the ways we as Gods people announce to the World the very reason for Christmas. Read Psalm 98 and you will see where Isaac Watts’s eighteenth century Carol celebrating the coming of Jesus, is from. v 4 says "Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth, break forth into joyous song and sing Praises" The joy of the Savior’s coming resounds throughout all of creation, even the fields and rocks and hills and plains “repeat the sounding joy.” This is great news that this World we live in needs to hear for all of God’s people as we go through this difficult time. What’s so special about this news announced in song each Christmas? Why sing this carol with such exuberance? Watts answers that question in the verses of the song, where he declares that Jesus has come to deal with the curse of human sin. Through Jesus death, burial and resurrection Jesus brings the blessings as “far as the curse is found.” We have been released from bondage to sin and the power of death over us, we are now freed to live with joy, to love God and our neighbor, and declare the Joy we have in Jesus to peoples of this earth that God sends our way. So let’s sing with joy that good news: “JOY TO THE WORLD, THE LORD IS COME” Our Prayer for today is:Dear Lord Jesus, you have come and released us from the ­power of sin and death. Thank you Lord, please help us to live in ways that will proclaim the wonders of your love this Christmas time and until we see you Face to Face. In the Love of the Lord Jesus,John and Barbara Lets sing along together as we get closer to that Day when "Joy to the World" came through the Birth of our Lord and Savior. Joy to the world! The Lord is comeLet earth receive her King!Let every heart prepare Him roomAnd heaven and nature singAnd heaven and nature singAnd heaven, and heaven and nature sing Joy to the world! The Savior reignsLet men their songs employWhile fields and floodsRocks, hills and plainsRepeat the sounding joyRepeat the sounding joyRepeat, repeat the sounding joyhttps://www.youtube.comhttps://youtu.be/30OaM6b48k8/watch?v=XHOmBV4js_E