Sanctuary First – Christmas Unplugged
08. Dec, 2008 
6 Comments
I want to say a huge thank you to all those who took part in the service this evening. Everyone from the worship leaders to the technical support staff did a brilliant job. The actors who performed the various bits of drama where excellent. So well done everyone.
The service was seeking to introduce us to different aspects of the Christmas story. In one transept, we had a meditation centred around Christ the worker. On his carpenter’s bench was wood chisels, planes and shavings resting alongside a cup of wine and a loaf of bread. Christ in this scene is invited to shape our lives as he the master carpenter shapes the wood.
At another station in the church was a reflection based on the door of opportunity that lies open. John reminds his readers in the Book of Revelation that there has been a door of opportunity opened that no one can close. What would have happened if the innkeeper had refused to open up ? We then developed a meditation based on the struggle we sometimes face when opening our lives to the will of God.
Next we had a meditation based on Christ the Shepherd. In this meditation I spoke of the challenge of allowing Christ to come alongside us and heal our wounded lives.
Lord,
You’re the Good Shepherd
Who laid down everything for his sheep
No wonder the shepherds came to worship
at your birth in awe and wonder.
You were everything they couldn’t be.
For you are the Great Shepherd of mankind.
You were their shepherd.
Lord,
I guess
Sheep and humans
Are not so different.
Like sheep we get
Afraid
Restless
We fidgit
We need a shepherd to help us.
We just cannot lie down
Like sheep we get bullied
by the big boys
the ones who want to be in control
We need a shepherd to help us
We just cannot lie down
Lord
Sometimes
We get ticked off with life.
We get hurt.
It’s the little things – the tics
that get under our skin
And if we don’t attend to them
they will eventually eat away at us
We need a shepherd to help us
we just cannot lie down
One more thing Lord
We humans are like sheep
because we get hungry
it is this hunger that drives us to find food.
Help us to feed on your word
so that we might lie down in the place of peace
Like children well fed by our mother’s milk.
Take a moment now
And reflect on what you have heard and read.
Write down the things that make you afraid.
Ask yourself who you are bullying or being bullied by
What are the hurts that need healing in your life,
the little things that have potential to become overwhelming
How are you being nourished spiritually
Check out your own spiritual diet.
So if yo were at the service tell us what you thought about it.
When the service started with Slade playing in the backgrund i thought oh no what have i come to this evening but when we went to each group it all made sense.
I came to the first Sanctuary first on my own but this time i brought a couple of friends who talked about the service all the way home to Newton Mearns and Barrhead.
A great service.
Hope to be able to come to more Sanctuary First’s next year.
Very much enjoyed the service. I had only intended dropping off my daughter who was meeting some friends but I decided to stay anyway and I’m glad I did. As well as the timely reminder of the proper focus of Christmas there was a very personal reminder that stressing about exams was all very well but that it was always appropriate to take those fears to God and allow His peace to come, knowing that it is His calling and so He will equip and support and guide.
I loved the worship and praise – beautiful singing and a sensitive and deft touch on the piano to fill the spaces, yet leave room to listen to God.
Thanks to all who contributed to the service.
Every blessing.
John
Last night was one of these times when you come away and have this glow in your spirit “I was part of something special tonight, The Special One was there.”
The whole service moved many people and reminded us of what Christmas is REALLY about.
My joy is tinged with a little sadness, for those who didn’t come.You can never be in God’s presence too often.
found the whole service to be speaking to my heart, i had just come from spending an afternoon getting in a bit of a strop with xmas lights n decided not to bother n go for candles instead, so defo up for unplugging xmas n letting go of all the tat! shepherd talk really got to me, i’ve been full of fear, resentments n spiritual hunger n took my first communion, really do feel peace n contentment today. thanks to you all for such a welcoming n safe place to come n worship.
Agree with sentiments of others. Sanctuary First is very visual worship and pictures often speak louder than words whether you are 9 or 90. But the pictures had meaning and depth. They made their point and challenged us to think about our lives. Those who have the vision and creative talent to bring the Gospels alive in this way are blessed and they will bring many to Jesus through their ministry.
I am really so glad I came to the sanctuary first service yesterday. For years I have been afraid to have the onfidence to really give up my whole heart to Jesus, but recently I am beginning to realise that He is exactly what I am missing and have been yearning for, for so long. I prayed for guidance and found myself at st andrews and then despite feeling sleepy and cold last night I decided I may as well pop along to the sanctuary first service. I now see it was God who led me there as it was so relevant. I was so grateful to be able to take communion and commit to starting what I feel is going to be an exciting (although slightly scary at times)journey into the life I know God has planned for me. Thanks so much to everyone involved. I will be trying to bring friends next month.