There were around 40 asylum seekers, mostly Iranian, some of them in their limited English either singing or body moving to the Calypso carol, and O Come all you faithful. Our preacher was Josephine, a Methodist minister from the Philippines, sharing from the texts about Mary, and reminding us Jesus the baby grew up into Jesus the Lord who calls for more than Christmas adoration, but also Calvary discipleship.
Thinking about all this, my eyes drawn again to the Johannine text of hope, grace and truth: "In Him was life, and the life was the light of men." I know. The text uses gender specific language. But John meant 'all people', and indeed, because of his sense of the cosmic reach of the light and life of Christ, he meant also 'all peoples'. This is a world embracing text.
That's what I felt on Sunday. So many folk for whom life has been shadow and struggle, at times hope pushing back despair, long journeys and longing for a home, and all this gathered together to worship the Life who is the Light. And that rose window, whatever the light, the varied colours gather together in focus, surrounded by the text, and below it, the Cross, around which we stand 'in humble love, and fervent praise.'
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