Reflections and Refractions

I heard the bells on Christmas Day

Their old familiar carols play

And wild and sweet the words repeat

Of peace on earth, good will to all. *

Comforting God, so often we become complacent in our faith,

The words of our liturgy, the singing of our songs,

Whilst wild and sweet the words repeat,

we find comfort and complacency within.

We avoid change, we seek not the challenge.

For it’s easier to keep the comfort of the boat than to walk upon the sea.

 

I thought how, as the day had come, The belfries of all Christendom

Had rolled along the unbroken song

Of peace on earth, good-will to all! *

Shepherd God, we are called to be your sheep and to follow you, our shepherd.

Yet too often we allow those in positions of leadership and power within your church to become the shepherd,

We blindly follow not realising we are straying from your path.

We sit in silence as your broken church unravels.

We fail to test the words of the church against the words of Jesus.

Perhaps we are blind, perhaps we see,

But it’s easier to keep the comfort of the boat than to walk upon the sea.

 

And in despair I bowed my head; “There is no peace on earth,” I said;

“For hate is strong, and mocks the song

Of peace on earth, good-will to all!” *

Just God, we are called to be like John, the voice crying in the wilderness,

Yet too often we opt for the easy approach.

We find it easier to say, ‘We don’t want your kind in here’ instead of ‘Stranger, Welcome’!

We find it easier to dismiss those of other cultures, other faiths,

than to discern your word within their beliefs, your love within their hospitality.

We allow our doctrine and regulations to limit our ability to love.

We are right, they are wrong,

For it’s easier to keep the comfort of the boat than to walk upon the sea.

 

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:

“God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;

The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,

With peace on earth, good-will to all.”  *

Eternal Herald – we are your voice in the wilderness, we are your John.

We know your church is not perfect, we are not perfect, but it is in you that we trust and hope.

Let us speak out from within our broken church, and make straight your paths.

For in the reality of the broken church we find opportunities for healing, for grace, for hope, for peace.

Let us leave the comfort of the boat, let us walk upon the sea.

 

In the light and the bustle of the day we look for you.

In the darkness and the stillness of the night, we long for your presence.

In our waiting and anticipation, we seek your peace.

 

Give us grace to actively live in harmony within your church.

Grant us courage to be the church you would have us be.

Provide us with wisdom to find ways of healing your church as we take your gift of peace to our broken world.

Come Lord Jesus, come, for in you, we will find peace.

• * Words by Henry Longfellow