Polmont Old
Parish Church - Scotland
Parish Church - Scotland
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 Day Eleven activities  If you have an Advent Wreath - here is a short reading and ceremony before lighting the two candles. Malachi 3 v1 A Promised Messenger: "See, I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come," says the LORD Almighty. Once again we have an amazing story to tell. Micah prophesied throughout the reigns of Kings Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, roughly 735–700 BC. Here he is telling the people that before the promised Covenant, by that he means Jesus, That there will be a messenger who will come before Him and explain to the people and prepare the way for His ministry. Amazing - once again this was happening around 700 years before the birth of Jesus. It would have been hard to understand then, and even in the time of John the Baptist it was difficult for the people, and when Jesus came to exercise His Ministry most of the people didn't understand.  Even now we find that there are many who do not understand - but through Advent and this calendar and our website and the faithful ministry of the Gospel in our Church and the way we live our lives, we have many opportunities to touch the lives of people who do not believe or find it difficult to believe. It is quite a responsibility, however, if we can pray for and find the closeness to God that the prophets had, then with God close to us, who knows what we can achieve - quite a thought isn't it! Prayer: Dear God our Father, when we look back over the centuries to the voice and the ministry You gave the prophets, and we discover their faithfulness in the midst of adversity and difficult choices, when life was cheap and short, they never failed to bring Your Message. Lord, this Advent we have another opportunity to be faithful messengers, help us through Your Spirit to have the courage, the love and faith to do this and so serve you, for we ask this in Jesus Name. Amen. Click here to find out more about Malachi - Opens in a new window
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The Robin is a small European songbird of the Chats and Thrush family with a red breast and brown back and wings. The Robin's Latin name is Erithacus rubecula
When early Christmas cards were produced in the mid-eighteenth century, postmen wearing bright red coats delivered them. These postmen became known as `robins' or 'redbreasts', and so the bird on the Christmas card was representing the postman who delivered it. In 1861, the postmen's uniform was changed to a more practical blue, but red has remained the traditional colour of the Royal Mail, reflected in its vans and letterboxes.
On that first Christmas, it is said; the night was wrapped in a bitter chill, The small fire in the stable was nearly out, and the Mother Mary worried that her baby would be cold. She turned to the animals about her and asked them for help. `Could you blow on the embers,' she asked the ox, `so the fire might continue to keep my son warm?' But the ox lay sound asleep on the stable floor and did not hear her.
Next, Mary asked the donkey to breathe life back into the fire, but the sleeping donkey did not hear Mary either. Nor did the horse or sheep.
He continued to fan the fire, singing all the while, until the ashes began to kindle. With his beak, the robin picked up some fresh, dry sticks and tossed them into the fire. As he did, a flame suddenly burst forth and burned the little bird's breast a bright red. But the robin simply continued to fan the fire until it crackled brightly and warmed the entire stable.
We all know the story that a donkey carried Mary to Bethlehem to be registered. Well the actual Bible story doesn't mention a donkey - but it is a lovely legend or story. The Nubian burro has a cross on its back because it was the donkey who carried Jesus, in triumph, to Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. There lots of stories, but I have chosen one to listen to - I hope you enjoy it. The Donkey was a very useful animal and it still is in many countries. I wonder if you have ever had a donkey ride at the seaside?
It is said that when Mary gave birth to Jesus, a tabby cat had a litter of kittens. The babe was restless and couldn’t sleep, so Mary asked the animals to help her soothe him. They tried their best, but failed. Then one of the kittens crawled into the manger and snuggled beside the infant. The cat purred until Jesus fell asleep. Mary blessed the mother cat by placing the letter M for Madonna on her forehead and said that, in remembrance of her kitten’s kind act, all tabbies would bear the letter M. You can see the M on the cats forehead. It is a lovely story.
It is said that When Jesus was lying in the manger in Bethlehem’s stable, all the world’s animals went to greet the newly born babe. They knelt to pray and adore the Christ child. The ox, ass and others bowed in their places in the stable. Wild animals remained outside, hoping to catch a glimpse of the babe.
Once upon a time, long ago, a gentle mother was busily cleaning the house for the most wonderful day of the year.... The day on which the Christ child came to bless the house. Not a speck of dust was left. Even the spiders had been banished from their cozy corner in the ceiling to avoid the housewife's busy cleaning. They finally fled to the farthest corner of the attic.
