Greetings,
This week I received a surprising letter … surprising not only because it came from someone I didn’t know, but also because of the opening paragraph which read … I am
writing to wish you and your congregation a merry and blessed Christmas. I know that
this is a very busy time of year, but I hope that it is a time for us to reflect as well. This
letter came from Senator Riff Ciccone, Federal Labor Senator for Victoria, who I have
since discovered is a Christian. Wanting to know a little more I read Riff’s inaugural
speech to Federal Parliament where he spoke openly about his faith and his hopes for all
people.
Christmas can be a time of surprises … a time where, if we listen, we hear the voice of God in unexpected places. This should not surprise us for our God is present before we arrive and at work in many ways, some of which are reflected in the Advent prayer below.

God of endless surprises,
If we had been choosing the perfect king it wouldn’t have been one like this.
We’d have been going with the wise men, to Herod’s palace,
not with the shepherds to a stable.
If we were looking for good judgements and good advice,
we’d ask a judge or a professor,
not a 16 year-old girl with Asperger’s.
But you work in strange ways, O God,
and sometimes you need to take desperate measures
to make us pay attention.
Help us adults listen to what children have to say;
Help us children to say what we see;
Help us all, together, to follow in your way of justice
and peace.
Amen.
(Taken from ‘spill the beans’ 33, p27)

May we remember that Jesus, the Son of God, ate with those labelled sinners and outcasts,
and that he ushered in a new kingdom, where all are invited to participate. May we
continue to be open to see God in the places and people we do not expect. May we never
grow too mature to be surprised by the blessings God has for each of us.
Blessings – Rev Heather.