Saturday morning. 9am. Radio 4. Saturday Live. Inheritance Tracks – a song someone inherited from their parents, and one they would pass on to their children. My mother was a Judy Garland fan, and I have inherited “Somewhere over the Rainbow” from her. (or maybe “Clang clang clang went the trolley…” – let’s not go there). “Over the Rainbow” is the ultimate escapist song –
Someday I’ll wish upon a star
And wake up where the clouds are far behind me.
Where troubles melt like lemon drops,
Away above the chimney tops,
That’s where you’ll find me.
Mum was a bit of an escapist, she loved the cinema and losing herself in musicals. She had good reason – her father died when she was 2, mother when she was a teenager, my brother was killed at 19. This world was not a happy place for Mum. She wanted to escape.
This month is the Big C… Christmas! (how did that happen? Only 5 minutes ago it was summer!..) For lots of us, it’s the Great Escape for a few days (yes, it will be on telly again…), and we try to forget the mess of our world. We have our parties, decorations, gifts, visiting family and friends, and it’s great for a while.
But the heart of Christmas is God coming to be part of our messy, imperfect world. One of the titles given to Jesus at his birth is Emmanuel, meaning God with Us. He doesn’t take us over the rainbow to an escapist dream world, but comes alongside us, to be with us in this world, in all its mess.
Come and join in some of the Christmas events at St Andrew’s – welcome the Posada figures for a night; pop on your halo or shepherd-dressing gown and join the Living Nativity, come and sing the carols, and celebrate!
May you know the presence of Christ in your world this Christmas.
Blessings,
Janet
The Revd Janet Tebby
01664 474096