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The Census at Bethlehem, by Flemish Renaissance artist Pieter Bruegel the Elder, painted in 1566
Don’t miss the Mystery!
I was recently shown the oil painting above, by the very Revd Dr David Hoyle, Dean of Westminster Abbey. He invited his audience to gaze into the painting and see what we noticed. I encourage you to do the same, maybe enlarging the screen to catch the rich detail in this busy, snowy scene.
Of course, the title will draw our attention to the woman on a donkey just right of centre in the foreground, with a man in a wide-rimmed hat, leading them, and a cheeky-looking cow looking straight out at us! Bruegel’s depiction points to the birth of Christ happening when no one is looking, because they are caught up in the Bethlehem census. The artist’s challenge is for us not to miss the mystery of Christmas amid our planning and busyness.
I love the way the script in “Godly Play” describes Advent: “The King who was coming is still coming. This is full of mystery. You know, a mystery is hard to enter sometimes. That is why this time of Advent is so important. Sometimes people can walk right through a mystery and not even know it is there. The Church learned a long time ago that people need a way to get ready to enter or even come close to a mystery like Christmas. The Church set aside four weeks [of Advent] to get ready.”
Advent offers us time for a spiritual re-set, to get ready to welcome the Christ-child. It is a season of purpose, moving from acknowledging the darkness in our world and our lives, towards the light which came to birth in Jesus Christ, and which will come again at the fulfilment of all things. And in this meantime Advent, Christ comes to us so we might come closer to him. I invite you to create an Advent practice that is suited to you, amid your bustle and bruises. In this practice seek to turn your attention towards Christ, asking for grace to notice his coming – through prayer, Scripture, silence, friendship, beauty, and acts of costly love and compassion.
Loving God,
give us grace to cast away the works of darkness
and to put on the armour of light,
now in the time of this mortal life,
in which your Son Jesus Christ came to us in great humility.
We ask this through him who is alive and reigns with you,
now and forever, Amen.
A word of thanks!
On behalf of our church family, and those who were able to join us last Sunday for our Advent festive lunch, may I express our deep gratitude to all who contributed to the celebration. Thank you to the La Côte Church Social Events team, comprising Jenny Beighton, Karen Robson, Niki Lowe, Liz Bramley, Stephen and Gigi Talbot for the creative planning and execution of a delicious three course meal amid an elegant, purple-pink Advent décor. Thank you to all who contributed with delicious desserts and wines, and to our gifted entertainers: Georges, Pam and Matthew Kahane, Richard on the piano and Mike French holding it altogether!
As well as a joyful community event, we raised over 1000chf! Half of these funds will go to a local French charity, Alias, who support refugees, as they settle into the Pays de Gex region. The other half will be sent to the French office of Medecins Sans Frontieres, who work in global humanitarian aid.
Please join me in giving thanks to God for these rich blessings.
Carolyn Cooke
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