Join the choir...

“Glory to God in the highest and peace to his people on earth.”

That was the song of the choir of angels on that first Christmas night and this morning we too have sung those self same words.  Maybe not to such angelic perfection but we’ve belted it out anyway!  Singing-up and sing out has become quite pop this year

I don’t know if you’ve been watching Gareth Malone and the military wives choir. But I’ve loved it as he has gathered a choir from scratch, taken them to the Albert Hall and if the bookies are right this afternoon they will be the Christmas number one.

But it is not only military wives and Choirs of angels singing today because we heard in our Gospel reading the shepherds also are getting in on the act, ‘glorifying and praising God’. 

Now Shepherds you need to understand are not the world’s most natural singers.  They would even be a challenge for Marvellous Mr Malone.  Indeed, shepherds had a reputation for being cheats and thieves, making use of other people’s land and moving on if they got into trouble.  And yet here they are at the heart of our story, watching their flock by night when suddenly the glory of the Lord shines around them. 

Well- being a feckless bunch they dive for cover, possibly worried that they are in trouble again.  But the angel tells them not to be afraid and brings them good news of great joy that today a saviour is borne who is Christ the Lord.  And as the angels sing his praises and the shepherds look on dumbstruck, watching heaven come close to earth.

And so the shepherds, go to see if it could be true.  To see if there really is a child in a manger as they have been told.  To see if God’s heavenly glory has really come down to earth?

I imagine them rushing to get there and then hesitating outside the stable, and pushing on one another peering through gaps to see if it true, whispering to one another as they catch sight of the manger and finally tumbling headlong into the stable- to see it all as the angel said.  And in their excitement they cannot help but sing praises glorifying God.

As we hear this story, so we too we travel with them. We also have heard the words of the angels, have come to a crib and now look upon a child lying in a manger.  And like the Shepherds- we too wonder what it all means.

We have heard the words of the prophet Isaiah praying for a prince who will bring an end to war and oppression.  A ruler who will bring justice to a troubled world.  We have heard the angels proclaiming this child as Lord and Saviour.  And now here before us, we find God in human form.

And in this vulnerable child, in the birth of this Prince of Peace we find comfort for our war torn world.  In this birth which unites shepherds and Kings and proclaims that we are all children of God we find an alternative to the divisions within our society and our city.  And as this child reaches out to us, and holds our finger in his tiny hand we find that we too are accepted by this holy child and that he will not let us go.

Now I may lack Gareth Malone’s boyish good looks and charm.  I may not have his specky glasses and tweed jackets.  But this morning, I want to invite all of you to join the choir.  And I don’t mean the shepherd’s choir, frankly they’re as bit ropey!  And I don’t mean St Stephen’s choir- they’re better but there’s better yet.  For this morning- I want you to join the choir of angels.  In the words of the hymn, I want us to be joyful and triumphant.

For that which the angels sang is true, that which the shepherds heard is true for on this happy morning heaven and earth have indeed become one for our God is in our midst. Amen.