John calls him “The Word” because he thinks of Jesus as the message from God, not a 2D flat message of words on paper, but a living 3D-message from God to us…
The Message version of the Bible I was reading put it like this:
“The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighbour-hood. We saw the glory with our own eyes, the one-of-a-kind glory, like Father, like Son, generous inside and out, true from start to finish...” John 1:14 MSG
There’s something about that phrase: “... Moved into the neighbourhood...”
It plays with my mind to think of the eternal, life-creating, world-sustaining ‘Word” — becoming just flesh and blood — and just moving into the neighbourhood. Kind of like watching through the curtains at what's happening at the house across the road.
You picture a removalist van pulling up and backing into the drive-way and unloading a bed, piano, couch, tennis racquet, rusty bike, a kettle, footy scarf, doona and so on!
It’s like Joan Osborne’s song: “What if God was one of us?”
If God had a name what would it be? And would you call it to his face?
If you were faced with him in all his glory What would you ask if you had just one question?
What if God was one of us? Just a slob like one of us
Just a stranger on the bus, Trying to make his way home…”
I love that YouTube clip of a flash-mob in a food court at a normal suburban shopping centre. A flash-mob is a drama-team or a singing-group disguised to look like everyday shoppers going about their business, who suddenly and unexpectedly burst into performance startling their peers out of their mundane shopping!
This particular flash mob had powerfully trained voices – and one at a time, they join in, joyously bursting into the Hallelujah Chorus from Handel’s Messiah – until a hundred strong choir are sounding aloud: “King of Kings and Kings and Lord of Lords for ever and ever and ever...” to an utterly amazed audience of harried and tired Christmas shoppers eating their junk food in a busy, noisy, commercial mall!
And then it’s over, the choir in their everyday clothes dissolves into the crowd and disappears, but the joy and laughter and energy of the performance feeds the souls of the crowd. Everyone feels a little more encouraged and hopeful as they go on their way.
Ordinary looking people in everyday clothes entering into the frenetic headache inducing chaos of pre-Christmas shopping; with its harried shoppers, annoying spruikers; tired children; frazzled shop keepers; noise; junk-food and jingles! And yet what music - The Word in grace entering and touching humans hearts!
"The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth." John 1: 14
The glory of God in the neighbourhood!
The grace and the truth — the salt and the light — right there in the corner house! Outside the shopfront! In the marketplace! In the office! At the school! At the table in the cafe!
And yet, the even bigger mystery is what John reports, 17 chapters later, as Jesus prays before he heads for the Cross.
Jesus turns to his Father, and thinking of his followers Jesus prays:
“… As you [Father] sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. 19 For them I sanctify myself, [set myself apart] that they too may be truly sanctified [set apart].
20 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me….”John 17: 18
Wow!
We now, are like the Word in human form, sent into the neighbourhood.
We are sent just as Jesus was sent, with the Father’s grace and truth.
We could re-write John 1: 14 to say: “… The Word has now become flesh and blood in each of you … and made his dwelling among us. We have seen, in each you, his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
The presence and the grace of the Spirit of God, works through you and me, for his Glory, bringing grace and truth, and salt and light to the neighbourhoods, and by-ways and towns and cities, to the rich and poor; the powerful and the weak.
At Christmas we can say: "Thankyou, living word, that YOU are still in our midst, in the faces and eyes and heart and mind and hands and feet of each of these followers of Jesus."
You are each called and chosen and uniquely shaped and filled and sent into the many neighbourhood of this complex world. Go through advent and into the coming year with god's blessing!
May the Lord bless you with discomfort...
at easy answers, hard hearts,
Discomfort at half-truths, and superficial relationships.
May God bless you so that may live
from deep within your heart
where God's Spirit dwells.
May God bless you with anger...
at injustice, oppression,
and exploitation of people.
May God bless you so that you may
work for justice, freedom, and peace.
May God bless you with tears...
to shed for those who suffer from pain,
rejection, starvation and war.
May God bless you so that you
may reach out your hand
to comfort them and turn their pain into joy.
And may God bless you with
just enough foolishness
to believe that you can make a difference
in this world, in your neighbourhood,
so that you will courageously try what you don't think you can do,
but, in Jesus Christ you'll have all the strength necessary.
May God bless you to fearlessly
speak out about injustice,
unjust laws, corrupt politicians,
unjust and cruel treatment of prisoners,
and senseless wars,
genocides, starvations, and poverty that is so pervasive.
May God bless you that you remember
we are all called
to continue God's redemptive work
of love and healing
in God's place, in and through God's name,
in God's Spirit, continually creating
and breathing new life and grace
into everything and everyone we touch.
If you're interested in Community Carols or other similar activities this year, here's just a few of the great options:
Diamond Creek Community Carols
FROM 5:30PM SUNDAY 14 DECEMBER, COVENTRY OVAL, DIAMOND CREEK
We love our carols in Diamond Creek! Every year, hundreds of locals gather at the Diamond Creek Community Carols to celebrate Christmas and all that it means. Featuring the Carols Band singing your favourite carols, and some new ones!
Come along and sing some special Diamond Creek Christmas Carols! We’re also excited to be offering free face painting and more activities for families and children.
The Whittlesea Christmas Festival
4:00PM - 9:00PM SATURDAY 13 DECEMBER 2025
WHITTLESEA SHOWGROUNDS, MCPHEE RD WHITTLESEA
The Whittlesea Christmas Festival has grown into a major regional event, attracting up to 4,000 people. (This is a free event!)
Held at the Whittlesea Agricultural Society (Whittlesea Showgrounds), the festival will once again merge two key events. The Whittlesea Agricultural Society will organize the ‘Christmas Tree Extravaganza’ featuring over 50 trees, alongside a twilight market with more than 70 stalls and food trucks. New Horizons Church, on behalf of the local churches of Whittlesea, will coordinate the family friendly activities and performing arts component which this year will include one of Melbourne's best 70's disco cover bands - Standard Procedure.
The festival will offer live performances from local artists, school choirs, and bands, plus quality kids' crafts activities, face painting, an animal farm, and interactive nativity scene, a classic car display, and roving performers ending with community carols. This year we will have youth and disability services spaces too. The Grinch will be back by popular demand and Santa will once again arrive by motorcycle, hosted by the Ulysses Club.
Community Carols from 7.00pm
True North Gospel Choir Concert
7:00PM FRIDAY 5TH DECEMBER 2025
VENUE: ST JOHN'S ANGLICAN CHURCH DIAMOND CREEK, 61 MAIN RD DIAMOND CREEK
We look forward to hosting you for the True North Gospel Choir Carols Event, featuring guest artists and community caroling for a festive evening of wonderful music.
Please note the event times will involve a space for people to socialise in the foyer before and after the event. Guests are recommended to arrive to be seated at 6:45pm.
Doreen Community Carols
7:00PM SUNDAY 14TH OF DECEMBER 2024
COLLINGROVE PARK, 165W HAZEL GLEN DRIVE, DOREEN
The Doreen Carols will be held on Sunday, December 14, 2025, at Collingrove Park. The event will take place in the afternoon, alongside the final Laurimar Lakeside Community Markets of the year.
The event typically includes carols performed by a live band, food stalls, family-friendly activities such as pony rides, jumping castles, and visits from the CFA and Santa.
South Morang Carols by Candlelight
7:00PM FRIDAY 12TH OF DECEMBER 2025
CIVIC CENTRE LAWNS, 25 FERRES BOULEVARD, SOUTH MORANG
A night of festive music featuring the Community Carols Choir and Diamond Valley Brass Band. Children's activities, including free face painting and craft workshops.
A festive kids' show by Team Dream, with a meet-and-greet afterwards.
A special appearance by Santa at 8 p.m..
Food trucks will be on-site, but you are also welcome to bring a picnic.
Riverside Carols in the Park
5:00PM - 7:00PM SATURDAY 13TH DECEMBER 2025
RIVERSIDE COMMUNITY ACTIVITY CENTRE, 8 DOREEN ROGEN WAY, SOUTH MORANG
5.00pm - Free Sausage Sizzle, kids entertainment activities and gift bags,
6:00pm - Community carols
Many churches also conduct Services on Christmas Day or Christmas Eve.
Check church websites for details.
