“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace.” Luke 2:14.
This Christmas greeting, by the angels to the shepherds, helps me make sense of the Christmas Journey Peace Labyrinth. It was spoken outdoors. It was spoken to shepherds, who in Jesus day were a pretty rough looking mob. It was a greeting of peace, that needs to be understood in light of the Old Testament understanding of shalom, of God’s intention of well-being and wholeness for all of life.
And so we have the Christmas Journey Peace Labyrinth. Outdoors; in Latimer Square. A place that needs light. A speaking of peace, including stations reflecting on peace in our homes, peace in our communities, peace with ourselves, only possible because, at the very heart of the Journey, is a stable which offers us peace with Christ.
There are many ways to be involved: It is your last chance to make stick people on Monday night, from 7.30 in the foyer. Volunteers are required to supervise in Latimer Square from 7pm Friday 21 to 9am Monday 24. Sign up sheets are in the foyer. Set up will happen at Latimer Square from early on Friday morning. Pack down will happen from 9am on Christmas Eve. Posters and fliers advertising A Christmas Journey/Peace Labyrinth can be collected from the foyer. Please take these for your workplace etc. If you’re willing to deliver posters, fliers and stick people to businesses, see Peter and Joyce.
But I am also asking everyone of us to attend, to go to Latimer Square at some point next weekend in order to join with the Christmas greetings of the angels. Let’s all be part of speaking peace outdoors, in our city. Our Christmas preparation demands no less.