The Sixth Day of Christmas - Creation

'In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth' - the beginning of the 'beginning' narrative and the start of great assurance or general unease. Literal or figurative days? Young earth or old earth? Creation is the source of all that is, including controversy!

People speak of the seven days of creation, but of course, as accentuated by the six days of Christmas, there are but six - day seven being the day off after the labours!

This is not the place to discuss young or old earths and the like - for here the focus is what each day results in bringing about.

Day One
In the beginning there was nothing and then came a voice with it the first uttered words, 'Let there be light!' - and, of course being God, the light was good! So God separated the light from the darkness and there it is: Day one - light and darkness. Day and night.
















Day Two
In short water and sky make their entry. Science books tell me it's all about vapour, condensation and all that stuff!















Day Three
Dry ground appears and as we all know - have a bit of ground and stuff soon appears - creation is where this starts! So we have dry ground, with vegetation, and where it's not dry there are seas. Friends call this 'Tectonic day'!
















Day Four
Things are settling down and there are now visible in the sky the sun by day and the moon by night - and stars and seasons too I assume  for position, and appearance, of stars ( like Winter's Orion) bring us seasons (not just climatic you know).
















Day Five
Getting good (I'm bird watcher and fisherman) as we get out first, 'Be fruitful and multiply,' for sea creatures and birds.

















Day Six
What's left? Oh yeah, animals - and with them the pinnacle of creation, Human beings.


















So that, in a nutshell, is creation - is it any wonder that the next day was a day off?

Light - Dark
Water -Sky
Ground - Green stuff
Sun, Moon and Stars
Birds and Fish
Animals and People

Literal days or otherwise - friends (and books - what are merely written friends) tell me the order is right and the division logical and scientific - and that's a bit of a winner, isn't it ;-)

My gift to you today? The wonderful 'Days of Creation' by Burne-Jones (can be seen in the windows of St Editha's, St George's Chapel, and the brief summary of the Genesis account.

The Blessings of Christmas

Are to firstly be found at 08:30 on a Christmas morning celebrating the Eucharist with so many wonderfully faithful and engaged people.

Secondly to be privileged to preside at such a service with the wonderfully measured and sound piece of liturgy that is the 1662 Book of Common Prayer (BCP) service.

The cherry on the cake comes in the shape of the location this took place in - and I have to say that the chapel dedicated to St George in Tamworth's Parish church is one of the most lovely and sacred spots of all that I might have been able to do this service in.

Between Burne-Jones' 'Days of Creation - the Patriarchs and Prophets - and St Christopher (all dedicated to Sir Robert Peel) and the joy of knowing that one faithful member of the church would rejoice that the candlesticks and cross were back where they belonged - it was a splendid start to what was destined to be a wonderfully blessed and restful day.