Methodist churches will be expecting larger than usual congregations over the next two days as people return home for Christmas. The celebration of the coming of the Son of God into the world is a time for homecoming, a time when attention is focused particularly on children.
Traditionally the Christmas Day service is the time when Methodists are asked to make contributions to the church's Child Care Society. Originally founded as the Methodist Orphan Society its name was changed some years ago as the officers recognised that the death of a parent was not the only event which can deprive a child of happiness and nurture. Accordingly, the fund now gives support to children in need from a variety of causes.
News reports continue to remind us almost daily of the vulnerability of children, and this specially home-based festival should prompt not only financial giving, but action wherever possible to ensure that our community is a safe place in which children can grow to maturity, conscious of being cherished.
It is also a time when those who have no homes feel particularly excluded. For many years the City Missions mounted special programmes at Christmas for those who were cut off from their families for one reason or another. Now a number of other churches are taking up the same service, and are arranging Christmas dinners for people who would otherwise be alone on that day.
By coincidence, both of the morning services broadcast by RTE tomorrow are provided by Methodist churches. The radio service on Radio 1 medium wave will be led by the Rev Noel Fallows and members of the churches in the north Dublin circuit - Clontarf, Sutton and Skerries. It will be broadcast from Sutton. The television service has been pre-recorded by the Rev John Sweeney and members of churches in the Portlaoise circuit - Portlaoise, Mountmellick and Athy.
It is not inappropriate that the beginning of the year comes within the 12 days of Christmas. On the first Sunday of the New Year, Methodist churches join in the Service for the Renewal of the Covenant with God. This has been likened to a service for the renewal of baptismal vows.
This year the Covenant Service will be broadcast from Wesley Chapel, Arfallen, Cork, where the preacher will be the President of the Church, the Rev Kenneth Todd. The broadcast will, as usual, be carried by RTE Radio 1 medium wave, and will be on the morning of Sunday, January 7th.