Advent and Christmas 2025 on Streatham Vale Baptist Church

Imagine Peace

info@streathamvalebaptist.org.uk (Pastor Alex Camp) — Thu, 25 Dec 2025 06:40:31 +0000

The day is finally here! Christmas has arrived. We celebrate because Jesus’ coming to earth is the beginning of God’s Kingdom coming - the kingdom of God is near! The angels worshipped God saying “Peace to those on who His favour rests.”

Peace….Imagine a world at peace. And not just the absence of war, but true peace - a fullness, a wholeness. The restoring of broken things, the reconciling of all things.

Darkness and Silence: God speaks and brings light

info@streathamvalebaptist.org.uk (Pastor Alex Camp) — Sun, 21 Dec 2025 07:35:57 +0000

During the Season of Advent, we are reminded about our need to wait with expectation and hope even when it feels like we are living in darkness and silence. And so, we listen to the song of Simeon, and reflect with him as he finally sees the Messiah after (probably) decades of waiting. Simeon had to wait for God’s promised to him to be fulfilled. Israel had to wait centuries for the Messiah to come.

Violence And Redemption

info@streathamvalebaptist.org.uk (Pastor Alex Camp) — Sun, 14 Dec 2025 06:54:20 +0000

The Christmas story is not a fluffy picturesque story of peace and joy, it is gritty and real. It includes pain and scandal, violence and murder. And so, Advent calls us to pause and dwell upon the world as it is and the world as it will be. We should not ignore the reality of the world we live in, but neither should we be overwhelmed by the horror of it.

Flight and Compassion

info@streathamvalebaptist.org.uk (Pastor Alex Camp) — Sun, 07 Dec 2025 08:14:47 +0000

We consider the contentious topic of immigration and migration and what the Nativity story can teach us about how we handle this topic.

Readings

Luke 1:46-55

John 1:46

Quotes

“They might have been scavengers, trying to sponge off the goodness of others, seeking to take shelter and resources that rightfully belonged to the locals” Listening to the Music of the Soul, Guli Francis-Dehqani

“movingly convey that blessings come when we open our arms to those we do not know.” Listening to the Music of the Soul, Guli Francis-Dehqani

Good News to the Powerless

info@streathamvalebaptist.org.uk (Pastor Alex Camp) — Sun, 30 Nov 2025 08:09:10 +0000

As we start the season of Advent, we are using the Archbishop of York’s Advent Book for 2025: Listening to the Music of the Soul by Guli Francis-Dehqani. In this series we will be considering how the Nativity Story is still incredibly relevant for us today. It speaks into the big issues that we face in the world today. The first one for us to consider is how it is good news to the powerless.