Let the Celebrations Continue!

[A ‘Tuesday Challenge‘ originally prepared for the congregation of Horley Baptist Church during January 2026]

2026 logo It’s over for another year. The festivities for Christmas and the New Year are once again behind us – now just a memory, except for those less-than-subtle reminders that will be arriving in our letter boxes during the next few weeks. We can at least be grateful that we are not responsible for supplying the provisions for Solomon’s household.

One day’s food supply for Solomon’s household was: 185 bushels[1] of fine flour 375 bushels of meal 10 grain-fed cattle 20 range cattle 100 sheep and miscellaneous deer, gazelles, roebucks, and choice fowl.
1 Kings 4 v22-23 [The Message]

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Contributor: Steve Humphreys
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Looking Forward and Backward

[This reflection by Helen Ruffhead was published in the weekly news bulletin of Horley Baptist Church, 04/Jan/2026]

The month January is named after the Roman God Janus who had two faces, symbolising the ability to look both forward and backward. It is often a time for reflecting on the past and contemplating the future, but therein lies the danger. All too often the biggest disturbers of my peace are regret for past mistakes and fears for the future.
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Contributor: Helen Ruffhead
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A Birthday Prayer

[A miscellaneous reflection originally prepared for the congregation of Horley Baptist Church during December 2025]

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
John 3 v16 [ESVUK]

To my Father, who is in heaven, epitome of holiness, worthy of all glory and respect, by whose word heaven and earth were created and are maintained; the very essence of love, patience and justice; you are unwilling for anyone to perish and so you sent your Son to provide a way back to you;
I give you thanks.
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Contributor: Steve Humphreys
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What Word Is It This Advent?

[This reflection by Michael Goble was published in the weekly news bulletin of Horley Baptist Church, 21/Dec/2025]

I was interested to see during recent services that each Advent candle was given a name when it was lit. We’ve also received a Christmas card this year with four named candles on the front – peace, hope, love, joy.
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Contributor: Michael Goble
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Angels – From the Realms of Glory?

[A ‘Tuesday Challenge‘ originally prepared for the congregation of Horley Baptist Church during December 2025]

For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.
Psalm 91 v11 [NIVUK]

It was a wintry evening in Bucharest, the temperatures were dropping, the winds were blustery, the snow was piling up in drifts. Inside the airport it was warmer but crowded with people anxious to complete their journeys. Then came the dreaded announcement – all flights were cancelled. As we tried to get more information from the airline desk there came a second announcement – the airport was closing. What was I to do?
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Contributor: Steve Humphreys
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The Honest Truth of Christmas

[This reflection by Martin Shorey was published in the weekly news bulletin of Horley Baptist Church, 14/Dec/2025]

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 v14 (NIV)

At the Thursday Group carol service last week, I tested the group on their knowledge of Christmas carol lyrics — and it turned out to be more difficult than we expected. These hymns and songs are so familiar to us, yet the words can easily wash over us. In doing so, we miss their meaning, their truth, and their honesty.
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Contributor: Martin Shorey
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