Praise always!

If you’ve been involved in Advent and Christmas at church over the past weeks, you may find yourself feeling ‘all praised out’. This is the time that many pastors, preachers, vergers and vicars collapse in a heap for a few days of well-needed rest. After belting out carols with gusto, risk-assessing Christingle candles, navigating the scratch nativity, and ministering to the midnight mass rabble, I am usually good for nothing much by Boxing Day.

What a wonderful thought then, that even as we take a breather, there is a heavenly host continuing to praise God tirelessly. There is something beautiful about the image of angels and stars, sun and moon, all peering down into the manger to catch a glimpse of God-made-flesh, and erupting again in celebration and joy.

So do enjoy a rest if you can today, whether that looks like snoozing in your favourite chair or fun and games with family. You can rest assured that whatever wordless praise you might offer will be swept up with a great, unstinting heavenly chorus. Amen!

God of heaven and earth, thank you for the reminder today that you are always worthy of praise, and you are always being praised. May I offer you whatever I do today as worship, whether work or rest, and know that you delight in me. Amen.