December birthdays can be utterly subsumed by all things Christmas, so it's extra lovely when they are not, and today was one such.

After treating myself to a midweek croissant for breakfast, it was off to our Coffee Club where someone had supplied a birthday cake, before a delicious lunch with another friend.  There were lovely cards and messages as well as surprise gifts.

Thank you everyone who has contributed to a very happy (birth)day.

This is just brilliant - thank you B&K - great punning and really made me chuckle.

If I recall correctly, to a first approximation, the left hand side of the body is controlled by the right hand side of the brain, so us lefties are dominantly right-brained, or some such, at least so far as motor skills are concerned.

Whether 'brain' and 'mind' are interchangeable is not important here, there is a gentle humour that only left-handed people are in their 'right minds' - are sane and normal - which is the absolute opposite of the historical association with 'sinister' as evil or worse.

Advent and Christmas are times when puns and double-meanings (we'll ignore double entendres!) abound.  Sometimes we discover new levels of meaning or significance, new insights, maybe even new fun and laughter, as the Word-made-flesh breaks into our familair world with new (or renewed) meaning.

One of the Bible readings I was directed to this morning was the annunciation to Mary as recorded by Luke.  The study guide rightly noted that if we ask ourselves the 'how' question we get nowhere, what we need to ask is the 'why' question... How Mary became pregnant fades into insignificance compared with why... if God could utter a word and creation began (or a big bang occured or whatever it was) then a woman conceiving a child asexually is probably not such a big deal. We need the language of 'mystery' to make any sense whatsoever of this account, and a God who would operate in such a ridiculous fashion.

However, what struck me this morning, wasn't Mary's story per se, but the words of the angel, and the double negative (at least in Greek) that "will not be impossible with God [every word]".  Annoyingly the comentaries I have all ignore the 'every word' a quick check suggests only the NIV retains it in translation - 'no word from God will ever fail' (not a very close translation imo). 

"Not impossible" - a phrase that we use when we mean "I can't rule it out, but it's really unlikely..."

This morning I heard it - and maybe God spoke it to me - differently, as "that which seems impossible is indeed possible... every word of it."

I heard it very much as a word of encouragement, speaking into some complicated matters I have been pondering, almost as the angel spoke to Mary ... "stop asking how this will work out, it is not impossible with God."

Lord, you sometimes speak in things that make me go 'hmmm...'

Today we meet Declan, from Ireland, who predates St Patrick, and who liked silence and contemplation. We are asked where contemplation fits into our own lives.  Not a lot to add to that! 

Today's prayer comes in the form of an instruction:

Come before God in silence.

It's that time of year when any minister I know is up to their neck (if not overwhlemed by) preparing lots of services. This morning I've been busy writing prayers for three services, in the hope that, once I get to the end of Christmas Day, I can enjoy a couple of days 'down time' before the joint service on 30th December.

I am fortunate this year, although I am tired, and although there is a lot to do, a lot is being shared with others. I am really looking forward to the mix of a very traditional Lessons and Carols this Sunday morning, an interactive ecumencial celebration service (with all age communion for good measure) on Christmas Day morning, followed by lunch for whoever shows up, and then a joint service with Church of Scotland friends on Sunday 30th.  Hopefully something for most, if not all.

There is something unbelievably good about printing everything off and trusting it all to God's mercy and grace.

Now it's back to the rest of the week's activities, including admin and hospital visits!