... about two miles out of the centre of Bradford (England), travelling north-west,
on the roundabout junction of Harrogate Road (A658) and Pullan Avenue (A6176)

Visitors are warmly welcome to all our services and events

To see the whole concert, click here
To follow the details of the concert through, click "next item" at the bottom of this page.
We hope you enjoy what you see!

Christmas Concert
St Luke's C.E.(C.) Primary School
18th December 2001 at 6pm

(Key stage 2 pupils - Years 3-6)

God's point of view

A poem and prayer by Rev'd John Hartley, the vicar of St Luke's Church

Earlier in the concert we heard some points of view from Mary, the donkey, the shepherds and the wise men. And we've heard some poems about the meaning of Christmas. So I thought I'd try and write someone else's point of view, in a poem...

God's point of view

I made the world.

I made it out of goodness, the goodness of my heart:
It was clever in its science, and a lovely work of art.
I made the stars and atoms, the planets and the sun,
I made the plants and animals, I had a lot of fun.
I made the men and women to take care of it and live,
and I hoped that they would be like me, and learn to share and give,
but they didn't.

I wanted them to live at peace, but many of them fight:
I see them steal and hurt their friends, instead of doing right.
I swept them all away one time, when Noah and his ark
with two of every animal were all alone in dark.
I hoped that when they grew again from just one family
they'd all be friends and live as one, in perfect harmony,
but they didn't.

I spoke to Abraham and made a promise long ago:
that I would be their God and they would be my people - so
as long as they did what I said, they'd never be alone,
and they would live in happiness and never need to moan.
I showed my ways to Moses, and I hoped that they would see
that if they all did right and good they'd all be close to me,
but they didn't.

The problem is, the people don't know how to do good things:
they sometimes start out right, but they end up going in rings.
And lots of them get hurt because of bad things that they do,
and they pass it on to children, and the children do it too.
They don't need someone showing them, for all the good that's done!
But what they need is rescuing: that's why I sent my Son.

I went to earth myself, as a little baby boy.
I wasn't born a rich man, I didn't even have a toy.
I had a mum called Mary, and we've heard her point of view,
Some think she had a donkey, and we've heard its feelings too!
My angels told some shepherds, who came to visit me,
and later on some wise men came: some think that there were three.

Later on when I grew up I taught the folk of God;
and some of them could see the point, and others thought me odd.
Some got annoyed and had me killed: they nailed me to a cross
and crucified my body there, so they could still be boss.
But when I died, I took the punishment for wrong and sin
that people do that cuts them off from knowing God within.

The meaning of my life, as Jesus, we have heard tonight -
It wasn't really scary, to give the shepherds fright.
Instead it was good news that I can be with you each day
and you can come to know me for yourself in a new way.
You can be clean inside from all the wrong things that have hold,
just like the ones who came to me in bible times of old.
But lots didn't.

Invite me to your heart, and I will come inside and live,
and you'll be different, you'll know peace and courage, and forgive,
and you'll be part of my great plan to seek and save the rest,
and change the world, and make it good, so it can be the best.
If you want, you can be part of all the good I'll do,
and you can live a worthwhile life. The choice is up to you.
But lots don't.

Let's pray.

Lord Jesus, thanks for coming to our world so long ago,
and showing us what God is like so we can really know.
Thanks for dying for our sin, so that we can be made clean,
so all the wrong that we have done will go and not be seen,
And thanks that you still come to us if we invite you in,
and you can set us free inside and rescue us from sin.
Lord Jesus, we invite you in to come to us today:
we want to know you with us, and that you will always stay.
Lots don't, but we do.

Amen.