Nicole Lewis – December Update

December 2019

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year Friends!

Last year during Christmas I was reading an advent devotional that reminded me so much of what I love about this season and what to me is the truly Good News of Jesus. The devotional was talking about the significance of the Angels appearing to the Shepherds who were watching their flocks. The flocks they watched were the ones used in the temple in Jerusalem for the sacrifices, but because of their work those same shepherds who raised sheep for the worship of God could not actually enter the temple themselves. They were the lowest group in the social order of their day and their work made them unacceptable to go in.

But on this Holy Night when God entered into our story,  into our very human story, not as a conquering hero, but as a small infant, the first people God chose to share these good tidings of great joy with, were these Shepherds. Though they could not enter into the place of his presence in the temple, he chose to enter into theirs. The announcement of good news is both a declaration and a demonstration, it is the invisible love of God made visible in a language we could understand. I will never fully be able to grasp what they must have felt that night. But every Christmas as I think about Jesus, the word made flesh who willingly chose to move into our neighborhood, I can’t help but wonder if this sense of awe and at times bewilderment I feel is a small taste of what they experienced. “Israel’s strength and consolation, ruler of the earth thou art. Dear desire of every nation, joy of every longing heart.”

Moving into a new decade and New Year, I am praying for the places that this good news will continue to ring out across the UK. I am praying for our seven campuses (London, Cambridge, Oxford, Northampton, Newcastle, Belfast and Birmingham) that our students and staff would regularly share the Good News and that the Lord would increase our opportunities to partner with churches and other student groups to do the same together. I am praying for Janis who is studying law, that her years in London would prepare her for a lifetime of sharing the Good News, not only in this season but as God guides and leads her in her career.  Across the city of London, where we have seen an increase in knife crime, all too common terror attacks and many who commonly say the hardest thing about living in London is “being lonely.” I pray that the Good News would comfort the hurting, the grieving and the lonely. And I am praying as our student mission teams get ready to go out in the New Year to Malta, Moria Refugee Camp and to St. Petersburg Russia that the Good News will come up close and personal just as the Word who became Flesh and moved into our neighborhood.

I pray that this Christmas Season would be a chance for you to reflect on this Good News of Great Joy and that it would fill your heart to overflowing!

Thank You for Your Partnership in the Gospel

With Love, Nicole

Christmas Trifle Recipe

Ok, this might be my favorite British treat. I first had it when I was fourteen and my good friends the Ruckledge Family made a Trifle and brought it to dinner at our house. It is traditionally served on Boxing Day (December 26th).

1 pound cake or sponge cake

1 pack strawberries

Strawberry or Rasberry Flavored Gelatin

Custard (homemade or store bought)

Sherry or Fruit Juicer

Whipped Cream

Large Glass Dish or Individual Dishes (Trifle Bowl or punch bowl can work)

The key to a good Trifle is just all about the layering. Line the bottom of the dish with the cake or sponge and sprinkle the sherry or Juice on top and let soak for 5 minutes. Then add half the strawberries sliced over the top of the sponge. The next layer on top of the strawberry is the gelatin layer. Once you have poured the gelatin on top, refrigerate to set and once set, spoon over the custard in a thick layer on top of it. Finally finish with a thick layer of whip cream and cover that layer with the last half of the strawberries. Enjoy and Buon Apetito!