After months trapped in darkness they came blinking into the light. In fact so bright was the light for the 33 Chilean miners - stuck in their underground tomb since a tunnel collapse on August 5th - that they had to wear sunglasses for several days after their rescue on October 13th. One thing that was noteworthy about October’s most striking good news story was how comfortable the Chilean authorities were with discussing the rôle that faith and prayer played in their response to the 69 day crisis. On hearing of the accident on August 5th President Sebastian Pinera – whose chaplain (Rev Alf Cooper) is an Anglican vicar – called an immediate prayer meeting attended by all the government ministers. Such prayer meetings were, according to Alf Cooper, a regular accompaniment to the whole rescue operation. On emerging above ground one of the rescued miners commented, ‘We were not 33 men down in that mine but 34. The Lord Jesus was with us.’ 

Rescued from darkness and brought into light. November is a time when we are naturally drawn to thinking about light and dark. As the hours of daylight steadily disappear we light bonfires and watch firework displays. By the last Sunday of November it will be dark by 4 o’clock – and hundreds will gather in a very dark St Peter’s for Christingle. And then as a flame is passed from candle to candle we will watch the church become ablaze with light. And so we will mark the beginning of Advent; that season when we prepare to remember again history’s most striking good news story. The story of God’s greatest recue operation: the sending of Jesus into a world made dark by our wrongdoing in order to bring people out into the light of His love and forgiveness. And it is not only the story of an event in history – the birth of a baby in Bethlehem more than 2000 years ago – it is also the story of today. He is the God who through Jesus continues today to transform lives. Read John Robinson’s story in his book Nobody’s Child (on the bookstall). Read Graham’s story on the Langley House Trust display near the font. Through Jesus God brings the light of His love and forgiveness to us today. It’s history’s most striking good news story.