"Two men have been killed by trees falling on their vehicles during Storm Darragh, as strong winds and heavy rain continue to rage across the UK," read a BBC headline on the 7th December 2024.
However, the Red Warning for wind did not deter Councillor Stephen Henry, Town Mayor of Whiston, and his Consort, Mrs Carol Henry, from gracing the Carol Service hosted by Knowsley Seventh-day Adventist Church with their presence. The service was held on Sabbath afternoon, 7th December, at the Knowsley Town Hall.
The mayor admitted he was initially hesitant to attend the service due to the severe weather. However, having received no notice of cancellation, he and Mrs Henry decided to proceed with their plans.
This marks the second time Mayor Henry has shown valued support for this local congregation. He was also present at the church's Dedication and Organisation service held on 17th August 2024.
The Carol Service sought to remind the community of the profound love and boundless sacrifice at the heart of the festive season.
Below are quotes portraying that extraordinary love in the most superlative way human language can express—yet still falling short of capturing the full reality of this ultimate love and selfless sacrifice.
"All the paternal love which has come down from generation to generation through the channel of human hearts . . . are but as a tiny rill to the boundless ocean when compared with the infinite, exhaustless love of God. Tongue cannot utter it; pen cannot portray it. You may meditate upon it every day of your life; you may search the Scriptures diligently in order to understand it; you may summon every power and capability that God has given you, in the endeavor to comprehend the love and compassion of the heavenly Father; and yet there is an infinity beyond. You may study that love for ages; yet you can never fully comprehend the length and the breadth, the depth and the height, of the love of God in giving His Son to die for the world. Eternity itself can never fully reveal it." —Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, p. 740
"The heart of God yearns over His earthly children with a love stronger than death. In giving up His Son, He has poured out to us all heaven in one gift. The Saviour’s life and death and intercession, the ministry of angels, the pleading of the Spirit, the Father working above and through all, the unceasing interest of heavenly beings—all are enlisted in behalf of man’s redemption.
Oh, let us contemplate the amazing sacrifice that has been made for us! Let us try to appreciate the labor and energy that Heaven is expending to reclaim the lost and bring them back to the Father’s house. Motives stronger, and agencies more powerful, could never be brought into operation; the exceeding rewards for right-doing, the enjoyment of heaven, the society of the angels, the communion and love of God and His Son, the elevation and extension of all our powers throughout eternal ages—are these not mighty incentives and encouragements to urge us to give the heart’s loving service to our Creator and Redeemer?" —Steps to Christ, p. 21