The Glenabbey Podcast

Janet Burnside reflects on the shepherds in Luke 2 by inviting us to pause, look closely, and notice the small but significant details in the Christmas story—much like standing before a painting and suddenly spotting something that changes how you see the whole scene. She lingers over the moment when God’s glory breaks into the lives of unsuspecting, marginalised shepherds, people considered untrustworthy and unimportant, yet chosen by God to hear the first announcement of Christ’s birth. The angels’ words—good news of great joy for all people—take on new depth when heard through the ears of outsiders.As Janet recounts, that truth became personal for her in an unexpected moment: standing by her broken-down car at the side of the road, repeating the phrase in her mind until it shifted. Good news of great joy for all people became good news of great joy for that person, and that person, and the next colleague who passed by. It was a reminder that the message stretches both to those on the fringes and to those who appear confident and settled on the surface. Everyone needs this good news.She highlights the heart of that message—not a plan or a task list, but a person. Jesus, who chose vulnerability, who became Emmanuel, God with us, who welcomes the outsider and brings joy, forgiveness, and belonging. Janet shares how this reality has shaped her own life and how it challenges us to see the people around us with fresh eyes. The story invites us not only to rejoice in Christ for ourselves but also to find the courage to share Him with others. Good news that truly is for all people should move us outward—with love, attentiveness, and confidence in the One who brings great joy.

Rebekah Gardner explores the story of the wise men in Matthew 2 by setting them alongside the “wise men” who appear elsewhere in Scripture—Pharaoh’s magicians, Babylon’s astrologers, and the court diviners who ultimately proved powerless when set against the word of God. What sets Matthew’s wise men apart, she suggests, is not their learning but their humility. They respond to God’s revelation—first through creation, then through Scripture, and finally in the person of Jesus—with openness, obedience, and worship.Rebekah traces their journey from noticing a new star, to seeking understanding, to following God’s guidance even when it challenged their assumptions. Rather than resisting or interpreting God’s message on their own terms, they allowed His word to redirect their steps all the way to Bethlehem. Their joy on finding Jesus, and their willingness to bow before a child with no visible signs of royalty, reveal the posture of true wisdom: attentive, teachable, and ready to worship.She encourages us to imitate their example this Christmas—to cultivate curiosity, to pause and wonder at God’s world, to open Scripture with expectancy, to listen and respond as God speaks, and to bow in worship before Christ. Their story endures because they humbled themselves before the Word of God, and found the one their searching had been leading them to all along.

Noreen Reid reflects on the Christ-child through the lens of Philippians 2, reminding us that the manger always pointed toward the cross. She draws our attention to the humility of Jesus, who took on flesh, lived among us in all the ordinariness and frailty of human life, and ultimately submitted to death for our sake. Against the backdrop of a season that can feel crowded with pressures, expectations, and constant activity, she invites us to return to the heart of Christmas: the Saviour who came to live, die, and rise again so that we might know forgiveness, hope, and eternal life.Through the striking image of a large steel cross near her home, Noreen reflects on how the message of Christ’s sacrifice still pierces the noise of the season. She acknowledges the mixture of joy and pain many experience at Christmas, and reminds us that Jesus meets us in both—walking with us through the realities of grief, stress, and hardship. His light shines in the darkest places, and His call to come, repent, and receive life is as urgent and gracious as ever.Noreen closes with a challenge and an encouragement: that we would stand out as people of hope, carrying Christ’s light into a weary world. Simple acts of kindness, compassion, and courage become ways of sharing the One who came to serve and to save. Christmas, she says, is not only about the birth of Jesus but also the cross that defines His mission. In remembering both, we allow His love to deepen in us and shine through us to those who need Him most.

Jill Campbell reflects on the way December gathers pace, pulling us toward hurry, noise, and overcommitment, and how Advent gently invites us back to the presence of Jesus. She shares a prayer of peace—adapted from Lannier Ivester—for those feeling stretched, exhausted, anxious, or emotionally tangled as Christmas approaches. The prayer asks God to grant wisdom, rest, and clarity, to help us discern what truly matters, and to tether our hearts to His steady presence even when quiet moments are hard to find.Jill highlights that Advent holds space for both joy and grief, and that God often meets us in unexpected places and circumstances. She encourages listeners to release their grip on outcomes and cling instead to the One who brings lasting peace. By paying attention to what draws our focus and gently asking God to redirect our hearts, we prepare not just for a holiday but for Christ Himself. Jill closes by reminding us that the God who came near is still near, and that His peace is able to light up even the deepest places of our lives.

In this devotional, Sharon Seymour reflects on the familiar figures surrounding Jesus’ birth—Zachariah, Mary, Joseph, and the shepherds—and highlights how their ordinary lives were interrupted by God in extraordinary ways. She traces how each person was met by an angel, reassured not to fear, and invited into God’s unfolding plan of salvation. Sharon draws attention to their vulnerability, uncertainty, and humanity, and reminds us that none of them were overlooked or insignificant. God saw them, called them, and chose them.She encourages us to recognise ourselves in their stories: people facing disappointment, routine work, unanswered prayers, and unexpected turns. Yet, just as God used them, He includes us in His work today. Sharon invites listeners to trust and obey as they did, to remember that Immanuel—God with us—is still our hope, and to allow that truth to shape our conversations, decisions, and relationships this Christmas.

Matthew Craig turns to an unlikely Christmas text in Romans 15, revealing how Paul presents the birth of Christ as news that stretches far beyond Israel alone. He shows that Jesus arrives as the fulfilment of Israel’s promises, yet in doing so opens the door for those outside the original covenant story. Matthew traces Paul’s argument that Christ came as Israel’s Messiah—fulfilling ancient promises and bringing Israel’s long story to its intended goal—while also making space for those who were once outsiders. He highlights how Paul layers Old Testament quotations to show that the inclusion of the nations was never an afterthought but part of God’s plan from the beginning. At Christmas, we celebrate that the child born in David’s line is the hope of people from every nation and background. Matthew invites us to recognise the generosity of that welcome, and to rejoice that the God of hope has drawn us into His family.

In this devotional, Ally Bennett reflects on the “prequel” to the Christmas story through Zachariah’s prophecy in Luke 1. She lingers over the tender affection in Zachariah’s words to his long-awaited son, John, and the overwhelming hope that bursts out of him once his voice is restored. Ally draws out the joy of a father’s love, the anticipation of God’s long-promised salvation, and the privilege of declaring light into a dark world. She also connects Zachariah’s story with her own recent experience of God’s perfect timing and gracious provision, and finishes by inviting us to recover a fresh sense of wonder as we read these well-known Christmas passages.

Alan Johnston reflects on Advent as the season that celebrates Christ’s coming “at just the right time.” Drawing on Galatians 4:4, he highlights how the incarnation wasn’t a coincidence or a lucky convergence of events, but the perfectly timed act of God, set against the backdrop of world history, prophecy, and expectation. Alan then turns to the present, reminding us that the God who sent His Son at exactly the right moment is the same God who works with perfect timing in our own seasons of joy, challenge, longing, and change. Advent invites us to renewed confidence and trust in the One who holds all things together and meets us, faithfully and purposefully, at just the right time.

With Chris Cooke, and Simon Lennox

With Chris Cooke, and Glen Scrivener

With Chris Cooke, and Phil Knox

With David Mairs, Jenny Baines, and Rebecca Richards

With Chris Cooke, and Gray Gardner

With Keith Jackson, Lucy Bennett, Jenna Gilpin, James Montgomery and Hannah Williamson.

With Chris Cooke, Gemma Potter, Carol Anne Crowe, and Jenni McClelland

With Chris Cooke and David Wilson

With Keith Jackson, Hayley Cullen, Daniel Hamilton, Jonathan Montgomery (Monty), and Martin Spence

With Keith, Robin, Dean, and Joanne

With Keith Jackson, Alan Johnston, Robyn Harris, and Colin Barr

With Chris Cooke, Connie Bamford, Anna-Jael Seymour, Andy Seymour, & Jamie Yohanis

With Chris Cooke, Michael Holmes, Diane Davidson, and Willie Morgan

With Chris Cooke, Keith Jackson, Helen Dunn, Janet Burnside, and Heather McCartney Find out more about our Community Ministries and Partners that focus on supporting individuals and families: https://glenabbey.church/support

With Chris Cooke, and Gilbert Lennox Download Gilbert's written introduction: Messiah: The Final Stage of the Journey