December Vicar's Talk

Dear friends,

“Merry Xmas everyone!”

As you receive this magazine the count down to Christmas will be well and truly underway. Although this time of year is very special, the preparation for Christmas is not for the faint hearted! There are a lot of things to tick off the list before December 25th …

Ø Ordering the turkey
Ø Buying presents
Ø Making costumes for the children’s nativity play
Ø Writing Christmas cards and
Ø Not missing the last date for posting overseas!
Ø Attending work parties
Ø Etc,etc,etc….

The lead up to Christmas swings from celebration, even elation, to times of stress. And of course for some Christmas is a time to be tolerated- a painful reminder of the fact that someone special is not around this year. We are very mindful of the families who are without someone special because of them serving overseas- and they will be very much in our prayers.

There is a danger – in the shops, on TV adverts and even when writing Christmas cards ( particularly when suffering writers cramp!) that the celebration is abbreviated to ‘Xmas’.Yet to miss out the word ‘Christ’ altogether is to empty the festivity of all it’s true meaning.

All that’s best about Christmas: goodwill to all people, charitable giving, time with the family, giving and sharing- is summed up not in the word ‘X’ but in the word ‘Christ’.
For as it says in Hebrews Chapter 1: ‘He is…the exact imprint of God’s very being.’ When this little baby was born in the back streets of Bethlehem in the Middle East 2000 years ago not only the shepherds but the angels sang for joy. For God became one of us- so that we could be led back to Him. The DNA of God is in his son- this little baby would grow up to show us the way- the way of love, justice and mercy.

Christmas is an opportunity to sing a song to God of thanks for His gift to us- the gift of His Son. For ‘love came down at Christmas’.

Have a wonderful Christmas this year - but please don’t leave Christ out of Christ-mas.

‘Come and worship Christ the Lord!’

Revd Claire Rose-Casemore