Magazine for December 2011
At this time of year we tend to crash from one important thing to another. Last month we took in Remembrance Sunday, the feast of Christ the King and Advent Sunday over three consecutive weeks, and now the headlong rush to Christmas begins (unless you are a small child, in which case it will still feel like a very long wait to Christmas Eve).
We are just as likely as anyone else to get caught up in the shopping frenzy, searching out special gift items or another pot of cream (just in case…). And there will be parties, and family visits, and maybe even a few deadlines at work if your business has a 31st December year end.
In church, on top of all of this, there will be carols. Carols in church, carols in the pub, carols in the nursing homes, carols by candlelight and carols at midnight! It is, as people often say, our busy time of year in church.
All the more reason therefore for us to take time if we can to reflect on the significance of Christmas to ourselves as followers of Jesus, and the significance of Christmas to the world around us (near and far).
In these curious days when values in society are so muddled and the outlook for our society looks rather uncertain – in both moral and economic terms – the enduring message of hope, love and purpose which we see in the salvation story speaks to us of a permanent and secure foundation, to be found ultimately only in the person of Jesus Christ.
The joy of Christmas breaks through when we get a fresh glimpse of all that it means to the world, and to us personally, that Jesus has come – full of grace and truth.
Joy to the World – the Lord is come!
With love and Christmas blessings to you all.
Paul