May I take this opportunity to wish you all a very merry Christmas? I pray that it is a special time for you and your family as we celebrate the birth of Jesus. As Christians we believe that God is always with us anyway, but, the arrival of Jesus signifies an important piece in the big story. From the evidence written in the Gospels we witness Jesus loving both his Father and his neighbour (you & I). We also witness the grace of God. We do not have to be perfect, we simply have to love God & our neighbour…. which is not always easy, I know! And this is where God’s grace kicks in. The love of Jesus in his willingness to go to the cross is the grace we need to live in assurance that we will be with God.
We are in this eternal story now. The story of God does not run from Christmas to Easter but goes on. Despite the complications we are currently living through with Covid -19, God’s church thrives.
We have tried to maintain some kind of festive programme of services and gatherings this year. Some, in the light of recent changes, have been cancelled and others have been shortened (5 lessons rather than 9!) but this is to try and protect one another, reduce the risks of becoming a Covid statistic. I remember this time last year when we were all saying ….”Don’t worry; it’ll be alright in 2021”! We may not be back to where we were but, thanks to the vaccine we are in a better place. Sadly, the new omicron strain has again raised the level of concern. So I urge you to consider your actions in the coming days and weeks. If your priority, this Christmas, is to spend time with family (something denied to many of us last year) please make that your priority and perhaps decide to reduce other contacts – even if that means missing church. Church will still be here after this. The story of Jesus and our part in his story goes on.
My prayer is that we all keep safe and well in God’s care. However you spend the coming days may I offer warm thanks for the love and support Ruth & I have received from you this year AND, one last time, may I wish you all a very merry Christmas. 18 December, 2021
Mark