Dear friends,
As we enter the season of Advent and look toward Christmas, we are once again invited to pause, breathe, and behold the wonder of God’s love among us. The Christmas story—so familiar, yet always fresh— reminds us that God is, indeed, a God of surprises.
No one in Bethlehem expected the Messiah to arrive in the quiet darkness of night, born not in a palace but in a stable. No one expected the angel’s message to come to Mary, a young woman from an ordinary town. No one expected shepherds—people on the very edges of society—to be the first to hear the good news. And no one expected that God’s great rescue plan for the world would begin with a newborn child, wrapped in cloths and laid in a manger.
At Christmas we are reminded that God delights in working in unexpected places and through unexpected people. The God who chose a humble stable continues to step into the ordinary corners of our lives: the kitchen table, the quiet moments, the places where we feel overlooked, weary, or unsure. And often, God’s gifts arrive not with grand fanfare but in gentle, surprising ways—through a word of kindness, an act of generosity, a moment of peace amid turmoil, or a renewed sense of hope just when we need it most.
For some, however, Christmas can feel heavy rather than joyful. We may be carrying grief, loneliness, anxiety, or memories that make this season difficult. If this is where you find yourself, know that you are not alone. The good news of Christmas is that Christ comes precisely into the places that feel dark or fragile. The God who surprised the world with hope in a manger still draws near to us with compassion, understanding, and light that no darkness can overcome. My prayer is that you may sense God’s gentle presence with you this Christmas, bringing comfort, strength, and the promise that brighter days will come.
This year, as we journey through Advent and celebrate the birth of Christ, may we keep our hearts open to the surprising ways God may be at work in us and around us. Perhaps we might encounter Christ in someone we did not expect. Perhaps we might experience grace in a situation we thought could not change. Perhaps God may grow new hope in a place we thought was barren.
Wishing you a blessed Advent and a peaceful Christmas.
Love Christina
Why not pop into church over the Christmas period. There are crib sets to looks at, books to read and activties to take away. Come in to light a candle or just to be.