While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. Luke 2 : 6 – 7

Reading for this week : Luke 2 : 41 - end

Thought for the week

We hope and pray you have a peaceful, holy and joyful Christmas time as we celebrate Jesus’ birth and His coming into our world.

We now begin a whole season of exploring as well as celebrating who Jesus truly is and as we carry our life and witness for Him into a new year.

Boxing Day is traditionally the Feast of St Stephen, and already we begin to discover how faith in Jesus and proclaiming Him in our world puts us in confrontation with all those powers that would deny Him or suppress His name.

Yet the Lord is both infinitely loving and supremely powerful, and as we carry His love and truth in our lives we can have confidence and boldness in Him.

We have such an exciting, life – changing message of God’s love and salvation in Jesus.

In our Gospel reading today Jesus was in the temple asking questions and growing in understanding.

As we come to 2022 with its undoubted challenges I pray we may each grow in our faith in God and wisdom through Jesus that He is indeed the Way, the Truth and the Life.

Rev Paul

A Nativity Prayer

Christ is born, glorify him.
Christ comes from heaven, go out to meet him.
Christ descends to earth; be raised up!

Sing to the Lord all the whole earth;
and that I may join both in one word,
Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad,
for him who is of heaven and then of earth.

Christ is in the flesh,
rejoice with trembling and with joy;
with trembling because of your sins,
with joy because of your hope.

The people that sat in the darkness of ignorance,
let them see the great light of full knowledge.
The old has passed away, behold, the new has come.
The letter gives way, the Spirit comes to the front.

He who is not carnal is Incarnate;
the Son of God becomes the Son of Man,
Jesus Christ the Same yesterday, and today, and forever.

Source: Gregory of Nazianzus