Dear Friends

You will have heard or seen the news headlines at some point this year saying “Christmas is cancelled” I can assure you it is not! Christmas took place over 2000 years ago in a stable in Bethlehem when God came to earth in the form of Jesus. This has been the strangest year ever for all of us in different ways and our celebration of Christmas may also be strange and probably different. However, the message of the angels was one of peace and joy:

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favour rests.” Luke Chapter 2.

Matthew’s Gospel Chapter 1 tells us this:

“Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel, which means, “God is with us.”

Jesus, Emmanuel is God with us on earth. In all that may be strange and different this year, God came and walked on earth with us. In this season that may be different, in this time when we could be fearful, we can remember that Christmas cannot be cancelled and God walking the earth changed everything for all time.

May you know the blessings of Emmanuel in this Christmas season. Rev Sarah.

Happy Christmas from St Peter’s Church, Yaxley. Please do join us throughout December with our Explorers activities and in our services, which will be online on St Peter’s, Yaxley YouTube Page. There will be a service in person on Christmas Eve for our Midnight service (starting 11.30pm) and Christmas morning at 10.00am IF Coronavirus restriction allow. We will need people to book in for services in church so please do contact the Parish Office on 07939 449255. Do follow our Facebook pages – St Peter’s Church, Yaxley and/or Community of St. Peter’s Church, Yaxley for more information.