Writing from the Rectory

December 2023

One of the first indications that Christmas is coming is the widely anticipated adverts rolled out by some of the country’s leading brands. Every year they try to capture something of the excitement and nostalgia of Christmas and try to stand out with a note of well-deserved self-indulgence. Particularly memorable, perhaps, were those made during the lockdown Christmas of 2020, when emotions ran high, and we all craved the opportunity to meet together. This year those big budget adverts have met with mixed reviews in the media, and in some cases a sense of confusion over the message. It is hardly surprising though that they can lose their way, when the driving force is sales rather than the real ‘reason for the season’.

Christmas is undoubtedly a time for families and friends to join together and be thankful for what they have. The cost of living has meant that many people have chosen to focus on the gift of ‘presence’ rather than ‘presents’ and perhaps a little more of the true Christmas story has come to life. We are reminded in these dark days in Ukraine and, perhaps most poignantly, in Israel, birthplace of Jesus Christ of how blessed we are to have the peace in this country.

In the birth of Jesus, the Son of God, we have such good news that is as relevant and necessary as ever. A Saviour who understands what it is like to live in a war-torn country, to lose friends, to feel alone and yet also enjoyed a party and have strong bonds with family and friends. Christmas is the start of a wonderful story, leading to the Easter message, that this is not the end – we have a God who knows what it is to be human and wants us to know Him. Why not drop into a Christmas service this year and re-connect with the joyful news of the birth of the Christ child, or discover it for the first time this year? We have services running throughout December – see our advert in here for more details.

Peace and joy this Christmas,
Revd Andrew Doarks