Dear Friends,

Marianne Williamson cites that “the Holy child is waiting to be born in every instant, not just once in a year”.  This demands that we experience the spirit of Christmas, in the words of peace, daily.   It is also demonstrating the right behaviours of loving God and others, rescuing others, joy, respect and goodwill to all.

Permit me to explain.

Some years ago, an injured skier was rescued in a dramatic mountainside helicopter operation.  Flying in hazardous conditions across the frozen Alps, they raced against time to save this experienced skier who had sustained life threatening injuries in a high speed fall.   He was airlifted to hospital where a spokesperson described his condition as ‘comfortable’.

Our faith is centred on Jesus, whose name has a special meaning.  In Hebrew, ‘Jesus’ means ‘God rescues’.  We have seen how sin can be a disrupter, a deadly disease without remorse or forgiveness.  Sin also separates us from God.  There is no way that our badness can mix with God’s goodness.  They are poles apart.   We believe that members of our community and beyond are like the skier injured.  They need to be rescued.  In the words of the 3rd chapter of John’s Gospel: “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life”.

We celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ on 25th December.  This wonderful mystery of God’s dwelling among us in the fullness of humanity as Emmanuel, historically foretold by the Old Testament Prophets and born of Mary.   Also known as the Lord, the Messiah, the Saviour of the world, He is recognised as a baby lying in a manger and wrapped snuggly in strips of cloth.   He was the (search) light for people who walked in darkness, a light that shined on all where death casts its shadow, (the rescuer) and He is the light of the world.

Seasonal countdown to Christmas Day began on Advent Sunday, 30th November.   The word ‘advent’ means ‘coming’ or ‘arrival’.   It is the time of the year that we get ready for the coming of Jesus.   No more is this symbolic than the lighting of the Advent Candle placed in a crown of holly and ribbons.  There are five candles.   The first is lit on the 1st Sunday, two candles on the 2nd Sunday, three candles on the 3rd Sunday and so on until all are alight on Christmas Day.  As the time until Christmas gets shorter, the light from the Advent Crown increases reflecting the ‘Light of the Word’.  Some rescues need search lights and Jesus is our ‘search light’.

Relevance

These celebrations should not be limited to Christmas.  They ought to be sustainable across the year with, for example, our loved ones, family, neighbours, community, schools and church.  Their impact would be immeasurable reaching beyond towns and villages if we’re open to something new.  The journey begins with a greater self-awareness of Jesus ‘our Rescuer’, ‘Helper’, ‘Counseller’, ‘Healer’ and ‘Comforter’.   The spirit of the Christmas season demands that we live out these characteristics throughout the year, daily, to become shop windows of faith in Jesus Christ.  Christmas thus becomes a portable life-giving attitude for taking anywhere at any time on this practical faithful journey of life.

I do hope that you take the time to join us in one or more of our Christmas Services in this Parish.  That, in joining us, we begin a new journey open to faith discoveries beyond Bible words read and Christmas Carols sung.  So, on behalf of our Parish, may I wish you and your families: peace, goodwill and love this Christmas season. 

Wishing you a Happy Christmas and a new year of blessings

Reverend Rickey Simpson-Gray
Parish of Wokingham St Sebastians

A Prayer for December:

Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness
and to put on the armour of light, during this Christmas season of celebration,
and in the time of this mortal life, in which your Son Jesus Christ came to us in great humility.
On the last day, when He shall come again in His glorious majesty
to judge the living and the dead, may we rise to life immortal;
through Him who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

Amen