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A photograph of where Jesus was born - taken at the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem Square, Israel.
DECEMBER MESSAGE – A Meaningful Christmas from Revd Richard
DECEMBER MESSAGE – A Meaningful Christmas from Revd Richard
When I was a child, Christmas was all about the presents. I couldn’t wait for relatives toarrive because they always brought gifts — a book from my aunt, a postal order fromGrandma, and a stocking with an orange and a bar of chocolate. I only remember little bits of those Christmases now, but the gifts have stayed in my memory for years. It wasn’t until my late teens, when I became a Christian, that I realised Christmas had anything to do with Christianity at all!
What had once been a fun but rather empty celebration suddenly became full of meaning.For Christians, the Christmas season actually begins with Advent — the four weeks leading up to Christmas — and runs until Epiphany on January 6th. Advent simply means “coming,” and it’s a time to prepare our hearts for the coming of Jesus, both his birth and his promised return. The candles, wreaths, prayers and calendars all help us to reflect on the themes of hope, peace, joy and love.
Epiphany is another lovely word. It comes from the Greek and means "to appear" or "to reveal". It reminds us of the story of the Magi, or the wise men, who travelled to visit the baby Jesus.
Epiphany is another lovely word. It comes from the Greek and means "to appear" or "to reveal". It reminds us of the story of the Magi, or the wise men, who travelled to visit the baby Jesus.
They were Gentiles, people from outside the Jewish faith, so their visit shows that Jesus came for the whole world, not just for one group.
The gifts they brought — gold, frankincense and myrrh — each told part of Jesus’ story. Gold showed he would be a king, frankincense pointed to his role as a priest, and myrrh hinted at his death and burial.
These days, I can’t help thinking of Christmas as a time that also prepares us for Easter. The birth of Jesus is God’s way of showing his love for everyone — his gift to us all. That alwaysbrings to mind a verse from Christina Rossetti’s beautiful carol In the Bleak Midwinter:
What can I give Him, poor as I am?If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb;If I were a wise man, I would do my part;Yet what I can I give Him — give my heart.
So as we head into this Christmas season, my prayer is that it will be a meaningful time for you — full of joy, love and perhaps a new sense of what this season is really about.
Every blessing,
Rev Richard
The gifts they brought — gold, frankincense and myrrh — each told part of Jesus’ story. Gold showed he would be a king, frankincense pointed to his role as a priest, and myrrh hinted at his death and burial.
These days, I can’t help thinking of Christmas as a time that also prepares us for Easter. The birth of Jesus is God’s way of showing his love for everyone — his gift to us all. That alwaysbrings to mind a verse from Christina Rossetti’s beautiful carol In the Bleak Midwinter:
What can I give Him, poor as I am?If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb;If I were a wise man, I would do my part;Yet what I can I give Him — give my heart.
So as we head into this Christmas season, my prayer is that it will be a meaningful time for you — full of joy, love and perhaps a new sense of what this season is really about.
Every blessing,
Rev Richard
Christmas Coffee Morning,
Christmas Coffee Morning,
29 November
29 November
We held our Christmas Coffee morning on Saturday 29 Nov and it was very well received. There was a plethora of homemade cakes and biscuits. The raffle was stocked with execellent prizes and everyone enjoyed the occasion. £230 was raised for Chapel funds. Thank you to everyone who attended.
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