Dear Friends
Well, that’s Christmas over for another year. It will soon be time to dismantle the tree, take down the cards and put away the decorations. Then there are the “thank you” letters, emails or text messages to send and, for some, the tiresome business of changing items that aren’t quite right. Thinking of that line in the poem “Christmas” by John Betjeman about “hideous tie so kindly meant”, I wonder how many of us pretended to be pleased with a garment we’re never likely to wear, or an ornament that will only be on display when the giver comes to visit. With this comes a feeling of guilt because we know that a relative or friend has spent time and money on this gift and we should be grateful. Then there are the toys that are soon discarded or broken, and the gadgets that don’t work properly, not to mention the chocolates, biscuits or toiletries that come in handy for us to give to the person we’d forgotten to buy for, or which find their way in the new year to a charity raffle or tombola.
I’m sure most of us have, at some time, given or received a Christmas present that failed to please. Yet some people seem to have the knack of choosing just the right gift, which might be simple and inexpensive, but which shows an understanding of the needs and tastes of the recipient, and which is given and received with love. The greatest Christmas gift of all was just what the world needed, even if the world didn’t know its need. This gift, the child born at Christmas to be our Saviour, was given with love, by God. For those who have received that very precious gift with gratitude Christmas is not over after all. This is a gift for life, and a gift that gives life. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)
As we go forward into another year, the Church follows the story of Jesus Christ through his life, his ministry and his teachings, until we come to his death and resurrection and his ascension into heaven. Then we see how Jesus continues to be with his friends, through the gift of the Holy Spirit who empowered the first Christians to spread the Gospel message, and who empowers Christians today to live for Jesus and to share his love. Whether we gave and received many Christmas gifts or few, and irrespective of how much they were appreciated and enjoyed, there is a far greater gift which can be ours. Those who accept this gift and open their hearts to Jesus can know his presence with them, not just at Christmas and New Year, but always.
With love and prayers that God will bless you in the coming year,
Glynis Hetherington
Friday, 17 December 2010
Tuesday, 7 December 2010
DECEMBER 2011 - Vol 32. No. 12
Dear Friends
In the week leading up to Remembrance Sunday I decided to look on the internet for some prayers for peace. I typed in the word “peace” only to receive the message: “The search engine cannot find peace.” I think that, perhaps, the search engine is not alone in being unable to find peace. Many people are caught up in situations beyond their control, whether they are in war torn places or suffering the effects of the economic recession, or facing other situations that disturb their peace. Watching and listening to the news can be pretty depressing and the troubles in the world add to our anxiety levels. No wonder it is hard to find peace.
It was into such a world as this that God came as a tiny baby. Jesus was born to a poor couple far from home. The Holy Family became homeless refugees, fleeing from the wrath of a jealous king. The tale of the baby born in a stable, visited by shepherds who saw a vision of angels and wise men who followed a star, is a wonderful story, but in our telling of it at Christmas we usually stop short of the violence that was unleashed in the wake of these happenings. Even as the infant Jesus lay sleeping peacefully in his manger bed, the forces of evil were threatening to strike. Jesus came as light into a world of darkness, but the darkness was never far away.
It seemed as if the powers of darkness had triumphed thirty-three years later when Jesus Christ hung on a cross. Three days after that the light blazed brighter than ever, for Jesus was alive and death was defeated. It is through his death on a cross that Jesus Christ has reconciled us to God, taking away our sins and pouring out his forgiving love upon a sin sick world. Herein lies our peace.
At Christmas we celebrate the birth of the Prince of Peace; at Easter we celebrate his rising from the dead. Both Christmas and Easter are about birth, about new life – the Christmas story tells of the birth of Jesus and we celebrate this life and light coming into the world. At Easter we think of resurrection and we rejoice that the light still shines, as we celebrate the new life that goes on beyond death for all who are born anew in Christ. The two stories belong together and, indeed, they are part of the same story – the story of what God has done to save us from our sins, and to bring us back into a right relationship with himself. Through Jesus our Saviour we can have peace with God.
May you all find peace this Christmas.
With my love and prayers
Glynis Hetherington
In the week leading up to Remembrance Sunday I decided to look on the internet for some prayers for peace. I typed in the word “peace” only to receive the message: “The search engine cannot find peace.” I think that, perhaps, the search engine is not alone in being unable to find peace. Many people are caught up in situations beyond their control, whether they are in war torn places or suffering the effects of the economic recession, or facing other situations that disturb their peace. Watching and listening to the news can be pretty depressing and the troubles in the world add to our anxiety levels. No wonder it is hard to find peace.
It was into such a world as this that God came as a tiny baby. Jesus was born to a poor couple far from home. The Holy Family became homeless refugees, fleeing from the wrath of a jealous king. The tale of the baby born in a stable, visited by shepherds who saw a vision of angels and wise men who followed a star, is a wonderful story, but in our telling of it at Christmas we usually stop short of the violence that was unleashed in the wake of these happenings. Even as the infant Jesus lay sleeping peacefully in his manger bed, the forces of evil were threatening to strike. Jesus came as light into a world of darkness, but the darkness was never far away.
It seemed as if the powers of darkness had triumphed thirty-three years later when Jesus Christ hung on a cross. Three days after that the light blazed brighter than ever, for Jesus was alive and death was defeated. It is through his death on a cross that Jesus Christ has reconciled us to God, taking away our sins and pouring out his forgiving love upon a sin sick world. Herein lies our peace.
At Christmas we celebrate the birth of the Prince of Peace; at Easter we celebrate his rising from the dead. Both Christmas and Easter are about birth, about new life – the Christmas story tells of the birth of Jesus and we celebrate this life and light coming into the world. At Easter we think of resurrection and we rejoice that the light still shines, as we celebrate the new life that goes on beyond death for all who are born anew in Christ. The two stories belong together and, indeed, they are part of the same story – the story of what God has done to save us from our sins, and to bring us back into a right relationship with himself. Through Jesus our Saviour we can have peace with God.
May you all find peace this Christmas.
With my love and prayers
Glynis Hetherington
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