CHRISTMAS MESSAGE

God, Jesus, Angels, Shepherds, Kings, 

Milton Jones, John Betjeman, Coronovirus, and...HOPE.

November 30th and I’m on my way upstairs to fetch the Christmas lights.  I check they’re working and I’m outside arranging them on the front garden fence.  After that I bring in the Christmas tree from the back garden so that Anne can decorate it. 

I‘ve never done that so long before Christmas before, but I’m nothing like as early as some people where I live – Christmas trees and lights were appearing in early November.  And no doubt it’s the same where you live.  Christmas in 2020 has come very early.

So what’s going on? 

In part, at least, I think it’s a protest against the Coronavirus, a defiant gesture, a two-fingered salute.  Christmas Day family get-togethers may be under threat, but we’re not going to be cowed by Covid 19. 

Just as we came out in our thousands to applaud the NHS and have some interaction with our neighbours, sometimes with musical accompaniment – people in my road formed an impromptu band – so the lighting up of our houses, shows that we need, literally as well as figuratively, some light in the darkness, something to look forward to, something in which to place our hope.

And what could be more appropriate than to place that hope in Christmas? ...

To read more of Richard's Christmas Message, click HERE