MINISTERS MUSINGS

December 2007 Musing

A Happy CHRISTmas

It is mid November and as I write this the first Christmas card has just dropped through my letter box – all the way from Cornwall. Each year I tell myself that I will not send so many cards and each year I end up by sending (and receiving) even more. Mindful of the cost of sending cards many people now opt out and donate the equivalent amount to charity. It seems superfluous to give cards to people we see regularly, but there is a lot to be said for making contact with friends and relatives once a year. At least it gives the signal that we are still alive!

The first Christmas card appeared in 1843, the idea of a Victorian, Henry Cole who also invented perforated postage stamps. Nowadays millions are sent, many bearing ‘traditional’ Christmas scenes on them, snow, holly, robins, Santas, and of course Nativity scenes. Now that Christmas has become so secularised many cards do not use the word Christmas but have a bland seasonal greeting instead. As Christians we should not take the ‘Christ’ out of Christmas by sending cards that bear no reference to Him. I have decided that all my cards will depict that first Christmas or carry appropriate wording celebrating the baby in the manger; Immanuel, God with us.

Despite the frenetic activity this is a lovely season with a warmth that touches so many. Our churches will be proclaiming the message of Peace and Goodwill in gospel narrative, music and carol. Come and join us. Fill our churches with the love and true meaning of Christmas so that we can go into 2008 with real hope and joy.

Christ is for every day of the year, not just December 25th. That is the best news there is.

A very happy Christmas and blessed New Year to you all.