From the Pastor's pen:

Christmas is upon us once again! Let’s be brutally honest and admit that to most people Christ plays no part in their Christmas at all. I see a two fold trend in our society. Firstly, there are many who want Christmas to have no religious content at all. ‘The Festive Season’ or whatever name they want to call it is to be celebrated without reference to Jesus in any way. Living in a multi religious society, so the

argument goes, means that Christianity should have no

prominent place but must take its place alongside all the other religions as one amongst equals. Secondly, the trend is to keep the name ‘Christmas’ because it is traditional to do so but to use the name as a cover for a bit of religion (just for the kids of course) for Father Christmas, decorations, food, drink, presents and all that goes with a consumer obsessed society. Increasingly the meaning of Christmas is buried under layers of useless tat.

As Christians we ought, I believe, to constantly remember the birth of Jesus, for the incarnation was the most astonishing event of all history and upon it

depends our eternal salvation. Let’s use this time of the year to re-read and meditate upon the birth of Jesus thoughtfully and carefully, like Mary did (Luke 2:19) and let’s be ready to tell people the REAL meaning of Christmas for there might be some out there who are tired of the politically correct cynics and weary of the tacky consumerism and have a longing in their hearts to know more about the birth of the Lord Jesus.

The shepherds glorified and praised God (Luke 2:20) - May that be OUR

priority this Christmas Season!

With Christian love, Cyril