The shops are full the decorations are out. In church we are preparing for- but not celebrating yet- Christmas. The last Sunday in Advent (Dec 21st) is also the shortest day or longest night. Not everyone gets the lift some say they should expect at Christmas. Maybe benefit changes, sanctions or deliberate delays in the system have forced them to use the food bank. Some will have lost people they love recently, for many there are hard memories of Christmas as well as pleasurable ones. That is why we have Advent- to remind ourselves that we need God and I Jesus we know that God is with us. That is not to say that all who know Jesus suddenly find life easy or always fun; they don’t. We do know, however, that when we recognise Jesus as God with us even in the darkest of moments we know that God understands being human and that God is with us supporting us in the hard times and celebrating the good ones.
Just as the days lengthen after Christmas so with the coming of Christmas we know that there is light in the world which is greater than grief guilt or fear.
All of our churches have services over Christmas you will be welcome to come along to any of the services and to share with us as we give thanks for God’s love to all of us.
Services you might like to know about:
In Grange
21st December 10:30am last Sunday in Advent and Carols: a joint Service at the URC with our Methodist friends
We do not have special services for Christmas Eve but our friends at St Paul’s Parish Church do. Look for their web site for more information.
Christmas Day 10:30 45 minute celebration of Christmas