Rector’s Christmas Letter

When many people think of Christmas, they think of Santa Claus, elves and Rudolf the red-nosed reindeer.  There’s a temptation to put the birth of Jesus into the same category—not really real, but sort of part of the fun of Christmas.

But Christmas is historical.  It really happened.  The Son of God truly came into this world. Born in a unique way, he truly took on our flesh, lived amongst us and died for us. 

Secondly, Christmas is joyful.  God really cares for us.   The  question is why did the Son of God come into this world in the first place?  The angels described the birth of Jesus to the shepherds as ‘…good news of great joy… for all the people’ (Luke 2:10).

He has come to bring us the joy of salvation, of a new beginning, of becoming a new creation, the joy of being accepted by God, the joy of being a child of God, the joy of forgiveness.

In a miserable Covid-19 world, joy is in short supply.  However, God truly cares for us and has provided for our deepest joy in the person and work of his Son.

And thirdly, Christmas is essential.

Yes, we know that Christmas shopping this year is essential for our retailers; we know that Christmas this year is essential for our mental health—just to have some normality in a very hard year.   But, there’s another, deeper, way in which it is essential.  The first Christmas was essential because it is essential that we have a Saviour, someone to pay the price we deserve to pay for our sins.  It is essential that we find forgiveness.  All this is ours in Christ.

May you and all whom you love know the truth of Christmas and discover the joy of knowing the one who gave us Christmas!