Season's Greetings from the Central Office

One member of staff at the Central Office displays a particularly infectious enthusiasm at Christmas. It is she who puts up the tree and tinsel and decorates the wall diary with pictures of holly. She who has an Advent calendar on her desk and reminds us how many days there are till the big Celebration. There must be a similar member in many a family, one who is particularly enthusiastic as Christmas draws nearer and who throws themselves into the traditional preparations.

This is often reflected in our churches. Some congregations have a Sunday school or families in their midst and will present the miraculous tale of the birth of Jesus through a play or drama. Churches who have singers in their midst will venture onto the street or to residential homes to sing carols. Other smaller, and perhaps older, congregations will worship the Word that became flesh in a simple service of thanksgiving and praise.

But however we worship and celebrate as churches, we need enthusiasm, and if we are to show others how important and relevant to them is Christ's coming, our enthusiasm must be infectious! Looking at the nativity scene in the stable, we can see the shephers, the wise men and the angeuls enthusiastically seeking and worshiping the newborn Saviour. If we have lost the enthustiasm and excitement of acknowledging God's grace as it reaches out to us, sinners, through Jesus Christ, then we as individuals and churches must pray for a new measure of the Holy Spirit.

Christmas is a Festival of Light - not because of all the candles and colourful decorations on our streets - but because of the coming of Jesus, Light of the World. In many ways, the world is a very dark place for many people this year. War and terrorism has brought suffering to so many; the innocent continue to weaken and die because of poverty and starvation; the economic situation has led to job losses and hopelessness in many parts of the world.  But as Christians we remember John's words: The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not overcome it. The hope of the Gospel begins with the baby in the manger, but the Gospels end with the call for Jesus's disciples to go out to share and reflect Christ's light. Isaiah says: Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you (chapter 60).  Let us remember that praying for others, and for the dark and hopeless situations of our modern world, is an essential and practical way of spreading Jesus's light and hope. Let us commit enthusiastically to tread the road of prayer - over Christmas and into the New Year.

Ifan Roberts