This Incredible Christmas Present

In his famous play, Green Pastures, playwright Marc Connelly has the angel Gabriel walk on stage with his horn under his arm. He approaches the Lord who is deep in thought. God is troubled about what is happening on earth: So much anger and fighting, so much pain and sadness, so many people blindly ruining their lives. God is very troubled because He has already sent any number of prophets and special messengers, but His people just can't hear them.

Gabriel offers to blow his horn and bring the whole sorry mess to a quick end. But God takes his trumpet away. Gabriel presses the Lord about what He's going to do. And finally the Lord answers, 'This time,' He says, 'I'm not going to send anybody. This time I'm going myself!'

And that's what we're celebrating today: God has given us the best gift He had: His own son as our guide, our brother and our friend. And He'll never take His gift back - not for all eternity.

So what are we to do with this incredible Christmas present? Take it in, all the way inside. Silently and simply, speak His name, 'Jesus,' and know that no matter what, all will be well. All will be well!

Christ, our Redeemer, Your birth has given us life. Accept our vow, as servants of Your word, that we shall spread Your message of peace, of love, of dedication, and hope, from this day forward. Amen

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Suffer the Children

When The Church Sins

Who are We Forgetting?

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As Christmas Approaches

As Christmas approaches, the newspapers are sure to find someone, usually a clergyman, to voice the complaint that the whole season has become nothing more than an orgy of spending and consumption, and to declare that they intend to drop out, and give the money they save to people who need it. With equal certainty, this will then be matched by another voice, condemning such a killjoy attitude, and insisting that we should join in the full festivities, grateful that even such a secular world as ours still gives so much to a major Christmas festival.

This little ritual is a regular occurrence because both voices strike a chord. Sometimes it really does seem as though Christmas Day, when it comes, is more of a whimper than a bang, and all the preparation and expenditure ends in a 'celebration' that for a lot of people doesn't amount to much more than a day in front of the telly, watching special editions of programmes they would have watched anyway.

At the same time, it's deeply built into human beings that from time to time they should push the boat out, and organise occasions when the economical gives way to the extravagant. To refuse ever to do this is not to remain sensible in the face of general foolishness, but to cast ourselves in the part of Scrooge.

It might seem that the answer lies in striking a balance, but the matter goes deeper than this. To know how and where to strike that balance, we need to experience a genuine sense of celebration; we need to know what the point of all the activity is, and what gives it meaning. Otherwise, Christmas really is just going through expensive, if not time honoured motions, a case of perfectly pointless 'shop till you drop.'


Almighty God, in great love You came and lived among us long ago. As Christmas Day approaches, help us to recover a sense of what the great mystery of the Incarnation means, and find again within ourselves a celebrating heart. Amen

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It's A Wonderful Life

I’ve nearly gotten all of the Christmas decorations up. Yes, I’m slow. I admit it.

At the bottom of one box was a DVD - one of my all-time favourites; Frank Capra’s magnificent film – It’s a Wonderful Life, with Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed. I place it in with the Christmas decorations each year as it has become a family tradition to watch the film whilst scoffing down an array of Christmas goodies.

It’s interesting to know that when the film was first released the public’s reception of it was rather lukewarm. Now it’s a Christmas classic being watched by people around the world.

Whilst the film certainly has a Christmas theme, the appeal that causes our cheeks to redden and our eyes to mist is the message of an overwhelming victory of charity over greed, kindness over rudeness, and friendship over alienation.

Just when George Bailey feels he has nothing in the world, no one who loves him, and he’s so alone in the world, the world shows him that he is loved! His friends come to his rescue during his greatest time of need. George Bailey has clearly reaped what he spent his life sowing.

Isn’t this the essence of our celebration of the birth of Jesus? Just when we felt we were alone in the world, Christ came to declare God's love for us.

That's the message of Christmas that opens the door to a wonderful life—the joy of knowing Christ and living in His love.

I wish you all a Joyous Christmas!

Father Bill Haymaker +


Lord Father, You sent a messenger to prepare our hearts for the coming of Your Son. Help us to hear his words and repent our sins, that we may always walk in Your light, living our lives for our Lord, Christ Jesus. Amen

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Moving From Darkness To Light

Who Are We Forgetting?

Suffer The Children

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