We will shortly be starting our Christmas countdown. For the year 2’s at both Westbury Leigh and Dilton Marsh schools they have had a head start!

Each year, I invite the children in year 2 to invite Mary, Joseph and a donkey to have a sleep over at their home. The kit includes the story of the Nativity, and a journal. The children are invited to use their imaginations and to write a journal entry as if they might be Mary, Joseph or even the donkey. You can imagine how much the children enjoy this activity. I, too, enjoy sharing it with them and look forward to joining the children on the last day of term to see how they got on and the adventures that Mary and Joseph have been on.

It sometimes feels a bit strange talking about Christmas just as we are in the season of remembering those whom have gone before us, whether that’s family members recently, those who have been killed in action or those who lived many years ago but were heroic in their faith. I am mindful that in todays culture we want everything fast whether that’s meals, washing, communications, commute times, coffee, we even want people to ‘get over their grief’ fast. Grief is an emotion that causes great sadness in ones’ life. It is not something that can be rushed. We experience grief for various reasons - it may be that we have lost our jobs, our security, our home, our dreams or even hope for the future. When things change we often feel grief even if we know that the change is for a good reason.

When Joseph asked Mary to marry him, he would have been delighted when she said yes, you can perhaps, imagine his shock, confusion and grief when she told him she was going to have a baby (when he knew it wasn’t his!). Joseph was reassured through a dream, he developed the confidence to go ahead with the marriage and to bring Jesus up as his own. Joseph and Mary had a lot to deal with in Jesus’s early years, they had to escape from Israel as they feared persecution, they became refugees taking up residence in Egypt before being able to go back to their homeland. We do not know much about those particular years, but when we watch the plight of the refugees today we know that people, families have to find a way to survive it is not something they would choose to do. I think almost everyone would prefer the stability of family and friends around them as well as the security of home and work.

When I went to visit the schools, I was challenged by one child in particular, he told me that he thought Santa was mean as not every child would receive a gift this Christmas.

He is right to be cross about that!

He is right to think about children who will not hear about God’s love brought to them through his Son Jesus.

Perhaps as Christians we have become too much caught up in the hype of Christmas tinsel and parties and have forgotten how to be open, as Mary and Joseph were, to the love of God being born within.

As we contemplate our preparations for Christmas Day perhaps you would like to include a 10 min break at midday and pray with me for the children and families that are caught up in dangerous situations and ask God to make his presence known to them (and to yourself), that they/we may experience his love like never before. What a perfect gift to give this Christmas,

Grace and peace,

Caroline

From the registers

Holy Trinity Church

5th Nov Brody Adam Aaron Williams

Oakley Adam Aaron Williams