Christmas Letter from the Vicar

My dearest brothers and sisters,
Good news of great joy for all the people!
What the Angel of the Lord says to the shepherds on that night is the truth. Thebirth of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Word becoming flesh, is the most remarkable and wonderful event in the history of everything. It is truly the gospel, good news.
Where so much of our lives can feel like they are being run by bad news, the knowing of Christ with us is good news.
It is good news of great joy. It is God dwelling with us, knowing us, being with us through all the messiness of life. There is a joy that comes with a sense of peace,and a feeling of being loved, regardless of who we are or what we may have done. It is knowing that whatever we go through, be it suffering, betrayal, pain, any kind of testing, because of the incarnation we know that God has experienced such things.When we suffer, we can know that God really knows what it is like. When we suffer, we can know that God is with us in that moment. We are never alone.
It is good news of great joy for all the people.
The Angel knew it, and Mary knew it. No one is excluded. God dwelling among us means everyone can be with him.
He doesn’t care about your bank balance, what position you hold, or whatever you may have done. He cares about you, and your heart.
The Good News of Jesus’ birth is good news for everyone. It is the story of God’s love. The birth of his Son is the revealing of his love in his desire to be with us, his desire to be with us through all the messiness of life.
That is truly good news of great joy for all the people.
Peace be with you all.

Father Chris