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|  What Christmas is all about... Twelve-year-old Andrew waited in the church hallway, costumed and ready for his role as the boy Jesus in the Christmas musical. Perhaps he felt just a hint of self-importance as he watched a much younger child tug at his father’s sleeve, point in his direction, and ask, ‘Who is that, Daddy?’ The father, however, continued toward the nursery area without answering his son’s question. Turning back, the young child asked Andrew directly, ‘Who are you?’ Andrew smiled proudly and gave what seemed an obvious answer: ‘I’m what Christmas is all about’. ‘Oh!’ the little boy replied, startled. ‘I’m sorry, Santa!’ That story illustrates how the greatest message in the world can so easily get swallowed up in the razzamatazz around Christmas. Yet it only takes a moment to look at the word Christmas and it should be obvious to everyone that the coming of Jesus Christ is truly what Christmas is all about. Christmas. It’s about: Amazing Love ‘For unto us is born this day in the city of David a saviour, who is Christ the Lord’. This is the amazing love that is at the heart of Christmas. It’s the love that comes from heaven and dwells in every heart that receives Christ and welcomes him in. ‘But to all who believed in him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn – not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God’ (John 1: 12-13). Christmas. It’s about: Greater Love Jesus came to the stable, lived a completely sinless life and gave his life that all mankind might receive him. ‘Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends’ (John 15: 13). His followers are today called by him to bring as many people as possible to the best relationship they can ever have – a relationship which offers love from God to each one of them. Christmas is a God given opening for us to present this amazing message of love to those we know and love - to so many people. The choir, singers and musicians will share this message in our traditional service of lessons and carols and at the Christmas Eve Communion. The children and will use all their skills and joy to lead us in worship in their nativity presentation and on Christmas Day we look forward to a gathering for the whole family together to share in the joy of Christ’s birthday. Will you share these expressions of God’s love with someone who needs to experience it? Christmas. It’s about: Wild Love As I think back on 2006 one of the things that sticks in my memory is the lyrical Scottish accent of Nancy Goudie proclaiming in the Cathedral: ‘Jesus is wild about you! Do you know that Jesus is wild about you?’ In return let’s be wild about Jesus this Christmas. It would be so easy to miss what it’s all about. ‘How wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ’ (Ephesians 3: 18). Take Jesus to your heart this Christmas. Make Jesus the heart of your Christmas. Wishing you a very happy and blessed Christmas. Sam Wright
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