A Christmas message from the vicar of St Helens Parish Church

It’s Saturday morning the week before Christmas.

I’ve got two children fighting over a ball they both want shouting “Mine! My turn! Share!” In the middle of this, I answer my phone and the church warden tells me the flower arrangers coming in to church to do the Christmas flowers have discovered the vestries (like the back stage area of church) and the basement are under 6 inches of water!

A frozen pipe had burst, and the fire brigade were there pumping it out.

Many people who I’ve told that we’ve had a leak have commented “that’s the last thing you need at Christmas”! True, but that has got me thinking:

There’s a lot of pressure on Christmas to be perfect isn’t there? It has be bright and glossy, fun and loud, filled with joy. Because as Andy Williams reminds us “it’s the most wonderful time of the year!”

But for so many of us, it simply isn’t. Maybe it reminds us of people we’ve lost who we miss, or maybe you don’t get on with your relatives and the idea of spending time with them is daunting. Maybe you haven’t got anyone to spend time with, and the Christmas holiday will feel very long and lonely.

I’ve got a suggestion: shall we reclaim the heart of Christmas?

The heart of Christmas is a celebration of a baby being born in circumstances far removed from what we might think of as perfect. Born and laid in a borrowed manger, surrounded by smelly animals, far away from family or friends. The first visitors were Shepherds, not beaming grandparents. This baby, I believe, was unique. Because this baby was God born to be with us, to live on earth and go about among us.

A perfect Christmas then doesn’t need to look like the films. A perfect Christmas is about returning to the heart of Christmas – God with us – ‘Emmanuel’, a gift beyond all measure that is for each and everyone of us.

  • A Family Christmas Carols event will take at St Helens Parish Church at 4pm on Christmas Eve. There will be fun for all ages, everyone is welcome.
  • A Midnight Christmas Communion will take place at 11.15pm on Christmas Eve, December 24.