Dear all,

This is my final letter of the year and I do hope that you are safe and well.  In these strange times I hope that you have a pleasant Christmas whatever that may look like.  Disappointment is never easy but especially at this time of year it can be particularly cruel.  We have, like many of you, had all our plans for this ‘Christmas bubble’ cancelled.  But we will still celebrate together at home.  However, despite our disappointment, I feel especially sorry for those people who will not get to see anyone over the Christmas period and remain alone.  This seems especially cruel and unkind in my opinion.  Mary and Joseph after their long journey must have experienced disappointment when they arrived at the inn to find no room, we read this in our reading of the week from Luke 2: 1-14. 

Mary and Joseph had to make a journey at what must have been a stressful time for them.  Their baby was due any day and because the emperor, Caesar Augustus, had issued a decree for a census to be taken across the Roman world people had to travel to their hometowns.  They had to travel from Nazareth down to Bethlehem which was a journey of about 68 miles.  Now imagine taking that journey, it does not sound that bad does it, apart from the fact that the couple did not travel by car or use nicely tarmacked roads, but it was on a donkey, guided by Joseph on foot along bumpy, uneven paths.  It would have been exceedingly difficult.  If we assume Joseph walked at 2.5 miles an hour, it would have equated to roughly 27 hours of walking.  Well over a day and then on arrival to experience the massive disappointment must have been upsetting and stress-filled. 

One question that arises in my mind is that if this was Joseph’s hometown why weren’t any of his relatives here?  Had they all died, or all moved away?  However, they were offered the stable and it was here that Jesus was born.  We read that ‘she wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.’  The fact that Mary and Joseph managed this tremendously difficult journey and then endured Mary’s first birth in such basic conditions is a miracle itself and yet so many amazing things happened that the whole event is incredible from start to finish. 

We read next that shepherds living out in the fields nearby were startled when an angel appeared to them and announced that a Saviour had been born in David’s town.  If this was not a revelation to them, a whole choir then appears praising God.  What a sight this must have been!   Earlier this year, January in fact, I had the privileged of visiting both the site of Jesus’ birth and the field where the visit of the angels appeared to the shepherds is supposed to have taken place.  Both sites now have churches built on them.  I found both places very moving but especially the Communion service we shared at the shepherds’ field whilst another group why singing while shepherds watched their flocks by night in the background.  What amazing events to ponder as we consider the gift God sent us all, His Son.  I hope despite the disappointment you can experience the hope and joy of the season.  Laura and I wish you all a happy and peaceful Christmas

May our Lord Jesus Christ, the Saviour born for us all, bless us now and always,