Merry Christmas, and I say that wholeheartedly, on this day we celebrate the birth of our Saviour Jesus. It is a day for rejoicing with the angels and with the little ones in our lives, a time for sharing with others a hope that “weeping may endure for the night but joy comes in the morning” (Ps. 30:5). As Advent turns into the Christmas season and the long-awaited climax to the weeks of waiting is here, I encourage you to be glad and rejoice.(Philippians 4:4) Whether you have woken up with great sadness, great joy, a smile or a frown, or something in between, as this special day progresses I pray that you will know the hope, peace, joy and love that the Saviour of the world brings.
“Love divine, all loves excelling” represented in the Christ-child, is why we are celebrating today because “God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself” (2 Cor.5:19). “We love because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19) and without that divine love everything is a pale shadow. So, as we unwrap our presents, let’s remember that opening the Scriptures, to discover the good news that “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”(1 Tim. 1:15), is something we can do all year long. The joy of growing in our knowledge of what Christmas actually means is wrapped up in God’s Word which continues to speak to us through the written accounts of God’s dealings with humankind.
Many gifts opened today may well be put aside for recycling or they may stay with us until we no longer want them, but this gift of “The Word become flesh” over 2,000 years ago, never ceases, as we make room for it, to inspire and to challenge us. Love divine is bound-less, so I pray that in the year ahead we may present to the particular world we inhabit, the Love of God wisely and creatively. Many people are still waiting for the gift of Good News of Great Joy announced by the angels so let us continue to herald the arrival of the One who is present today offering full salvation.
Love divine, all loves excelling,
Joy of heav'n to earth come down,
Fix in us Thy humble dwelling;
All Thy faithful mercies crown!
Jesus, Thou art all compassion,
Pure, unbounded love Thou art;
Visit us with Thy salvation;
Enter every trembling heart.
As we symbolically welcome the Saviour into our lives this Christmas I repeat Merry Christmas, because whether you are in need of Hope, of Peace, or of Joy, all are found in the Love divine which makes the heart glad. Jesus humbled himself to join the mess of the human race so that we might know the freedom and riches of Divine Love. Thanks be to God for such an incredible Gift of Grace. Amen.
Christmas Day 2024 - Elisabeth Sweeney-Smith
President, Congregational Federation
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