Church News – December 2025

Christmas message from the Minister, Br James

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas. It’s my favourite time of year, despite it being my busiest. I love the joy and twinkle that comes from spreading Christmas cheer, whatever that means to you. There is something special that seems to bring out a glow in those you know and places all around us reflect that with decorations, music and themed events.

I’ve noticed this year that people seem to have committed to the Christmas spirit even earlier than normal. It seems every year to get earlier and earlier but this year I saw my first Christmas tree shortly after the end of Halloween. I think it’s a difficult balance to make as going too early can make you sick of Christmas by the time it actually arrives. I worked for Warner Hotels for 10 months as part of the entertainment team at Holme Lacy House in Hereford. We began our turkey and tinsel events on bonfire night. This meant by the time it came to Christmas day I was done. Even the thought of dressing up a giant turkey and getting chased through the restaurant by the chef, wasn’t enough to get me in the mood.

I do think though, that people are going early this year because there is so much worry, sadness and anger in the world at the moment and people are crying out for the joy that comes from Christmas. As Christians this is a special time for celebrating as well. The birth of Christ, the most amazing story ever told, is one that should unite people in joy. The very Son of God was born in the humblest of settings to ordinary people and would go on to bring a message of joy to the world and hope to the hopeless, love to the unloved and peace to a war torn and hate filled world. Let us be part of that joy and share it to all who need to hear this message. The greatest gift, the sweetest present is knowing you are loved by God, for who you are and wherever you are.

I wish you all a joyous and peaceful Christmas season and a happy New Year.

God bless, James

NEWS

Another year is rapidly coming to a close and we have plenty to keep us busy this month.  Firstly, the Besses Band, who are coming to perform another Christmas Concert on Friday, 5th December at 7.30 p.m.  Please make sure you have your ticket.  This is truly an event not to be missed. 

We have our regular morning worship during the month, but probably, for me, the highlight will be the Christingle Service which, this year, will be held on Sunday, 21st December at 6 p.m.  Christmas Day worship will be held at 10.30 a.m. and we look forward to welcoming you to any, or all, of these services.

Please remember to bring in your mission boxes and YPMA donations by the end of December. 

CHRISTMAS UNWRAPPED!

All of us have received unwanted gifts at Christmas. For Joseph the gift of a child, as recorded in Matthew chapter 1, was not something he really wanted. Although he was engaged to Mary, her pregnancy would be grounds for divorce. Not surprisingly, with the associated social disgrace, Joseph wanted to divorce Mary quietly (Matthew 1:19). However, God intervened in a dream: ‘The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call Him Immanuel, which means, God with us.’ (1:23). In a scary and uncertain world, what does the message of Immanuel say to us today?

God is present with us

God assured Joseph that He was working in all that Joseph was going through. The eternal and creator God entered time and space as a baby. This baby is both uniquely divine but also fully human. This means that we can know God personally, not just know about Him. The Holy Spirit is committed to making Jesus’ life and character real in us, and bringing meaning to our circumstances, just as He worked in Mary’s life.

God is on our side

Christmas touches some raw nerves in our lives, including stress, family rows, loneliness and financial pressures. However, God does not remain aloof from our experiences. In Jesus He enters our world of hopes and fears, joys and disappointments. He understands what we are going through, as He is alongside us. By the cross and resurrection, He gave His life that we might know His love, joy, peace and forgiveness.

For Joseph, as well as us, the Christmas message is one of hope in an uncertain world. It is a time to re-consider the claims of Immanuel (‘God with us’) as we entrust ourselves to Him for the coming year.

ELDERLY AND DEPRESSED THIS WINTER? GO TO CHURCH!

Older people with depression can see a bigger improvement in their mental health if they start going to church than if they engage in charity work or sport.

Research from the London School of Economics found that joining a religious organisation is the best way of combatting depression. It may be both that having a faith gives benefit, and also because meeting up with other people of faith gives a sense of belonging. The LSE also found evidence that membership of some political and community organisations may have a poor impact on an older person’s mental health. 

UKRAINE CRISIS APPEALS

Winter is coming, and in Ukraine that can mean temperatures dropping to minus 20C. With the war still raging, and vital infrastructure being destroyed by the Russian, millions of people are in need of food, shelter, warmth, and medical supplies. To try and help, several UK Christian charities are running Christmas appeals. They include:

World Vision:  Its Ukraine Crisis Appeal works with partners to provide urgent aid, educational support, psychosocial assistance, and child-friendly spaces for displaced children and families. Details at: https://www.worldvision.org.uk

Tearfund: Sends emergency supplies through its Christian partners in Ukraine and neighbouring countries. It also engages in landmine awareness training and social support for the elderly. Details at: https://www.tearfund.org

DON’T LOSE YOUR WAY!

If you are travelling far this Christmas, pray that your satnav works, or that there is a woman in the car. Research has found that men are so reluctant to ask directions that they waste hours and miles every year. Over a lifetime of travel, it can work out to a wasted journey from Land’s End to John O’ Groats.

Very few men will ask for help or check a map to avoid unnecessary travel. They prefer to wander hopefully until they find their route on their own, regardless of how long it takes them.

Which of course has inspired the joke: Why did the Children of Israel wander in the wilderness for 40 years? Because Moses was a man and wouldn’t ask directions…

Prayer for Christmas 2025

Dear Father,

Christmas is coming. It’s all such a rush – planning, shopping, spending, wrapping, posting, stressing! What’s it all about?

Lord, help us, in all the rat-race busyness, to make time to focus on that baby at the centre of it all. That baby who is Your Son, who was with You in the beginning and who, with You, created all things; that baby who brings life and light and hope and salvation; that baby who was and is Jesus, God, made man.

Lord, we thank You for that baby-gift to us – the greatest gift there has ever been. Thank You that because He came, grew up, lived, died and rose again, there is light in the darkness of this world’s mess – light that can never be put out, that evil can never overcome.

Jesus is the Light of the World. Putting our trust in Him, we thank You Lord, for Christmas – for Your grace and love for us. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

By Daphne Kitching

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		WHAT’S ON IN DECEMBER 2025
Friday	5th	BESSES BOYS’ CHRISTMAS CONCERT	7.30 p.m.
SUNDAY	7th	CHRISTMAS LESSONS AND CAROLS led by Sr Kerry Cain	11 a.m.
Monday	8th	Church Committee meeting on Zoom	7.30 p.m.
Wednesday	10th	M.W.A. Christmas Lunch	12 noon
SUNDAY	14th	MORNING WORSHIP WITH HOLY COMMUNION led by Br James	11 a.m.
Friday	19th	Christingle Making in the Schoolroom	6.30 p.m.
SUNDAY	21st	MORNING WORSHIP led by Sr Glenys CHRISTINGLE SERVICE led by Br James	11 a.m. 6 p. m.
THURSDAY	25th	CHRISTMAS DAY WORSHIP	10.30 am
SUNDAY	28th	MORNING WORSHIP led by Sr Gillian Taylor	11 a.m.