Dear Friends,

Charles Dickens cited in “A Christmas Carol”, “I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all year long.” A narrative that contrasts with the commercial aspects of the month’s countdown in days towards the public holidays of Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Years’ Day on 1 January 2023 and time off in between. I welcome the countdown of days in the season of Advent, which began on 27th November, Christingle services around our villages, Christmas Tree Festival here at St Michael’s and other special events within our villages as we look forward towards the celebration of the birth of Christ on Christmas Day, 25th December. However, what if we had the above celebrations throughout the year?

In the words of Charles Dickens, “we honour Christmas in our heart all year long”. We would have enough time to reflect on the impact of peace and goodwill between village residents, our community and make a difference. Charles M Schultz said: “Christmas is doing a little extra something for someone else”, that ‘extra something’ for every month of the year. In “Miracle on 34th Street”, it was quoted that “Oh, Christmas isn’t just a day. It’s a frame of mind.” A frame of mind held and maintained throughout the year.

We sum up the above quotes in the words of Benjamin Franklin: “A good conscience is a continual Christmas” because we view things differently. We respond differently because of the embedded spirit of Christmas in us. With boldness we ask the following questions: “Who do we notice? Where do we notice these things, What are we going to do about these things?” We are emboldened to becoming Christlike (Courageous, Compassionate and Contemplative) in order to do something positive and lasting that comes from within us.

Christmas is a marker for goodwill not just of the holiday season but in perpetuity with, for example, our loved ones, family, neighbours, community, schools and church. After all, the most important two commandments in the Bible are summarised from the 12th chapter of Mark’s Gospel to: “Love God and Others!” The impact of this goodwill is immeasurable – reaching beyond the boundaries of our villages one person at a time. We help someone and that blessing is passed on increasing within a multiplier effect. This is on the assumption that we are genuinely open to doing something new. The journey begins with a greater self-awareness of Christmas from within the heart of God to ours, where change is most impacted.

This “continual Christmas” reminds us that we live out these behaviours daily to become the shop window of our faith in Jesus Christ. Christmas is the portable life-giving attitude for taking anywhere on this practical road of life throughout the year. According to Dale Evans, “Christmas, my child is love in action. Every time we love, every time we give, it’s Christmas.” Isn’t that wonderful! As a Parish Church community, we helped many village residents and families in 2022 with emergency food provision and personal referrals in partnership with Buckinghamshire Council and Coop Retailer Charity. The Spirit of Christmas means that our emergency support cannot pause after Christmas but be maintained in the coming year of 2023 and beyond.

On the 25th day of this month, we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, the reason for Christmas. This wonderful mystery of God’s dwelling among us in the fullness of humanity as Emmanuel, historically foretold by the Old Testament Prophets and born of Mary. Also known as the Lord, the Messiah, the Saviour of the world, He is recognised as a baby lying in a manger and wrapped snuggly in strips of cloth. He was the light for people who walked in darkness, a light that shined on all where death casts its shadow, and He remains the light of the world for us in the present and the future.

Christmas is thus a timely reminder that we are not just celebrating the birth of Christ but the enduring outcome of His humanity in the last three years of His life, which reached the outer limits of earth over 2,000 years to date. It is also a time to refresh our assumption that it is a state of mind to nurture rather than a date in the diary.

I do hope that you will take the time to join us in one or more of our Christmas Services in the Parish churches. On behalf of our Parish, may I wish you and your families the love of Christ, His peace and goodwill this Christmas season and a new year of blessings.

Yours

Reverend Rickey Simpson-Gray

Parish of the Claydons

Christmas Blessing

May the Father,

who has loved the eternal Son

from before the foundation of the world,

shed that love upon you, his children.

May Christ, who by his incarnation

gathered into one

things earthly and heavenly,

fill you with joy and peace.

May the Holy Spirit,

by whose overshadowing Mary

became the God-bearer, give you grace

to carry the good news of Christ.

Amen