|
Thought for the Month from Revd Shaula Reilly
 Rev Shaula Reilly
Vicar, St Andrew's Church, Gorleston
One of the things I really love at this time of year, which wasn’t really around in the same way when I was growing up, is seeing so many houses lit up with Christmas lights. And of course there are all the Christmas tree lights as well as the beautiful decorations in Gorleston High Street. On a dark, cold night it brings me such a lot of joy at a time of year that could otherwise be a bit gloomy as the days get shorter and shorter
People have always celebrated the time in midwinter when the days start to get longer and lighter again. This year the winter solstice and shortest day is on 21st December, which in ancient times was marked by the festival of Yule which was all about light and feasting, celebrating the hope of the light returning. And when Christianity arrived in England, St Augustine hopped on the back of this popular winter celebration by introducing Christmas as a time to celebrate the birth of Jesus – the coming of a different kind of light
And in the same way that lots of us wait for the coming of the shortest day and the return of the light, some of us start to open Advent calendars at the beginning of December, counting down the days in the wait for Christmas. Advent Sunday very conveniently falls on 1st December this year and marks the beginning of the Church year, which starts with this time of waiting with joy, hope and expectation for Christmas
I wonder what you might be waiting for? You might be full of excitement, wondering if Christmas Day is ever going to come. You might be waiting for presents, turkey or mince pies or mulled wine, singing carols, celebrating with people you love or wearing that Christmas cracker hat. You might be looking forward to, or worriedly dreading, all the preparations that need to be made. You might be waiting with happy anticipation, but you might also be waiting in deep sorrow or loneliness, or with anxiety from the pressure to have a perfect Christmas
However you’re feeling, good or bad, Christmas is the time when we remember that God came to live amongst us in the person of Jesus – the vulnerable baby who grew up to experience all the highs and lows of our human lives – friendship and celebration, but also rejection, betrayal and suffering. Jesus really does understand all these things. And whatever life is like at the moment, he promises to be with us in it all, bringing his love and light to all our joys and sadness. Because as well as laying down his life out of love for us, Christians believe that he also rose from the dead, defeating evil and death, and offering each one of us his new life
We don’t really know what time of the year Jesus was actually born, but it doesn’t really matter, as his story can bring light to our own stories all year round. But it seems very fitting to me to celebrate the Light of the World in the dark and cold of winter, holding on to his hope and his different story for our lives
There are loads of special Christmas events being organized by the different churches around Gorleston and I know they would love to welcome you to find out more about Jesus who offers his light to everyone
‘The light shines in the darkness, and the
darkness has not overcome it’
– John 1:5
courtesy of Gorleston Community Magazine
The views carried here are those of the author, not of Network Yarmouth, and are intended to stimulate constructive and good-natured debate between website users
We welcome your thoughts and comments, posted at the bottom of the relevant article. We would ask you to abide by our forum rules and may delete any comments which do not
We welcome your thoughts and comments, posted below, upon the ideas expressed here
|
|
|
|
