Unto us a Child is born Isaiah 9: 6&7

^‘For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  His authority shall grow continually, and there shall be endless peace’                         

These words from Isaiah remind us greatly what Christmas should be about for a Christian world. We celebrate the birth of Christ in our Churches during the period of Advent and Christmas and yet in the outside world that celebration is shrouded, almost overshadowed, in all the trappings of presents, food and drink.

We as a Church have a wonderful opportunity to turn that around and make known the true meaning of Christmas. When you reflect on the words of Isaiah it is plain to see that Jesus was entering a world with its weight on his young shoulders. He is to be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Throughout His ministry here on earth he was all of those things and even today we are reminded of how his ministry has been handed on to us through his eternal gift to us of the Holy Spirit. Our God is a very generous God sharing with us his love, his Son. May we this Christmas time be generous to him in return as we celebrate the wonderful given to us. Isaiah said ‘His authority shall grow continually’ and it is through the work and celebration of His Church that will happen.

May your preparation in Advent be peaceful and may your celebration of his birth be joyful and may you come to share in the blessings that he truly brought into this world and may the outside world put away its trappings and reflect on Jesus.

With every Blessing at this Christmas time.                    

 Barry