Who’s Coming for Christmas?




A local charity contacted the church to see if anyone could visit an elderly housebound gentleman. I left the house knowing more about this person...

…The gentleman is a Hungarian Baron whose family was killed by the Nazis. He fled with his mother from Hungary to London following the 1956 uprising after years of persecution at the hands of first the Fascists, and then the Soviet regime. I was fascinated to hear his story and I look forward to visiting him again. I didn’t know where this pastoral visit would lead me, but I am glad I went to visit this gentleman. Just shows the importance of pastoral visits especially during this period.

This reminds me of God calling ordinary people in the Christmas story. 

  • The angel tells Mary not to be afraid and that all things are possible to God. We live in a society struggling to come to terms with youth culture. So many young people are crying out to be accepted, to be loved, and to be recognised.

And God invites all the Marys…all young people who are trying to make sense of what is happening in their life to come to see Immanuel - God with us.


  • The angel of the Lord appears to Joseph in a dream and encourages him no to be afraid to marry Mary. Joseph was a righteous obedient man, demonstrating integrity and humility, and a good father to Jesus. 




Who are the forgotten and hidden people in our society?

God invites all the Josephs …those who feel hidden or forgotten to come and see Immanuel – God with us.

  • Shepherds minding their own business and their flocks. They were doing their work. To be a shepherd meant you were ‘bottom of the pile’, seen as those on the edge of society…had to keep watch so couldn’t always fulfil all religious observances…called ‘sinners’ were the untouchables. Yet it is to these people that God revealed the birth of His Son.


God calls ordinary people and makes them extraordinary. 


Last week I was moved watching BBC breakfast when presenter Dan Walker visited Terrence. Terrence has spent Christmas Day alone for the last 20 years. He’ll now be spending Christmas with a good friend he’s met through his work with the charity Age UK. After mentioning he didn’t have a Christmas tree, Dan Walker was able to surprise him with a tree, and Oldham College sang carols. 




The well-known song ‘O Holy Night’ says..

‘Truly He taught us to love one another;
His law is love and His Gospel is Peace
Chains shall He break, for the slave is our brother
And in His name, all oppression shall cease
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we
Let all within us Praise His Holy name
Christ is the Lord; O praise His name forever!
His power and glory evermore proclaim
His power and glory evermore proclaim’


Jesus came into the world to show us to love one another.

Who’s coming for Christmas?

Christmas is for the Hungarian Baron and Terrence... and all people are invited. 

Have a lovely Christmas. 

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