Sunday 14th December 2025

Dear Brothers and Sisters

“For my eyes have seen your salvation.”
Galatians 4:4 (NIV)

My Christmas

During some of our Christmas services this year we’re asking several people what their Christmas is like, or it may be what their Christmas was like growing up or perhaps in another country.  We’re also asking them what their favourite Christmas carol is, or line from a carol, and why.  And what is their favourite part of the Christmas story, and why?  You might like to think how you would answer those questions, and then also ask other people about their Christmas.  You may get some surprising and enlightening answers!

What was my Christmas like growing up?  My mother is Danish, while my father was British, so our Christmases growing up were a blend of both cultures.  The Danes make a big thing of Christmas Eve, which is when they open presents.  Unsurprisingly, this practice found favour with the young Hobbs children, whose friends had to wait another day for their presents, and it worked well in a vicarage family.

The tree had to be a real one, ideally with real candles (although I don’t remember those) – in fact, there were generally lots of candles everywhere.  There was also a special kind of rice pudding we ate with a cherry sauce.  And we mustn’t forget the Nisse, who are like elves and need to be kept happy.  And then on Christmas Day we got to do British Christmas as well!

What is my favourite Christmas carol?  There are loads, and it changes from year to year, but one that has long been a favourite is O little town of Bethlehem, and I particularly like this line: ‘The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.’  It sums up for me what the birth of Jesus the Messiah means for those who believe in him.  In that little town, in those dark streets, and on that particular night, something happened that would change the world for ever.  His coming will one day mean that our deepest hopes will be fulfilled and our worst fears overcome… it’s just a matter of time now.

What is my favourite part of the Christmas story?  Again, there are loads, and it depends what I’ve been thinking about, or studying or preaching.  But one part that has long been a favourite is the incident that takes place a week after Jesus is born, when his parents take him to the temple in Jerusalem to present him to the Lord and so fulfil the requirements of the law.

There they meet a man called Simeon, whom I imagine to be quite old, who takes the infant Jesus in his arms and praises God, saying, “My eyes have seen your salvation.”  What he sees  with his eyes is a tiny scrap of humanity, yet he also sees by faith the Saviour of the world, and we’re invited to join him in seeing as he does and praising God as he does.

Prayer
O holy Child of Bethlehem, descend to us, we pray; cast out our sin and enter in, be born to us today.  Amen.

Yours warmly, in Christ,

Chris Hobbs (Senior Minister)