If you could have anything at all what would it be?
Did you think of a thing, a person or a feeling? That is, would you want something that money could buy or would you want a relationship
restored? Or would you just like to feel better or less tired? While we may have a number of things that would make us feel better, God actually knows what it is that we need the most. It is being in relationship with him. He makes this possible by sending Jesus into our world and Christmas is the time we celebrate this fact.
What’s the problem?
Someone once answered the question of what’s wrong with the world with the words, “I am”. We like to blame everyone else for the problems in the world but the truth is that we are all responsible for not living the way that God wants us to. We have all ignored him and wanted to live our lives our own way and not his. The Bible calls that sin and so when the little girl on Santa’s knee on the back of this card asks for the taking away of the sins of the world that is exactly what God gives to us at Christmas time.
What’s the solution?
Jesus Christ came into our world to die for us on the cross and to take the penalty that we deserve for our sins. In Luke’s Gospel we are told the story of the angel going to the shepherds to tell them of the birth of Jesus, but more importantly he tells them who Jesus was and what he came to do. This is what the passage says:

But the angel said to the shepherds, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. Luke 2:10-11

A Saviour is someone who saves people. Jesus saves us from our sins and the Bible says that when we put our faith and trust in Jesus we are assured of eternal life. This Christmas we would love you to join us at one of our Christmas services. Last year we started two new Family Carols services on Christmas Eve at 5.00pm and 6.30pm. They were very popular with families so we have decided to repeat those services again and hope that you and your family may be able to join us then or at one of the other services that we will be holding at St Stephen’s. We look forward to seeing you this Christmas to celebrate Jesus coming into our world, the one who takes away the sins of the world.
Colin Watson, Rector