Pastoral Letter
Dear Friends,
Pauline and I have been overjoyed at the arrival of our first Grandchild on 22nd September. The only downside with the arrival of little Izaac is that he lives in Liskeard in Cornwall, and so we can't get to see him as often as we would like. Fortunately our daughter-in-law is very good at keeping us up-to-date with the latest news about his progress by text messages, including lovely photos. The latest one shows him cuddling up to his favourite soft toy, which makes him smile and gurgle. It is wonderful to think of him starting to take notice of the things around him and to react happily to them.
Mind you, like all babies, he is quick to let everyone know when he isn't happy, by letting out a loud howl!
I am reminded of the story the grandfather who found his grandson jumping up and down in his playpen, crying at the top of his voice. When Johnnie saw his grandfather, he reached up his little chubby hands and said, "Out, Gramps, out."
It was only natural for the grandfather to reach down to lift him out of his predicament, but as he did so the boy's mother came into the room and said, "No, Johnnie, you have been naughty --so you must stay in."
The grandfather was at a loss to know what to do. The child's tears and chubby hands reached deep into his heart. But the mother's firmness in correcting her son must not be taken lightly. But love found a way. The grandfather could not take the grandson out of the playpen, so instead he climbed in with him.
In that story we get an insight into the meaning of the Incarnation. God was so concerned about the state of us, the pinnacle of His creation, he decided to do something wonderful to help us. He climbed in with us. The Bible says, "The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us."Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is "The Word", and, on that first Christmas night, long ago in Bethlehem, he came to live amongst us "full of grace and truth."That is the meaning of Christmas. That God gave us the greatest Christmas gift of all. Delphia Freeman in her lovely poem expresses the true meaning of Christmas this way:-
When the hustle and bustle is over
And the last of the gifts has been wrapped,
And the cookies and cakes are all ready
For the big Christmas plans you have mapped;
When the children are quiet and dreaming
Of the presents Saint Nick will bestow,
And the fire on the hearth burns less brightly,
And the clock has struck twelve long ago;
You relax by the embers and ponder
On this happiest evening of all - On the meaning of Christmas to mankind
By Christ's birth in the low cattle stall.
In the giving of gifts upon Christmas,
People pattern the Father above
Who, in giving His Son, gave His best gift - So the meaning of Christmas is love.
Well, love came down at Christmas, and has been with us ever since. So why not reach out and grasp God's love in your hearts this Christmas time.
Pauline and I wish you a very happy and blessed Christmas.