Dear Friends,

As we enter the Christmas season, all of us will have different traditions that we celebrate with family or friends.  We might also have   traditions that are just personal to us at this time.  One of the traditions that I have enjoyed the last few years is to read a book of daily readings during December entitled, ‘The 31 Days of Christmas’ by Roger Ellsworth.  In the book are 31 readings looking at different people and aspects with the Christmas story.  Each time I read it and think about the events of Christmas each year I am more amazed at how wonderful the Christmas story is. 

God loves this world so much that He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to be born to a virgin mother in a lowly stable in the little town of Bethlehem far from the media spotlight of modern times.  The first people to hear the news were a few shepherds tending to their sheep, not some prominent and well known figure of the day.  Yet how amazing it must have been to see those angels in the sky proclaiming, ‘Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to men on whom His favour rests.’ (see Luke 2:14). 

Yet, what is even more amazing is that the story doesn’t end there, if anything it is just the beginning!  For if you read further on in the Bible you will see how Jesus grew up to become the Saviour of the world that ‘anyone who believeth in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.’ (see John 3:16).  Two thousand years later churches across the world continue to share the message of God’s love for everyone!  The amazing gift of a new life in Jesus is available to all of us, whatever kind of life we have led if we invite Jesus to come into our hearts.  In doing so, we find forgiveness from God for our past wrongs and the chance of a fresh start in Jesus.   

Louise and I hope you have a lovely Christmas and the traditions that you celebrate.  Most of all, we hope that you will give Jesus Christ a place in your heart for as you do you will find that knowing Jesus is the greatest gift that you could ever receive.  We hope you have a happy Christmas and a peaceful New Year!

May God bless you
Paul Wood
Captain