Christmas messages 2017: Bishops’ words of wisdom

The Bishop of Dudley

The Bishop of Dudley has urged people to look beyond the ‘darkness’ that has marred much of this year during the festive period.

The Rt Rev Graham Usher highlighted the London and Manchester terror attacks and Grenfell Tower tragedy as among the darkest moments of 2017.

He encouraged people to try to focus more on the positives this Christmas – paying particular heed to the story surrounding Jesus’ birth.

The Bishop said life ‘hovers’ between the positive and negative – but ‘too much’ of this last year seems to have been about the latter.

However, the festive period offers the perfect time to reflect and focus on the light rather than the dark in life.

The Bishop said: “Much of life seems to hover between darkness and light.

“Too much of 2017 seems to have been about darkness: uncertainty on the world stage and dangerous threats in tweets; the continued plight of refugees and minorities; the bombing of a pop concert; knife attacks on our streets; the horrifying fire at Grenfell Tower; and the hardships that have resulted from the roll out of Universal Credit. Christmas reminds us that God’s way is one of light: human lives that are flourishing; seeking the common good for our communities; bringing healing out of brokenness, hope out of despair, peace out of hatred, and joy out of sorrow.

“So see again around the back of the inn and peer in at that stable carved out of honeycomb rock where the faces of new parents are picked out in the light of an oil lamp.

“See again the dark Judean hillside, the rocky terraces, and the shepherds being woken from their slumber by the light that shone all around them.

“And see again the magi travelling from afar, their faith resting on the light of a new star that shines in the night sky and guides their path.

“All of these characters’ eyes are soon set on the infant Jesus.

“They see how he radiates and reflects the unimaginable beauty and light of the source from which he comes.

“This child brings light in the darkness not to some lives but to all lives.

“When we open our hearts to him, so something of that light also radiates from us. In turn, we bring light in places and situations of darkness. My prayer is that the light of Jesus will fill your Christmas this year.”

The Bishop of Worcester

“Christmas is a time of goodwill,” says the Bishop of Worcester.

During his Christmas message, the Rt Rev Dr John Inge has spoken about the hardships faced by some people and how touched he has been by the lengths others are going to help them.

Bishop John praised the work of food banks that are helping to feed the hungry all year round and have been particularly busy in the run-up to the festive season.

He believes food banks show ‘love in action’ and are a sign of ‘people demonstrating concern for those in need’.

During his message he speaks about a recent visit to Worcester food bank, which is based in Lowesmoor Wharf and organised by local churches.

On the day he stopped by, he said it was a ‘hive of activity’ as staff sorted through the many donations from the public supporting its work.

He said the fact that food banks are there for those who turn to them to help, not just at Christmas but also at other times of the year, shows that goodwill should be for all seasons.

Bishop John said: “Christmas is a time of goodwill. ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will to all people’ sang the angels at the birth of Jesus, as recorded by St Luke in the Bible.

“I recently visited Worcester food bank, which like many others, is organised by local churches, and which is a hive of activity at Christmas time.

“When thinking about goodwill, you won’t find a better example than food banks. They are a tangible sign of goodwill, of people demonstrating concern for those in need.

“Food banks show love in action rather than an airy, sentimental sort of love.

“Similarly, Christmas makes clear that God doesn’t just love us in an airy, sentimental, romantic sort of fashion, which doesn’t actually do anything. God’s love takes action in order to care for us, in order to save us.

‘God so loved the world that he sent his only son into the world’ St John tells us. The word ‘Jesus’ means ‘he saves’.

“Jesus came to Earth in order to demonstrate the great love that God has for us, to enfold us and save us with that love.

“And although at Christmas the shelves of food banks are filled with Christmassy things as well as essentials, in order to try and give people just that little bit extra to be cheerful about, in fact food banks operate all the year round – goodwill should be for all seasons.

“The same is true of God’s love.

“For what God shows us in the birth of the Christ child, which we celebrate at this time, is his unending, invincible and abiding love for us.

“A love which will be in action for us into all eternity.

“I wish you a very happy Christmas.”

The Bishop of Lichfield

We should always treat one another with kindness and care, says The Bishop of Lichfield.

The Rt Rev Dr Michael Ipgrave says he has been disappointed by people who, while hiding behind their computer or smartphone screens, use ‘bitter, vindictive and hurtful’ language while speaking to others.

Branding 2017 as the Year of The Troll, he said there have been times when people have hit out at those who have opposing views.

But despite this, he said in his Christmas message that he has been pleased to witness acts of kindness happening every day across our communities from people caring for those with dementia to those offering a listening ear to someone in need.

He says we all have a choice about how we act and appealed to everyone to follow the ‘better way’.

The Bishop said: “So often in the past year grace and truth seem to have been in short supply in some parts of our public and political life.

“The language we use toward one another and about one another has been bitter, vindictive and hurtful.

“‘Fake news’ has been promoted, and fake allegations of fake news have been common.

“On social media in particular, the cloak of anonymity has meant that people seem to lose all restraint in attacking those with whom they disagree. 2017 has in many ways been the Year Of The Troll.

“But at the same time, as I have travelled around the Diocese of Lichfield, I have come across so many places where people treat one another with kindness and care.

“For example, in Wolverhampton alone there are 15 Places of Welcome, where people can drop into a church or community centre or mosque for a cup of tea and a friendly conversation.

“In North Shropshire and beyond , a network of over sixty churches have trained to be ‘dementia friendly’, carefully listening to and caring for those struggling with that debilitating condition.

“In Stoke, a partnership of school and church is providing language support, counselling, debt management advice and good food to people struggling with many pressures in their family lives.

“We have a choice. We can treat one another as a threat, abuse those who are different from us, misrepresent people’s motives and spread lies about them; or we can follow a better way, reaching out to others with care, attention and service. If that sounds simple, it is; and it is the simple message at the heart of the Christmas festival. As a Christian, I believe that God really has come to us, and still comes to us, to share our life and give us a better way of living.

“The Gospel of John says: ‘Grace and truth came through Jesus Christ’. May you know that grace and truth this Christmas time.”

The Bishop of Ludlow

The Bishop of Ludlow says Christmas should not be all about acquiring ‘things’.

The Rt Rev Alistair Magowan says while it’s nice that it’s a season of giving, it is important to remember the real meaning of Christmas.

Bishop Alistair said: “It was the first week in November when on a train I overheard three young men talking openly. Their conversation included the comment …Christmas is already in the shops.

“A day or so later I watched the first of Currys/PC World’s Christmas adverts. In the advert a mum and dad double act, as a spoof, declare a ‘tech free’ Christmas.

“What is on offer instead is an old fashioned Christmas with carols and singing. The trio of children are less than impressed.

“All changes when a new LG OLED 4K ready TV is revealed in the living room. It is a funny advert.

“The retailers declared marketing strategy is to help customers ‘get it right’ when making a significant purchase at this season. That is perfectly understandable.

“There is however in this an underlying message. Getting Christmas right is not about having an old fashioned Christmas as mentioned by the mum and dad in the advert but about buying the right products. This raises an interesting question. For many people coming to this season of celebration; what does it mean to get Christmas right?

“In Dr Seuss’s book How the Grinch Stole Christmas there is a wonderful quote…“Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn’t before! What if Christmas, he thought, doesn’t come from a store.

“What if Christmas...perhaps...means a little bit more!”

“What all of us know but rarely acknowledge is that ‘things’ however clever, expensive or innovative can only give a passing pleasure and transient joy.

“Of course it is good to celebrate Christmas and to give gifts to one another.

“The heart of the Christmas story is that God gave us his greatest gift in the birth of Jesus.

“The late Steve Jobs, founder of Apple, is quoted as saying: ‘If I had given people what they wanted they would never have got Apple.’

“Embodied in the Christmas message is that God gave us not what we wanted but what we need. The birth of Christ was not glamorous.

“What the gospels tell us is that God in Christ stepped into the depths of our broken, sad and troubled world to bring us what we need; peace, reconciliation, forgiveness and transformed lives. It cost him everything.

“Like all gifts he has to be received.

“This story is not old fashioned; it is timeless and his transforming presence priceless.”