It’s Christmas once again. As the world has (they call it) progressed, so has Christmas celebrations which have become extremely materialistic, swamped by our consumerist culture as seen in this image here.

I find this image and the words below so apt that one of my mentors Ranjan Solomon in India has put together as his Christmas greeting.

Long time ago in Bethlehem,

The Christ Child was born

In a manger

His journey was humble

And of service to the poor and lonely,

To the broken hearted and sick, captives, and the bruised

His choices angered the rich and powerful

The powerful consigned him to the Cross

But he rose again and He lives.

Our Christmas cannot be about jingle bells and the sleigh,

Santa Claus, and the fancy treats that contemporary Christmas days depict

Like Jesus we must absorb the bona fide meaning of Christmas as the call

To serve the least and lost, the dispossessed, those who live in the margins

May Christmas teach us to be like Christ the Liberator

Ranjan Solomon (formerly worked at World Alliance of YMCAs & World Council of Churches)

We are all created to join in God’s purposes in the rich variety of ways in our life, through our actions at work or through the choices we make in our personal lives, as well as in our quiet prayers.

Revd Canon David Lawson, Chair GRASSROOTS has shared these words in his Christmas greeting;

‘Optimism is the belief that the world is changing for the better; hope is the belief that, together, we can make the world better.’ These are words of the late Jonathan Sacks, a former distinguished Chief Rabbi, and they seem very appropriate for the times in which we are living. Grassroots is privileged to work with and amongst the diverse communities of Luton, believing that working together we can make Luton a fairer, safer and stronger town. We send Christmas greetings to all our partners, indeed to everyone across Luton and beyond, wishing you all a hope-filled and peaceful New Year, as we play our part in making the world better.

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Here is a short video of Christmas Greetings in different languages from CAFOD that Deborah Purfield represents as one of GRASSROOTS Trustees.

Considering Climate Change has been big on everyone’s Agenda this year, here’s one more creative attempt to get the message across for Climate Justice - SAVE SANTA’s HOME. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=okKN9Vw1hGY

And

Bedfordshire Hospitals Chaplaincy team have directed their very own Christmas production - Christmas Ba Humbug! This is available to watch on this YouTube link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jzSxUQb-kD4&t=421s "In December 1843, Charles Dickens wrote his book “A Christmas Carol” in response to the British society’s attitude towards poverty. The Chaplaincy team’s portrayal of Dickens’ story, produced with a flavour of pantomime, will make you smile and even laugh in places", says Rev’d Varkey Eappen, Head of Chaplaincy, Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, L&D University Hospital.

Wishing you and everyone a Happy Christmas and a Happy New Year!