As I write my Christmas/New year letter to you all, like many households up and down the land, the Vicarage household is eagerly awaiting the release of the Christmas double edition of the Radio Times (other TV listings are available….). For me, it’s to take a look/see at the Film listings. Although I am not a great fan of the more modern Disney’s, my youngest daughter Isabella grew up with Frozen. I remember well watching the original film with her, when she was younger. I think I fell asleep (sorry Disney…) but the tunes, rather like recent ISingPop concerts for the schools in our churches, are like sound worms: the tunes reverberate around your head for ages afterwards. Sometimes I do say to myself…”let it go….”.
For those who have not seen Frozen, or Frozen II, it is an adaptation of Hans Christian Anderson’s story The Snow Queen. A kingdom is turned into disarray as, at the hands of its Queen, it becomes a winter wonderland in the height of summer. Princess Anna, Queen Elsa’s sister, tries to remedy the situation but in the process becomes mortally wounded. But that doesn’t stop her from first saving the Queen – her sister who wounded her – from being slain by the sword by an ambitious Prince before she dies. At the end of the story the kingdom is returned to summer, Anna returns to life, and relationships are restored. It is a story of love, sacrifice, honour, friendship, fear, and hope.
When you look at our country and society, do you feel like Frozen? This is not some cheap shot about our household energy use or incoming fuel bills. The values of Frozen seem so far from our current climate where so much of our public rhetoric and discourse is about division, mistrust, and greed to name but three. There seems to me more interest in a former Health Secretary going into the Jungle or how The Crown comes across on Netflix than a coherent plan to help the homeless and needy of our society and to facilitate the end of war in the Ukraine. We are also struggling with the cost of living, energy price hikes whilst multinationals make £millions profit. Was COP27 a cop out?
In 2003 a pop group The Black Eyed Peas released a song entitled Where is the Love? This question taunts me. Like the pop group, I see events played out in the News: natural and man-made disasters, neglect, abuse, crime, War in Europe, greed, betrayal, corruption, the cult of celebrity culture, even the state of the Church. I ask myself: ‘where is the love?’ There are no easy answers to the many problems in the world, but as Christians we can at least offer an answer the question posed by that pop song.
Love came down at Christmas. Love, in God incarnate, was born among us in a stable in Bethlehem. Love chose the path of humility and sacrifice by being born of simple country folk, living as one of us, setting an example of Godly living, and teaching and giving the values of The Kingdom. Love, knowing the cost of freedom and restoring the divine/human relationship, sacrificially gave himself over to being brutally executed. But that wasn’t the end. Love rose from the dead so that we too might share in the resurrection and the glory of God’s Kingdom. Love releases us from the bondage of sin and transforms us into being heralds of God’s Kingdom.
And so, when I see the News and become down-hearted I am reminded of the millions of people who recognise love in the face of the baby of Bethlehem, Jesus Christ, and who in simple but powerful acts of kindness and generosity live the values of his Kingdom. I’m reminded of the people who call the lonely. I’m reminded of the people donate to the foodbank collections when they might have preferred not to. I’m reminded of the people who shelter the homeless or the refuge including some lovely Ukrainian folk living in our villages and spending a Christmas away from their true home. I’m reminded of the people who campaign for justice and equality for all regardless of the personal cost to themselves. I’m reminded of the people who say their prayers faithfully for those who are sick or in need in any way. I’m reminded of those who simply smile at someone and who try to be a blessing in God’s name to those around them. I am reminded that love came among us and that we too can radiate that gift of love among us.
Love came down at Christmas. Jesus is the reason for the season. Remember that. Love is God’s gift to you again this Christmas… and every Christmas… and every day for that matter: the best Christmas Presence. In the power of God’s love let us continue in those simple acts of kindness and generosity and together reveal something more of his love, light, and life in the world around us.
I am writing this letter as the last that will be printed in our parish magazine. It’s a sadness that the Magazine is closing down after this festive edition. Elsewhere in this edition, you will see my additional (shorter…) message about that. Fear not- my words of hope and comfort will still be written each month and accessible on the church website and via our pew sheets.
On behalf of my family to you and your family across our villages, may I wish you all a very happy and Holy Christmas and every Blessing for the coming New Year.
Merry Christmas Rev Gary