"I am the Way, the Truth and the Life"

A pastoral letter for those who are finding it difficult to celebrate Christmas.

In the middle of October my daughter was involved in a head on car crash on the A38. Every day since we have been travelling to hospital to visit her. It seems to me that the whole world is getting ready for Christmas except us. Normally I am as caught up in the excitement of the preparations as anyone else, but this time the pain of life has got in the way.

This has made me think about all the people who aren’t able to look forward to Christmas this year. Perhaps they are ill or have a sick family member. Maybe it’s because of grief or relationship breakdown.

My prayers are for everyone who has heartache and heart break this Christmas. That they will not be alone, that others will reach out and care. That God will be with them in their dark times.

May the Christ child who was born in a dark, cold, lonely manger come alongside us right now and walk with us through the tough times ahead. May the Jesus of the cross who knew pain and rejection give us hope for the future. May the God who said, “I am the way the truth and the life” lead us into life everlasting.

Martin