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A spiritual comment and prayer to begin the day with The Right Reverend John Arnold, Bishop of Salford

Good morning. We are in the final week of preparing for Christmas. Usually there are many people in a rush to get last things in place. Forgotten presents, buying food, cooking, decorating the house. For just about everybody, whether Christmas is part of their religious faith or not, this is a party time – good and special in itself and it is right that we brighten up these dark and wintry days. It is a time for family or perhaps lots of friends. Certainly, the accent is on being busy with having fun. But for most of us, things need to be rather different this year. That should not mean that Christmas cannot be celebrated but maybe this year we are being required to think about Christmas and its celebration in a different way because of all the restrictions and fears about spreading the Covid virus.

Celebrating Christmas in a different way might actually have some real value and benefit. Many of us Christians might well find that we have rather neglected the reality of the Christmas Story which gave rise to the whole reason for the holiday. Is this year giving us a chance for us to think about the original meaning? Behind all the presents and decorations and cards and parties – and probably too much food - there is the story of a special child being born in poverty. The Son of God. In these final days before Christmas, which are probably going to be quieter than usual, let’s give thought to what Christmas means.

Loving Father, may we seek to renew and rehearse our understanding of the meaning of that first Christmas when You sent Your Son, born in a stable in Bethlehem, to bring hope to a broken world.

Amen.