Peace and Joy to you all!

We have now entered into the Christmas advert season, and I've been fascinated by the themes or styles of the adverts. Many are 'fairytale-esque' in their approach – magical creatures bringing together a wonderful spread and cheer or rescuing the Christmas spirit. There is even a 'who dunnit' that has left us with a cliff hanger.

Others have acknowledged the fact that Christmas is a difficult time for some people.

They are all aiming to be wholesome and inclusive and to reassure us that Christmas is more than just buying food and presents – although it would seem it can help to pave the way!

I admit, I enjoy these adverts. They are mostly well-crafted stories. I like the glitz and playfulness of them. I even appreciate how they are trying to tell a more rounded story around the Christmas season, cutting through the idea that its all about material things – that you can buy the Christmas 'dream'.

They are part of the established run up to Christmas in our modern day, along with Carol singing, school nativities, Christingles, the Coca-Cola lorry, the constant weather reports anticipating a white Christmas, and the fetching out of the emergency chairs for the big family Christmas dinner.

Yet in our churches this preparation for Christmas has a name, Advent. Here, we are encouraged to set aside time and space to listen to God. To acknowledge our need for God and to step out of the expectations of world just for a moment. To focus on the incredible gift God has sent for us in love, God's son Jesus, a baby lying in a manger.

Because Christmas is more than presents and food and festivities – it is about God's presence coming to earth. Not with great riches and power but born to an ordinary family, a vulnerable baby in a manger. Thus interrupting the expectations and challenges of the day and bringing hope and joy beyond that we can create for ourselves.

The thing is this wonderful event did have a range of adverts anticipating it. We find them in the words of the prophets. For instance,

"The people who have walked in darkness have seen a great light. They lived in a land of shadows, but now the light is shining on them...A child is born to us! A son is given to us! And he will be our ruler. He will be called, 'Wonderful Counsellor', 'Mighty God', 'Eternal Father', 'Prince of Peace'. "(Isaiah 9:2,6 – Good News Version.)

However you spend this time of the year, may you know the peace, love and joy of Christ.

Every blessing

Reverend Karen