We publish a Parish Magazine 4 times a year and in each Magazine there is a letter from Jonathan Smith, the Vicar at St John's. Here is the Christmas 2006 letter:
As I write this on 26 October, in a hitherto unprecedented and totally atypical way, this year I am in the position of actually having already bought my Christmas cards. Such forward planning is virtually unknown to me! I didn't mean to buy them but casually looking at the cards produced by the various charitable organisations and finding that on me I had the means to pay, I thought why not? Let's do it now. I enjoy picking out packs of cards and, like most people I guess, I pick the design which appeals to me, the sort of card I would like to receive. However, unless one is in the habit of sending a card to oneself, which I am not, then I won't receive any of the cards I have picked UNLESS somebody who sends me a card has the same taste in buying and supports the same organisations as I do. I have to say that I always feel especially pleased when I open a card and find it is the same design that I have sent to the sender.
Christmas cards are a lovely way of keeping in touch with friends whom we may not have seen for a long time even though, personally, I am not a huge fan of the accompanying round robin letters; except those which are unintentionally hilarious. I just wonder how many times, over the years, I have sent and received a card with the scribbled message inside "we must try and meet up this year" (the word 'must' is invariably underlined or in capitals) and as another year passes by I guiltily realise that again I have failed to put the wish into effect. Then there is always a card with a mysterious origin in that I have no idea who the senders are; for example "from Toby and Geraldine, all the very best" but I rack my brains and still I can't recall anyone known to me called Toby or Geraldine and certainly not as a couple!
One way I do use my cards is like this. When I put each one up, and then again when I take it down I offer up to God a little "arrow" prayer for the sender. Nothing long or complicated, just a brief moment of holding the person in my heart and bearing them up to Almighty God for his blessing. At Christmas, we celebrate the Incarnation, literally the taking flesh by God as the human baby of Bethlehem. Christmas then is a marvellous time for celebrating the union between this world and the next which we have in Jesus Christ. Such a union may be expressed on our part by prayer and so it is a happy and blessed thing to commend to God all one's friends who send Christmas cards, even the mysterious Toby and Geraldine who although unknown to me are known to God.
With my best wishes for a happy Christmas and peace and joy in the New Year.
