Thought for the Week
By Canon Philip Gray, St Margaret’s Church, Ilkley
THIS coming Christmas will be my tenth in Ilkley as Vicar of St Margaret’s. One of the best surprises I had at that first Christmas in 2007 was at our Christmas Eve Crib Service. During the tea-time service we invite the many children who attend to come forward and look at our large Christmas Crib. As they did so the majority of them brought wrapped Christmas presents with them. I had no idea that this was going to happen, and until after the service was over, what we were supposed to do with them! I subsequently learnt that they would be taken by Church members to the nearby women’s refuge to be given to the children there.
Every year since the same thing has happened at our Crib Service. What I find wonderful is that I never ask for the presents, or remind people to bring them. It has just spontaneously taken place every year. Somehow that generosity feels so much more special because no one has had to ask! It is a very special Christmas moment.
This coming weekend marks the beginning of the season of Advent: in Advent Christians wait for the coming Christ. Advent has many traditional themes: of darkness and light; waiting patiently and expectantly; the acknowledgement of our mortality and finitude. Many of us have an Advent calendar to open in the days before Christmas, especially our children. It may anticipate the Christmas story day by day, or give us a chocolate to enjoy each day of the season.
Last year a lady from South Shields gave real inspiration through Facebook when she decided each day in Advent to put one item in a box for the homeless – rather than opening an Advent calendar. She said “let’s share this idea and make someone else’s Christmas special”.
There are many ways that we can keep Advent but those which look beyond ourselves to the needs of others in a spontaneous, thoughtful or creative way can capture our imagination. This might be one way in which we really do make Christmas special.
May you have a creative and holy Advent!
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