‘The constant refrain of Christmas, in carols and readings, is that God is with us. In whatever situation you find yourself this Christmas, God is with you – you need only turn to him and ask to know his presence.’ Archbishop Justin Welby
In Advent we try to take time out from the rush of Christmas preparations, and to pause and reflect on what the coming of the Christ child might mean in our lives. In Matthew’s gospel Joseph is told that the child soon to be born to Mary will be called Emmanuel, a Hebrew word which means ‘God with us’. How can we get ready to hear this wonderful news? How can we unwrap in our own lives God’s gifts of peace, hope and love? One answer to these questions is ‘by praying’.
After the success of the All Hallows Lent blog, to which a wide variety of people contributed, we are running a new blog during weekdays in Advent this year. Based on material from #GodwithUs, a Church of England initiative, we will reflect each week in December on a different aspect of prayer – first Listening, then Watching and finally Waiting – and how we can use prayer to explore the amazing good news of Christmas.
Do join us in getting ready to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, who is God with us, during this wonderful season. To find out more about #GodwithUs, see www.churchofengland.org/Christmas
