‘Jesus is for life, not just for Christmas’ – Rhyl reverend’s message

“I’m sure many people remember the Dog’s Trust advert: A dog is for life, not just for Christmas.

“Well, the same is true for Christmas – it’s not just for Christmas, either!

“Most people think that Christmas begins at the beginning of December when Advent calendars appear – although shops seem to start celebrating in November after Halloween!

“Christmas starts with the birth of Jesus and continues until February.

“Which means we can keep celebrating for almost six weeks after Christmas – you can keep up your trees, decorations, lights instead of switching them off and bundling them into a box on Twelfth Night!

“You can keep on wearing your Christmas jumpers and pyjamas and eating mince pies.

“For some people, this will be a source of great joy, but others want to just pack it away until next year.

“Sick of hoovering up needles in the middle of January last year, my husband and I negotiated that we would take down the tree but keep the lights!

“Why is it important to keep celebrating? Jesus brings us something special each year with his birth – his light, his joy, his peace, his hope.

“That doesn’t stop on December 26, or on Twelfth Night.

“In the dark days – both physically and metaphorically – when there is war, natural disasters, political crisis, financial challenges; when so many people are facing hardship and uncertainty both in Rhyl and in the world - we need that light shining, reminding us that God has come to live with us in that great glorious heavenly gift of a little child in the manger, and he lives with us still through the invisible, consoling presence of Jesus supporting us throughout the year.

“In many ways, Jesus is for life, too, not just for Christmas, and all our lights, decorations, trees and goodies are a just celebrating of that.

“Wishing you all a blessed Christmas, Reverend Helen Gheorghiu Gould.”