CHRISTMAS IS FOR THE CHILDREN

Is it really! Ten years ago I walked to the church down Gracechurch Street to celebrate the Debenham High School carol service in the company of the lovely Victoria - a pretty blond haired girl in my form. We chatted happily until the arrival of Louisa, the freckled wonder, who demanded to know why she had to attend a mouldy old carol service. I said to her, "Don’t you think Louisa that it is appropriate for the boys and girls of a Church of England school to thank God for the birth of Jesus." "No," she retorted, "I don’t believe in God - he’s done damn all for me." At this point Victoria said, "If you’re going to talk about religion I’m off." This little incident left me profoundly depressed.

I am afraid Louisa and Victoria are not alone in their contempt for carol services. Very, very few children attend the United Carol Service in Brockley doubtless because they think it is boring. There seems little empathy amongst the young for the Christmas message of grace, redemption and hope. So in what sense is Christmas for children?

The Christmas story itself is about a baby but has little in it about children. However, it does figure two old people—Simeon and Anna. They were in the temple when Mary and Joseph arrived to celebrate God’s gift of their first born son.

I suppose many folk today would consider Anna a bit sad. She was 84, a widow and always in the temple - a bit like one of those withered old woman in black Georges Simenon describes in his Maigret stories who never missed a Mass. But Anna was good humoured and contented - a bit like my friend Mrs Dorothy Boreham whom I visit from time to time. Since her last fall Dorothy has been pretty much confined to her room at Beeton’s Lodge in Bury St Edmunds. I said to her, "Don’t you get tired of sitting here all day?" "No," she replied, "I’m quite content. I’m very happy as I am." The words of Paul could be her motto: But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we bought nothing into the world and we can take nothing out of it.

Old Anna had her reward for a lifetime of godly devotion. The holy woman saw Jesus - Anna saw her redeemer and she gave thanks to God.

The Christmas story is not a lovely fairy tale for children! It is the account of God’s birth on earth as a man. The Son was sent at last to heal the division between men and God. It is a time of giving thanks that God took mercy on the world and sent his beloved son to be our Saviour.

            O holy Child of Bethlehem,
            Descend to us, we pray;
            Cast out our sin and enter in;
            Be born in us today.

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