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Here is an article I wrote for our Christmas Magazine, which wasn't able to go to press this time, for reasons outside of our control:
The Power of Love
Christmas brings out mixed emotions in all of us.
All around us, we see expressions of love and laughter, contrasting with the tears and pain of loneliness and loss. We see the joy of family togetherness, inter-twined with the sadness of relationship breakdown, loss and of families being apart. The joy of presents on Christmas morning, alongside the pain and reality of financial struggles. The general feeling of happiness that Christmas brings, alongside ever-increasing levels of stress. I could go on and on.
What Christmas does bring, is an incredible opportunity to come alongside people. Unplanned moments, tiny pockets of time, where we can do something simple, an act of kindness, to show love and compassion, and care for people who find Christmas incredibly hard, for whatever reason.
So what better time than Christmas to model our Christian Values.
I know for sure that we will all have an opportunity at some point this Christmas to be ‘Generous’. I’m not thinking of finances here, but more so, the opportunity to be generous with giving our time to make someone’s Christmas a bit better. Let me encourage you to always be on the look-out for opportunities to show ‘Boundless Love’, to go the extra mile, and ‘Make a Difference’ to someone, somewhere.
In closing, I have been so encouraged already this Christmas (and at the time of writing, it’s still November!). We are so blessed that we have people at Church with a heart for lightening the pain of loneliness and want to make a difference this year. If you are reading this, and you know that on Christmas Day, you will be the only person sat at your Christmas table, we would love to show you the power of love by inviting you to come and have Christmas Lunch at the Church with us. Sadly, we have to limit this to anyone who will be on their own on Christmas Day, but if that’s you, we would love to share Christmas dinner with you. Come and talk to me so we be generous with our turkey!
It’s a privilege for me to pray that you experience a Happy Christmas and a Peaceful New Year on behalf of everyone at The King’s Family Church, Hucknall. May you sense the power and presence of
God more than you ever have before.
Ashley Stewart, Senior Leader
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