We thank you for Jesus. Help us to remember him in everything we do.
In the past I disliked the concept of Christmas, on the basis that it's not Christian. While this may seem a contradiction in terms, historically the 25th December has nothing to do with Jesus and a lot to do with various pagan customs.
But one of the things we try to do is spread the good news about Jesus Christ. And this is one of the best ways to do it.
Quite often we see Christmas written as Xmas, which is try to take Christ out of Christmas. Yet as long as we can keep Christ in people's memory then we are doing God's work. Christmas should be the easiest time of the year for us. Jesus said “Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us.”
What did Christ command?
He gave very few 'commandments'. But the most central were love God, and love one another.
Christmas is one of the best examples of love. The idea of giving and sharing, of peace to the world. (During the First World War, a Christmas day football game between British and German Soldiers in between the trenches almost stopped the war. The commanding officers on both side had the threaten to shoot their own troops in order for it to continue!) How many other things have managed to stop wars, even if only temporarily?
Christmas should be a time of peace, of being a family. Because that's another important concept of being a Christian. We are all of the family of God. Everyone, around the world!
So let us not forgot those who are less fortunate than ourselves. We may have a huge Christmas lunch to look forward to, but there are those who have nothing.
The world has lots of troubles, but we are looking forward to a time when the angels will once more sing out "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill to all men".