From the Minister:

Be Aware

As many of you know, I spent some of the formative years of my early life amongst the Border hills and for three years attended school in Langholm, the closest town. Weaving was then to the people of Langholm and the surrounding community what fishing was once to our community here and what mining was to the people of Newton, my first parish – almost every family was involved in one way or another. Decisions taken by those involved in the main industry affected everyone.

I recall the vote that was taken amongst the Langholm mill workers – they were entitled to a day off at either Christmas or New Year, which was it to be? I remember the lady who was organist at one of my father’s churches expressing her bitter disappointment that the vote had gone in favour of having the full day off on New Year’s Day. I’ve often wondered how, faced with the same choice, people would have voted now?

How things have changed in the 50 years since that vote was taken!
Many offices now close for the whole of the festive season – many workers take extra days holiday to give themselves a long break – and, for the saddest of reasons, many people this year will be having an extended break they never ever wanted as more and more firms are shedding jobs.

How would I have voted? Undoubtedly in those days I’d have voted for the Christmas full day’s holiday. Now?........ I’m not so sure.  

Christmas is now for almost everyone a time of busy-ness, and a Manse family knows not to expect much attention until after the last service is over, usually on Christmas Day. But New Year is different. There is time to be a family, time to relax and, perhaps most important of all, time to reflect.

Perhaps the Christmas people had 50 years ago was closer to that at the time Jesus was born. It was a day when people just went about their normal business.

Then again, perhaps the Christmas we have now is in certain respects closer to the situation at the time Jesus came into the world. His birth would go unnoticed and uncelebrated by the vast majority. People now seem to be so busy celebrating Christmas that they have little time to celebrate the birth of Christ.
Christ’s birthday goes unnoticed and uncelebrated in many Christmas celebrations still today.

As an example, have you noticed in recent years just how hard you have to look to find any genuine CHRIST-mas Cards in most of our shops and supermarkets? There might be at most one or two religious card selections, but in many shops there are none at all. Is this a deliberate policy on the part of card-makers and shop owners? In our multi-faith community, are people so scared to offend people of other faiths that Christ must be kept out of Christmas? Yet the odd thing is that it is often people of other faiths who express surprise that Christians make so little of their festivals.

As Christians we still have many opportunities to let non-Christians know what Christmas really is about. If we really wanted, we could so plan our Christmas celebrations that we will make time to worship together at one or more of the special Christmas services. People will notice if our Church is busy – just as they will take note if Christ has no obvious part in our celebration.

Luke tells us that those who first saw the baby Jesus and recognised Him for the special child he was “spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child…. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.” Luke tells us that while others rejoiced, Mary reflected.

With the exception of those of us working in the “service” industry and those working to provide emergency cover for essential services, the vast majority of us no longer have to choose between Christmas and New Year as did those mill-workers half a century ago.  We can enjoy both – we can rejoice at Christmas and take time to reflect at New Year. Understandably, many of us, because of the circumstances of our lives right now will feel more inclined towards one than the other.

Whatever your circumstances, whether rejoicing or reflecting, my prayer is that you will feel the Presence, the Peace, the Hope and most of all the Love which God gave to the world in Christ that first Christmas and which He still gives to those prepared make room in their hearts and lives for Him today.