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Christmas Greetings from the Manse Dear Friends What’s at the heart of Christmas? It’s a family: particularly a mother and a baby; a very special baby, who despite being special, was born into the crudest abode. The room of his birth would have been the home to the household animals, their stable, a barn. We know this because the newborn Jesus was placed in the manger, the trough, from which the animals drank, but on that night it was used for…

Dear Friends I heard on the radio recently that there is a desire by some to end ‘daylight saving hours’ across Europe and hopefully in Great Britain too. I was surprised to learn that it’s only 117 years since it was introduced. To our benefit it means that the mornings are a little lighter in winter, but the darkness begins to close in quickly later afternoon and evening. It’s not surprising then that themes of light become commonly expressed as…

Dear Friends It’s September, autumn and the beginning of a new academic year. How are you feeling? For some, it means the end of a long summer break and the daunting prospect of hard study that will lead toward exams. For others we don’t have the pressure of the academic year, instead we might simply be pleased to be back in routine. Whatever you face in these coming weeks and months, be assured that God is with you. It’s good…

Dear Friends Jesus lived an active life. As a young man he learned Joseph’s trade and would have helped him in the workshop, creating and fixing items necessary for living. In the film the Passion of the Christ, in one of its few tender moments, Jesus is portrayed showing his mother a table he has prepared, both enjoying the fruit of his labour. During his three-year ministry he was busy, moving from one town to another, teaching and healing. We…