There is an old joke that when world leaders were interviewed by a reporter on their visit to the UN at Christmas time, they were asked what they would like for Christmas. ‘An end to the war in my country,’ said one. ‘Better terms of trade with the economic powerhouses of the world,’ said another. The story goes that a bishop was also visiting the UN and was asked what he’d like for Christmas. He replied: “Some of churches always send me a bottle of whisky which I love.”
I tell that, not so you send me presents, but to make the point that the church is not against presents, or the good things of life like good food and drink and even moderate alcohol consumption, as is clear from the words of Jesus: ‘man does not live by bread alone.’
Food is meant to make us happy at Christmas, isn’t it? Likewise, presents. There are endless ads for what to buy, what the most wanted presents are and curated lists published of gifts for him and gifts for her.
But over 200,000 tonnes of food is wasted over Christmas in the UK, estimates say.
What if the best gift at Christmas wasn’t food or drink or even a present? Recently I was reminded of the journalist Jon Snow’s comment that he longed for us to be as concerned with what we read as with what we eat and drink. It reminded me also that we are encouraged to look at and listen to what will feed our souls not just our bodies.
What if the most satisfying gift was not one we bought, but was free and available all over the country in our own community?
The best gift is the gift of Jesus to the world, the reason for the season. Why not come and celebrate in your community? Many people seem to be exploring faith afresh. Even if you have never come before, come. The reason for not coming I hear most often is, ‘I don’t have faith’. But faith is a seed that is planted that grows from hearing the stories of faith. Start with the Christmas story in a church near you. The Church of England is in every community celebrating this gift not just at Christmas but every week in songs and stories that will be more nourishing than the Christmas dinner you couldn’t finish.
Rt Revd Tim Wambunya, Bishop of Wolverhampton
Find a church at www.achurchnearyou.com