Christmas 2025
A Very HTSJ Christmas: thank you!
I'm writing this on Tuesday 23rd December, having finally uploaded the last of the Christmas services to OneDrive and looking back over the many joys of the last few weeks. It's been a very HTSJ Christmas: lots that's been joyful, lots that's been holy, and a little that's been chaotic at times!
Christmas at HTSJ only happens because of your amazing generosity and participation, with your time, with your talents and with your treasure. I want to take this opportunity to say a huge thank you to everybody who's served in different ways: at Messy Christingle (which seems like it was several months ago), at the school services and events, at the Community Nativity, at the Carol Service, at the Little Fish Christmas Specials, the Open Doors Party, the Christmas lunches at Living Well and Lunch Club, the CAP meal, the Youth party... and of course, everyone who's been keeping the wheels turning on our normal weekly commitments (not least our churchwardens and Julia who've dealt with plumbing issues, heating issues, the ovens at HT, a broken lock at SJ on top of their festive commitments!).
In very many ways, the numbers are the least important indicator of the mission and ministry that is taking place. It's the stories and the relationships that count, and there are plenty of those. My favourite moment of Christmas so far was sitting around the manger at the Instant Nativity last week with a large group of children and singing "Glory and Honour". But I've also enjoyed the Year 1 child who insisted that "Santa brings good presents. He doesn't bring gold, frankincense and myrrh. He brings an I-pad and a watch." I'm sure each person reading this has your own favourite moment of the season to share and smile over.
Having said this, the numbers do, I think tell a significant story, and demonstrate something of the impact of our worship, welcome and witness together as church. Bearing in mind that we are an average Sunday congregation of around 100 across two services, thirty of whom are children, during December:
• we have welcomed 120+ people, including 60+ children to Messy Christingle, 76, including 27 children (and four new families) to the Instant Nativity and 150+, including around 30 children, to our Carol Service
• we have either welcomed in, or visited in school over 600 children from 6 primary schools and a nursery, including a special school, to share the Christmas story. They brought with them around 200 adults, a mixture of school staff and parents
• we have given out goody bags containing, among other things, an age-appropriate retelling of the Christmas story, to our toddler families at the Little Fish Christmas specials
• at the community's invitation, we have hosted over 100 people, including over 30 children, for the Penge Community Nativity
• our partners
• we have hosted parties for our young people, with around 12 attending, and for Open Doors, around 20
• our partners at Living Well, CAP and Lunch Club will have served over 300 Christmas meals to people in need (not counting the weekly meals throughout December)
• we have raised, through online donations alone, over £600 for St Christopher's, our Christmas charity
None of this happens by chance. It happens because of your prayerful commitment, willing participation and joyful service. So thank you - whether you have read, preached, sung or played an instrument, whether you have welcomed at the door or served endless mince pies and cups of tea & coffee, whether you have decorated, donated, counted out stickers, put out and put away costumes, tidied, cleaned, cooked or simply turned up and supported on the day - thank you! I can't think of any people I'd rather share in the holy joyful chaos of this month with.
This comes with my prayers for you and your loved ones, for a peaceful, joyful Christmas and for some rest and refreshment afterwards, and with my particular prayers for those for whom Christmas will be a struggle this year. As Tiny Tim says at the end of "A Christmas Carol" - "God bless us, everyone!"
