Here are some photos taken between our two Christmas Eve crib services at Easton, showing the wonderful external decorations, created by Judy Bishop with the help of Theo Metzger.

Despite the rainy conditions, around 130 people were able to join us, walking past the Nazareth house and finding themselves, once in the church, in Bethlehem!

I look forward to seeing some of you on the Boxing Day walk (an hour’s gentle stroll starting at St John’s, Itchen Abbas at 11.00) or perhaps at the first communion of the New Year (10.00am on Sun 2^nd January at St Swithun’s, Martyr Worthy). However, I shall be on annual leave between those two events.

So let me take this opportunity to wish you again a very Happy Christmas. As I do so, I would like to leave you with the good news of Christmas, as retold by Vernon Tottle in the words of his recently composed Christmas carol (which in the Itchen Valley Village Hall on Wednesday 15^th December received its world première performance!):

Come on down to the stable: He is here.

Jesus asleep in his cradle: He is here.

Alleluia, sing hosanna, Jesus Christ is born.

Ring a peal on the church bell: He is here!

See the angels from heaven: they are here.

Joining the shepherds and wise men: they are here.

Alleluia, sing hosanna, Jesus Christ is born

Singing spirited Amens: they are here!

Mother and father adoring: we are here.

Love and devotion outpouring: we are here.

Alleluia, sing hosanna, Jesus Christ is born,

Peace for ever restoring: we are here!

Can I worship the baby? I am here.

Kneeling in wonder before thee: I am here.

Alleluia, sing hosanna, Jesus Christ is born.

Have you come down to save me? I am here!

“I am here”. Christmas means that God, indeed, is here: he is not NOWHERE, but NOW HERE…