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Good morning on this Christmas Eve, and though it’s still early morning, I expect that many thoughts will soon be turning towards the evening, whether getting ready to put Christmas stockings out or planning to attend mid-night services to welcome the birth of the Christ-child. And for our family this is a very special Christmas Eve as it marks the twenty-first birthday of our twin sons. 

Looking back, it’s hard to imagine where the last 21 years have gone. The consultant who looked after Jenny during her pregnancy was always sure they would be Christmas babies; but I don’t think that even he expected that they would be born just as our respective churches were starting their midnight communion, so that news of their birth would be relayed to colleagues, choir and congregations just after the service in the early hours of Christmas morning. I also suspect that our now grown up lads, who no longer look quite so cute as they did when Christmas babies, will be making their own alternative plans for their 21st celebrations as well. 

However, our two are not the only ones to have since grown up. For all those gathering to greet the Christ-child in services up and down the country, are also meeting to remember how this baby grows up into a man, Jesus of Nazareth. And it will be Jesus’ role to announce the coming kingdom, no longer the cute and cuddly baby but the Christ who proclaims God’s kingdom of justice and peace. So our Christmas Eve communion reminds us that there is no rejoicing at the cradle without also turning to the cross. 

Let us pray; 

Almighty God,

The angels call us to rejoice in the birth of your son at Bethlehem; help us to remember how he grows up the son of a carpenter, the one who lays down his life on the Cross to bring healing and hope for all the world. 

We ask this in Christ’s name, Amen