Cricket Hats

Advent comes; calendar in place, the countdown to Christmas is on. I know that there have been those who have bee trying to start it sooner, Christmas cards in shops, lights in the streets, the German market in the streets of Birmingham etc etc!!!  But now we know it is just 24 days to go. Well I am quite relaxed. A few weeks ago I did a little shopping at an alternative Christmas Fair – something we may try to roll out into the City centre next year – Helen still thinks I am kidding when I say it’s a goat for Christmas. Even as I type up this, my printer is busy producing cards and I talked with Deborah this morning about addressing envelopes, and my big brother has already indicated that we are welcome for Christmas dinner, and that in the very month he will become a Grandfather. So I guess my first encouragement is to relax, allow some time for the important matters as you make this Advent journey.

‘What are the important matters?’ someone kindly asks.

People

Postings

Peacemaking

Priorities

Parcels

Parties

That is not to say that all of the important things have to begin with the letter ‘p’, these just occurred to me, and your list may be very different?

I will send out even more Christmas cards this year, and each will contain my news letter, and I know that people view such things in different ways, but as I prepare the posting I will think of the people to whom it will go, even pray for them, and then I will enjoy the incoming post, bringing such thoughts and prayers to me, and the news. I would love to send a card to every household in the world, if it meant that they would feel valued, touched by the love, which is at the heart of our Christmas celebrations. I think that covers the six ‘p’s.

So enjoy the getting ready, and the being and by the next time I write it will be 2007.

Yours in love

Bill Anderson