Let’s be kind to each other this festive season
No small wonder that in the past faith communities have created Festivals of Light to bring hope and cheer to their people.
For Hindus it’s Divali, for Jews it’s Channukah, and for Christians it’s Christmas.
For Hindus and Muslims celebrating Eid, it’s been really tough this year because their festivals came down during lockdown, which prevented them celebrating with the wider family and that sense of faith communities coming together.
For Jews and Christians, it’s only slightly easier, but as Christmas draws near, many of us feel afraid that if we bring our families together, the virus will spread, and we’ll pay for it later in January.
This will be the first time in 55 years that I will not see my parents over Christmas.
In the Minster we have held a Christmas Tree Festival for the past four years.
The Minster can be a dark place at the best of times, and yet the sparkle of the lights on the trees have brought much joy to so many, and none more so than this year.
This year because of the restrictions we had a virtual festival, with both Calderdale College and Leeds TV making films of the trees for people to see at home, especially those isolating and shielding.
Tier 3 restrictions mean that places of worship can only be open for religious purposes and not for tourism, and so for those who have come into the Minster these last few weeks, they have come as pilgrims on a journey to light a candle, and place a tag on our Remembrance Tree, and to see the Christmas trees whilst they were visiting.
People have been so kind and generous for the effort made to bring some light and hope during this horrible time.
In the Sanctuary you will find the Minster crib: Mary, Joseph and Jesus in the manger.
I’ve seen many parents with children explaining the
Christmas story, and I’ve seen grown adults stand and shed a tear as they identify with the vulnerability of their own lives with that of God becoming a human being in the birth of Jesus in an old shed because there was no room in the inn.
The birth of a child reminds us of the future of their lives and that of our own. Here in Calderdale we want all of us to be kind to one another, tender hearted, resilient, and enterprising.
At Christmas we also want to know that God is with us – Emmanuel – today, tomorrow, and for ever, and that he will guard and protect us through the times of plenty and in the storms of life.
For some 900 years the Minster has been a constant reminder in this town and borough that God is always there. Happy Christmas everyone!