Glad tidings and season’s greetings

Rosie Duffield, MP for Canterbury

As I write this week’s article, we have moved into the last few days of the parliamentary calendar for 2018 and it is clear that Christmas can’t come soon enough for Theresa May and her wobbly government.

I can only say on that count that I hope some festive space and family cheer can help bring the cabinet some muchneeded clarity on all matters pertaining to Brexit. We need to move forwards in the new year, taking bold steps to solve this constitutional crisis; I personally believe we need a second referendum and have been clear in my position for many months now.

But I’m tucking parliamentary business away for a bit now too and I’m looking forward to

Leader of Canterbury City Council, Simon Cook

Christmas is such a busy time of year. Sometimes in all the hurly burly of buying presents, end-of-term concerts and pantomimes, it’s hard to find a moment to take stock and reflect. If we believe all we hear on the news and read on social media, it’s conflict and argument all around. All the way from Brexit to how people park their cars. But I don’t think that’s true at all. If I’ve learned anything from living in Canterbury, it’s the incredible community spirit. I only have to think about what we’ve seen in the last year. The biggest and best Pride we’ve ever had, attended by thousands of residents and visitors. Countless community litter picks spending Christmas with my family and much-neglected friends, who I see far too little of now I’m up and down each week from Westminster. As the year ends, I must say a big thank you to the thousands of constituents who have written to me this year and to the hundreds of people who have sought my help and the assistance of my casework team in surgery appointments, held across the constituency.

As the festivities begin, my office is certainly feeling the spirit of the season, decorated with strings of Christmas cards as we listen to endless Wham and Mud songs. I’ve also sent out thousands of cards of my own, wonderfully designed by the very talented Hope who is in Year 3 at Bridge and Patrixbourne Church of England Primary School. On Monday, I visited the Royal Mail Delivery Office in Canterbury and saw all the tens of thousands of cards about to land on all your doormats this week. I have decided that after Santa’s elves, the posties down at Military Road must be the most industrious work-place this side of the equator.

But not everyone will be receiving loads and loads of

Lord Mayor of Canterbury, Cllr Colin Spooner

At this festive time of the year, it gives me great pride and delight to be able to celebrate Christmas as your Lord Mayor.

When I switched on the Christmas lights in the city with help of the cast of this year’s pantomime at the Marlowe, it brought it home to me that Canterbury is a perfect place to celebrate Christmas. The lights look wonderful and the crib at the Cathedral reminds me of the true meaning of Christmas.

The past seven months have been so wonderful. Along with my wife Julie, who is my Lady Mayoress, we have had such a great time attending events, visiting groups and meeting people around the district. Thank you to everyone for making us feel so welcome.

On November 11, I was honoured to attend the Cathedral for the Remembrance Sunday service and take the salute, along with Lieutenant Colonel Dwyer, at the memorial in the High Street, to remember all those who gave their lives while serving the country.

With engagements the length and breadth of the district, it’s hard to pick out favourites.

But one recent one that cards this year and when we celebrate this season we must all bear in mind that neighbour we see who might be spending Christmas alone. I met with Esther Rantzen earlier this year. She set up Silverline in 2012 and I am so impressed with her work in this field; her charity continues to operate 365 days a year providing friendship and support to older people, some of whom find the Christmas season difficult and lonely. Silverline is a free phone call on 08004 708090.

Whatever political turmoil the new year brings, may I take this opportunity to wish you all a Happy Christmas. May your season be one of love and kindness.

springs to mind is when the Lady Mayoress and I popped into Choo Choos nursery in Whitstable, where I was videoed reading a specially adapted book by Network Rail on safety on and around the railways, based on Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends.

If you haven’t seen little George on the video, try and do so - it’s on the Lord Mayor’s Facebook page and has had more than 2,000 hits.

Once again, Stagecoach has entered into the spirit of Christmas by putting my picture on the back of one of their buses, to promote the Christmas Eve carol concert. My friends and family have made the obvious comments - I will let you work that one out!

Another bus will be at the carols in Rose Square, and as it is an open-top bus, I will be there with my best singing voice along with lots of people from all over the district and many visitors to our wonderful city. Please come if you can.

This time of year the spotlight falls on giving and those who put the needs of others above their own.

Thank you to all the volunteers who work so hard for all sorts of organisations and give their time freely for the benefit of the district. I hope you all have a happy Christmas and I wish you a prosperous and healthy new year.

The Bishop of Dover, Trevor Willmott

“You talk a lot about Jesus, but have you ever seen him?”

A seemingly random question asked of me when on a recent, ordinary visit around the Diocese. But it made me think. Made me think at a time when I feel our country is deeply anxious and uncertain about its future.

Made me think when I recently met a number of people who are most certainly not looking forward to Christmas.

Made me think as I read that an increasing number of people in our country will spend this Christmas Day alone, when the only face they might see is that of themselves reflected in a mirror.

Made me think as I listened to the stark warnings coming from the International Conference on the environment about the fragility of the world today.

In the midst of this, dare I say, that I have seen the face of Jesus?

Seen the face of a love which I can barely talk about, let alone understand. A face of a child born in the squalor of a stable in what was then one of the remotest and poorest parts of the world. The face of a dying man, who in his own agony can still say ‘Father forgive them for they know not what they do’.

Dare I? Yes, I dare and yes, I must if I am to be faithful to the one who calls me. For to keep silent is to allow the darkness to prevail.

The message of Christmas is that God comes among us in a very ordinary way. In our very ordinary world I find and recognise his face.

I see his face in the face of a friend or neighbour.

In the face of a volunteer in one of our night shelters.

In the face of a prison visitor who, week by week, patiently sits and listens to the story of a broken life.

In the face of someone whose own life may be filled with pain and suffering, yet still dares to speak of that love which transforms and makes whole even the most broken.

This is the world, our world, with all of its anxieties and darkness, which God comes to save. The world in which he invites us to see his face, the face of love in Jesus Christ, in all those around us.

But even more than that, invites us to dare to show that face of love ourselves.

Have you ever seen Jesus?

May the love of the Lord Jesus fill all of our hearts afresh this coming Christmastide.

www.kentonline.co.uk Thursday, December 20, 2018 Kentish Gazette (KG)

www.kentonline.co.uk