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We used to want a white Christmas mostly for the children. Now our dreams of snow are tinged with anxiety as we wonder whether global warming means we may never see a white Christmas again - and indeed whether life as we know it is in serious danger.
And we should be concerned, and prepared to play our part in addressing it. But if we are going to do that we'll need to accept another 'change of climate’ also:
When Christmas happened, the violence of the Roman super-power gave way to the reign of the Prince of Peace and the force of a violent occupation had to yield to the weakness of a baby.
So hope became the force for change in the world instead of fear. And all of us know, surely, that real change comes when we act in hope rather than in fear.
So I wish to all our communities, all who profess faith and all people of goodwill a festive season full of hope, nourished by the love of family and friends, echoing the message of the Christmas story itself: at the heart of our life is a song about hope for our world.
A happy and hopeful Christmas, one and all.
The Rt Revd Dr Peter Selby
The Diocese of Worcester is one of 44 dioceses in the Church of England. It covers an area of 671 square miles and includes parishes in the County of Worcestershire, the Metropolitan Borough of Dudley, and a few parishes in northern Gloucestershire, south east Wolverhampton and Sandwell.
© Copyright The Diocese of Worcester
