A Christmas message from our Superintendent
The Rev. Dr. David Hinchliffe writes...
One of the most popular Christmas songs is ‘Driving Home for Christmas’ by local lad Chris Rea, from Middlesborough – who died earlier this week. It speaks of a yearning to be with loved ones, especially when they haven’t seen each other for a long time. For many people, the Christmas and New Year season involves travelling: folk travelling to visit us, or we to visit them.
The Christmas Bible stories are filled with travelling. Mary and Joseph travel to Bethlehem – not the longest journey in the world, but Mary is heavily pregnant and riding on a donkey! The shepherds head from the hills to greet the new born Jesus. The Magi travel hundreds of miles (via Jerusalem!) to find Jesus. Ultimately Mary, Joseph and Jesus had to make an unexpected journey: fleeing for their lives as they seek refuge in Egypt whilst the tyrant King Herod wants to find Jesus and put him to death. Only later can they return safely to Nazareth.
Yet the greatest journey of all was, as Charles Wesley magnificently put it, “Our God contracted to a span, incomprehensibly made man.” In other words, God in Jesus, has come to earth, come among us, come as one of us – God with us, Emmanuel. A journey home for Christmas to be among us, to be with us, and all whom he loves, because God so loves the world, including you and me!
As we celebrate the birth of Jesus, we thank God for His presence in our lives. May God bless you and those you love – both near or far away, those you will travel to see or will travel to you, and those you will visit in your hearts and minds. And may God bless you with that same love for all that is to come in 2026.
Yours in Christ, David
One of the most popular Christmas songs is ‘Driving Home for Christmas’ by local lad Chris Rea, from Middlesborough – who died earlier this week. It speaks of a yearning to be with loved ones, especially when they haven’t seen each other for a long time. For many people, the Christmas and New Year season involves travelling: folk travelling to visit us, or we to visit them.
The Christmas Bible stories are filled with travelling. Mary and Joseph travel to Bethlehem – not the longest journey in the world, but Mary is heavily pregnant and riding on a donkey! The shepherds head from the hills to greet the new born Jesus. The Magi travel hundreds of miles (via Jerusalem!) to find Jesus. Ultimately Mary, Joseph and Jesus had to make an unexpected journey: fleeing for their lives as they seek refuge in Egypt whilst the tyrant King Herod wants to find Jesus and put him to death. Only later can they return safely to Nazareth.
Yet the greatest journey of all was, as Charles Wesley magnificently put it, “Our God contracted to a span, incomprehensibly made man.” In other words, God in Jesus, has come to earth, come among us, come as one of us – God with us, Emmanuel. A journey home for Christmas to be among us, to be with us, and all whom he loves, because God so loves the world, including you and me!
As we celebrate the birth of Jesus, we thank God for His presence in our lives. May God bless you and those you love – both near or far away, those you will travel to see or will travel to you, and those you will visit in your hearts and minds. And may God bless you with that same love for all that is to come in 2026.
Yours in Christ, David