Rev elations

See my video Christmas message here:  http://www.rugbyadvertiser.co.uk/news/local-news/video-christmas-message-from-rugby-rector-1-5767570 This Christmas message comes to you from St Andrew’s Church where I am surrounded by Christmas trees. Some of you may have been in the church to take part in the Christmas tree festival this year. I wonder which Christmas tree you voted for? There are so many wonderful Christmas traditions, including decorating trees, from carol singing and crib services, to Christmas food such as turkey, mince pies and Christmas cake, the giving and receiving of presents. Which traditions do you enjoy the most? These traditions are very comforting aren't they? And whether you are with family, on your own today, or at work, nearly everyone in our nation will be celebrating in a similar way. We are all united in this Christian festival. But, behind these comforting traditions and rituals there is a deeper mystery for us to take part in, if we stop

We can never know where God will take us in our lives and this season of Advent as we have been adjusting to living in Rugby , I have been reflecting upon the nature of the Christian journey. Within our Christian journey we all experience both familiarity and difference. New places make us aware of how particular and individual life and experience is; they make us aware of what we have grown familiar with. At the same time they confront us with the transitory nature of all our experience and with the limits of our experience so far. Life’s journey at points can be very testing: experiences of loss or of illness both mental and physical can bring us to points of crisis. We may have limited ability to relate to others, we may lose any real sense of personal identity. At these times we rely on others to be our stability and memory and most importantly of all we rely on the church to tell the story of God’s continuing presence with us. The church has a duty to be that which, whether i