Welcome to
Haywards Heath United Reformed Church

 MEETING MAKERS, SHARING STORIES

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For some  years my Christmas pattern went somewhat like this:  At dusk on Christmas Eve afternoon, lead the service at Little Baddow, Essex where I was minister. On Christmas morning, drive down to Sussex to spend the big day with my English grandchildren. Then on Boxing Day or soon after, fly out from Heathrow or Gatwick to join my Australian grandchildren in their Tasmanian summer Christmas.

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A place to visit in Tasmania is Salamanca Market on the southern-most tip. Ceramic artist Sallee Warner recently said something to this effect: “I think meeting the makers of things is really an important part of the market. I love being able to sell my own work and tell my own story. I really enjoy the little community of stallholders around me. There’s a really lovely feeling about being here.”

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Is it too sentimental to say that Christmases can sometimes be like that? Meeting the Maker-Creator-Christ, hearing, telling, singing the Christmas story, dramatizing it, modelling it, being with its people?

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If every Christmas were like that it might indeed be too sentimental. It’s the hard and sad Christmases that give us balance, perspective and depth. And real, tough hope.

Perhaps recognising varieties of Christmas experience over our lifetimes is one of God’s special gifts to us older humans!