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A spiritual comment and prayer to begin the day with Rev Lucy Winkett

Good morning.

When the song of the angels is stilled, when the star in the sky is gone, when the kings and princes are home, when the shepherds are back with their flocks, the work of Christmas begins: to find all those who are lost, to heal the ones who are broken, to feed those who are hungry, to release the prisoners, to rebuild the nations to bring peace among the people, to make music in the heart.

For most people in the UK today, Christmas begins sometime in October and ends on 25th December. There’s a slow crescendo happening all through December, party venues and concert venues are booked up every night ages in advance. Now, we’re contemplating dry January, new fitness regimes, new low carb low fat diets and a renewed resolution to count our steps.

But in church, exactly the opposite has been happening. Christians have been fasting all December, wearing purple, listening to the prophets who expose and criticise the inequalities and injustices of society.

And now, in these days, the season of Christmas means the church is in full party mode – we have our celebration clothes on – our language and songs at church are full of praise - and we are about to embark on the season of Epiphany – the season of miracles and wonderment at the astonishing gift of life itself. For Christians, January is anything but dry.

God of new truth and insight. As this New Year gets under way, we thank you for the astonishing gift of life itself. Give us energy and grace to take these days as they come, and to know that we are loved, forgiven and free.

Amen.