Dear Friends,

Love came down at Christmas! One of our favourite carols “Love was born At Christmas” in the form of Jesus – the Son of God sent by God to save the world. It is a wonderful time of the year to show ‘love to the world’ to our family and friends, and also to strangers. Little acts of kindness mean so much to people who are suffering illness or loneliness – people who have no family or friends.

At this time of Remembrance we think of the saying that “Greater love hath no man than to lay down his life for his friend”. I think of the hymn ”Amazing  love, how can it be that thou my God shouldst die for me”.

One of Jesus’s commandments was “love thy neighbour”. How many of us actually know our neighbours these days? Everyone is so busy there seems little time to stand and chat on the doorstep as we used to. However everyone we meet is a neighbour and it doesn’t cost anything to give a smile and say Hello!

So this Christmas and in the future let us spread a little love and remember why Jesus was sent down to earth.

From Ravensthorpe with Hopton we wish you all a very Happy and Loving Christmas.

Barbara Beattie.

Elder, Ravensthorpe with Hopton