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"Our God is a God that surprises us," said Archbishop Rowan Williams, as
he addressed over 2500 in a shopping centre in Canterbury on Christmas
Eve, escorted through the streets by the choir and clergy of St
Stephen's Parish, the Bishop in Canterbury, Stephen Venner, and the Dean
of the Cathedral, Robert Willis, along with the Lord Mayor and Chief
Constable. It was the second large crowd of the day as at 3pm the
cathedral was packed for Lessons and Carols. The Archbishop spoke to the
shopping centre crowd of the differing outlooks in life of "shepherds"
and "wise men". Looking up or looking down. The Salvation Army band led
the music, two young Mormon missionaries were seen in the front line. I
wondered if this was the religious extent of Christmas for the majority
of the assembled. I sense it was.

Photo: Rosenthal/ACNS 

This is the first Christmas for Archbishop Rowan in Canterbury. His
wife, Jane, and the family have been part of so many activities during
Advent. Their diary has included: the St Nicholas celebration, of which
Jane Williams was patron; Cathedral Friends Party; Civic functions;
Carol Services; and even the Pantomime on Boxing Day. At the St Nicholas
event the Archbishop and his wife walked down the High Street with
school bands and the whole parade.

During the cathedral carol service a new anthem premiered with a text by
the Dean and music by the assistant organist, Matthew Martin. Its
haunting sounds and powerful text made a much needed from children "all
is white shall wait around" of the Once in Royal David's City fame.

Among earth's languages and words
A new child sleeps.
Amid the ceaseless noise of life,
Of strident power and angry strife,
He silence keeps.

Yet it all comes and goes so fast. Even here in Canterbury some of the
shops had already removed their "Christmas windows" last weekend and the
sale signs were in place at closing on Christmas Eve day as we say as we
returned from the Community Carol sing to Old Palace. Yet within an hour
the cathedral choir of boys and some adults would serenade the
Archbishop's family and guests in the forecourt of the palace. Thanks
be, it was still Christmas. This would prove to be a perfect prelude to
the Archbishop's Christmas sermon.

On Christmas morning he said, "The uniqueness of our Christian faith is
that it is inscribed for us not only in a text but in a living human
presence in which dwells all the fullness of God. We may confidently say
to a nervous secular world, "Fear not!" God is not coming to abolish but
to fulfil the hopes of liberty and human dignity. But we ourselves as
believers need to hear the same words we speak to others: 'Fear not!' We
don't have to fight for our claims in such a way that all the world sees
is another power-obsessed and anxious human institution; we have only to
let the Word be born in us and speak in us. A lifetime's work, but also
a moment's gift, in the sudden grasp of the mystery of this celebration
of God made human, in the words we hear from the gospel, in the bread
and wine of the Eucharist: 'from his fullness we have all received,
grace upon grace.'

Our Anglican cyberspace world was full of Christmas messages being
shared around the globe this week. The Anglican Communion staff are in a
privileged position to receive many, many such sermons and I searched
for others.
Photo: Rosenthal/ACNS

FROM IRELAND

Archbishop Robin Eames, Primate of All Ireland said to his Christmas
congregation, "Today Christians celebrate the birth of the Prince of
Peace. As with that first Christmas a world of tension, division and
suspicion will move on its way with varying degrees of recognition of
that great event. The reality is that for large parts of this world it
will be a non-event either because Christianity is not a part of its
life or because famine, homelessness and war dominates too many lives."

"At this Christmas Eucharist, you are invited to receive the Body of
Christ given for you and the Blood of Christ shed for you", said
Archbishop of Dublin John Neil in his sermon. He stated, "In this way
you accept that the Baby of Bethlehem was given to us by a loving God to
make a difference for each and every one of us. The challenge of
Christmas is to share that Good News far and wide in the most practical
ways - because in Christmas God speaks to us in more than words - He
comes as the "Word made flesh".

FROM THE HOLY LAND

 From the Midnight Mass at St George's Cathedral, Jerusalem, attended by
context of this land's struggle. We have come to see that in the midst
church, the Very Revd Yazeed Said, acting dean, said, "The more you live
religious, he appears in the place where no one ever imagined he will
only international worshippers as locals found it impossible to get to
in our tidy preparations, or our tidy order of life, or of the Church;
of darkness, of loss, and destruction, God appears. He does not appear
he appears in those who are left out from our systems, political or
be." 

FROM THE USA

Bishop Leo Frade of Southeast Florida, in his Christmas sermon said,
"But if you come to the manger to care for the real Jesus, you must be
willing, along with the beauty and happiness it brings, to accept all
the work and sacrifice and difficulty it could bring. You don't throw
him away or put him back when he cries or needs a diaper change. You
cannot be neutral with Jesus-either you care for him or you neglect
him."

The bishop said, "I can only care for Jesus in the life of those around
me in this world that we share, those who are suffering and in pain,
discriminated against, neglected and rejected. How can I pretend to say
I care for Jesus if I am unable to care for the little ones He loved? As
a grownup, Jesus explained it to us in a little more explicit way in the
25th chapter of Matthew when he said, "Anything you did to one of the
least of my brothers of mine, you did it to me, because when I was
thirsty, you gave me drink, when I was hungry, you gave me food. I was a
stranger and you made me welcome, naked and you clothed me, sick and you
visited me, in prison and you came to see me." And I dare to add, when
discriminated against because of my colour or sexual orientation, or
religious preference, or low social conditions, you did not reject me."

Another Episcopal Bishop, the Rt Revd Keith Ackerman, in Quincy, said in
his sermon, "When God took on flesh and was born in a manger in a
stable, no one noticed how battered the building was. All they saw was
Jesus. The Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Joseph did not apologise for the
shabbiness of the place. All eyes were on the One who was in the manger.
As Jesus Christ is born in our hearts (tonight)(today), no matter how
broken we are, no matter how battered we are by pain, burdens, and
disease, this same Jesus wants to take up residence in us. The world
wants to see Jesus. And in some small or large way, someone you know
needs to see Jesus shining through you. For the one who wishes to reside
in you is also the only one who can save your life."

SYDNEY SPEAKS

The Archbishop of Sydney, the Most Revd Peter Jensen said in his
Christmas message, "Of course we can all sympathise with people who
approach Christmas with a degree of cynicism. The 'Disney-fication' of
this holy event may have left you wondering whether there is anything
more to this season than an ever-increasing credit card bill. But if we
peer beneath the wrappings we can still see God's real gift: a saviour."

CYBERSPACE

The Revd Richard Helmer serves as vicar of Christ Episcopal Church - Sei
Ko Kai, a multicultural congregation with Japanese-American roots in San
Francisco. His internet based Christmas sermon concluded, "...the peace
of Christmas comes, too, along with the angels. It comes into the centre
of our busy and messy lives. And, as the gospel reminds us, it comes not
only to bring respite, but transformation. We are called to behold the
mystery of a God born into our humanity in the most unexpected ways. And
like Mary, we are called to be transformed, as we treasure all these
words and ponder them in our hearts."

BACK TO ENGLAND

Archbishop of York David Hope spoke at Christmas on the impact of
inner-Anglican church tensions on the wider world. He said: "Many quite
outside and beyond the Church have looked on in disbelief wondering
quite what all the fuss is about and asking whether in so focusing on
this one issue (human sexuality) almost to the exclusion of all others
we have not lost sight of more pressing and vital priorities for our
world and its peoples."

He added: "A more fundamental question emerges too about our ability to
live together with and in difference and the extent to how far that is
possible, given such passionately-felt views on this."

On Advent 4, speaking in Canterbury Cathedral, the Revd Kevin Goss,
outgoing Precentor, spoke of the humanity of Christ. He said, "He was an
emotional man with and, dare I mention it, a man with a sexuality.
Forget Jesus gentle and mild - here was someone who drove money changers
out of the temples with whips; and who thundered against the religious
hypocrites. He wept at the grave of his friend, laughed and joked with
his mates and earned a reputation as a drunkard and party-goer. And if
he was fully human then he must have had a sexuality. Does that shock
us? Or do we wonder? We have no evidence to suggest that Jesus was other
than celibate; but were there not times when he must have yearned for
intimacy with another? If we as Christians have problems with this, then
might I suggest that perhaps are not ready to cope with the incarnation,
and its implications: God made man, fully man, in every way."

SRI LANKA

The Anglican Bishop of Colombo, Sri Lanka, spoke of Christmas with a
reference to his own often troubled national situation. The bishop
stated, "....I call upon all Christians to examine the quality of our
relationships and to relentlessly pursue trust and good will within the
Churches and with people of other faiths. The way we engage in mission
and witness in particular must come under the Judgement of Christ our
model in reconciliation. We know only too well how we have competed
against and hurt each other, lacked sensitivity by our neighbours of
other faiths, and dishonoured Christ. To co-operate with Christ as
agents of reconciliation requires us to be generous in our judgements,
forgiving in our disputes, self critical in our arrogance and endowed
with consistent loving kindness as agents of the gospel of
reconciliation. This is Christmas. "

With the world's Christmas in full swing, Dean Robert Willis, again in
his new text for the cathedral carol service, seems to sum up the hope
of the Christian:

Among earth's landscapes of despair
A new hope springs,
Which to the weary human form,
New made, as at Creation's dawn,
God's image brings.

Anthem: Among earth's multitude of lights
(c) Robert Willis 2003

May the New Year bring peace and Epiphany bring joy for all and
everyone. Alleluia Amen.

ENDS

Photos of Archbishop Rowan Williams in Canterbury this Christmas can be
found at:
http://www.anglicancommunion.org/acns/articles/37/00/acns3722.cfm]

For additional information please contact: 

Jim Rosenthal
Director of Communications
Tel: +44 (0)7803 894 751
Email: jim.rosenthal@anglicancommunion.org

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