It is good that Christmas comes at the dark dream of the year 

That might wish to sleep ever. 

For birth is awaking, birth is effort and pain; 

And now at midwinter are the hints, inklings 

(Sodden primrose, honeysuckle greening) 

That sleep must be broken. 

To bear new life or learn to live is an exacting joy: 

The whole self must waken; you cannot predict the way 

It will happen, or master the responses beforehand. 

For any birth makes an inconvenient demand; 

Like all holy things 

It is frequently a nuisance, and its needs never end; 

Freedom it brings: We should welcome release 

From its long merciless rehearsal of peace. 

So Christ comes 

At the iron senseless time, comes 

To force the glory into frozen veins: 

His warmth wakes 

Green life glazed in the pool, wakes 

All calm and crystal trance with the living pains. 

And each year 

In seasonal growth is good– year 

That lacking love is a stale story at best 

By God’s birth 

Our common birth is holy; birth 

Is all at Christmas time and wholly blest. 

                              from ‘Christmas and Common Birth’ - Anne Ridler (1912-2001)

As we ponder the mystery of the incarnation, and welcome the birth of a newborn child, we look forward to seeing you at the Christmas Services this year. Everything is ready. Everything is prepared for you. Come, let us adore him!

On behalf of the whole team at the University Church, may I wish you a very Merry Christmas!