I hope you experience peace Jesus brings

Is it a Mary Christmas or a Merry Christmas?
How do you feel about this Christmas? Have you completed your shopping or finalised your guest list for the day? Are you feeling lost and stressed amid the holiday season? While Christmas is often celebrated as a joyful time filled with love and festivities, for many, it can also evoke feelings of trauma and pain. In such moments of distress, turning to the timeless story of Christmas, particularly the narratives in the gospels of Matthew and Luke, can provide solace and hope.
Dr. Luke, a scientist and writer of one gospel, meticulously examines the Nativity story to offer profound insights that bring joy to those rejoicing and comfort to those mourning. On the other hand, St. Matthew, an experienced tax collector, provides insights into the family from which Jesus comes. Both writers candidly share the pain and struggle in Jesus' lineage, emphasising the thread of hope that kept them looking forward.
In a world where conflicts like those in Israel and Gaza, Russia and Ukraine, and 46 other nations persist, Christmas can feel like a burden, something better left to Mary and Joseph. However, for some, the pain is closer to home, within their hearts. This season might serve as a painful reminder of loss, loneliness, or past traumatic experiences. The pressure to conform to societal expectations of merriment can intensify feelings of isolation and inadequacy.
Mary, a woman familiar with living with trauma while holding the best news, faced challenges from the start. Travelling while pregnant for a census to her husband-to-be's home in a culture where pregnancy before marriage was frowned upon was not the beginning Mary and Joseph envisioned. Instead of family celebrations, she encountered shepherds and a group of Iranians bearing gifts, including one intended for the deceased. Shortly after, a king in the area pledged to kill any child two years and under, leading the family to flee as refugees to Egypt. The journey continued with many challenges for them as a family.
Serving as Torbay Area Dean for the Church of England for past three years, I did not anticipate the challenges that would come my way—supporting the Church through a pandemic, a cost-of-living crisis, increasing poverty, struggles within and outside the Church walls, an ageing population, changing landscapes for mission and ministry, and more. Despite these challenges, the Church has grown, reaching beyond its 2017 numbers. We are feeding and supporting schools and communities creatively, with a growing number of people choosing Jesus as the way, the truth, and life. We are involved in supporting the strategic plans for our community. Several of our schools are flourishing and so much more.
The title "Prince of Peace" bestowed upon Jesus in the Bible emphasises his role as a source of tranquillity and healing. Embracing the Prince of Peace during times of trauma means finding solace amid chaos. The narrative of Jesus' birth conveys a powerful message—that even in humble beginnings, a profound and lasting peace is offered to those who seek it. Regardless of your situation, may you encounter the God child and the peace He brings. May your heart be the manger in which He is born. May this "Mary Christmas" become your "Merry Christmas," celebrating both her long obedience in the face of pain and the presence of God throughout these trials. As I relinquish my responsibilities as Area Dean for this Area and the Church of England, a role that I have been privileged to lead through, I pray that this season will encourage you to acknowledge and validate your feelings before God and your support network so that you may experience the peace that Jesus brings in the middle of any trauma. I look forward to meeting you in 2024 either as part of the work I will continue with Torbay United or Devon and Cornwall Community Scrutiny panel.
Merry Christmas.