Religious Education

Now that we are fully into Advent, I’m  guessing that many of you have started playing Christmas music in your homes. We are starting to  play our Christmas playlists at school at the end of playtimes and lunchtimes. Many of the songs the children (and adults) enjoy are secular in notion, seemingly without any relevance to the coming of Jesus Christ, yet the messages in many of these songs are central to the message Jesus brings. 'Peace on Earth, Goodwill to men, a Saviour has been born to us'.

Many of the traditional Christmas Carols were written as reflections of the time addressing issues like loneliness, homesickness, the need for peace in times of war and conflict, and the need for hope in our lives. Apparently the song ‘White Christmas,’ made famous by Bing Crosby was inspired by a case of homesickness and was embraced by soldiers fighting in WW2 reminding them of their families back home. Whilst a more recent song composed by Bob Geldof in 1984 (oh well I suppose it’s not that recent) ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas’ was inspired by the famine that was taking place in Ethiopia at the time.

All the Christmas movies that focus on being together with families or Christmas miracles, even if they aren’t obviously teaching religious principles, still touch our hearts with the Spirit of Christ. Whenever I would tear up at the beauty of a Christmas miracle (I always cry at The Little Match Girl, even to this day) or service given to someone in need, it was the Holy Spirit affirming to me that this is what Christ would do. So in actual fact,  those wonderful, soft, warm, happy feelings we feel when bopping along to Christmas songs or tearing up at Christmas movies, are related to the Good News that Jesus Christ brings Hope, Peace, Joy and Love to the world. 

Recently, I heard this relatively new Christmas song  ‘Child of the Poor,’ and was very touched by the lyrics. I have attached the You Tube Clip to share with you. Here are some of the lyrics too:

What Child is this, who laid to rest

On Mary's lap is sleeping?

Whom angels greet with anthems sweet

While shepherds watch are keeping?

Helpless and hungry, lowly, afraid

Wrapped in the chill of midwinter

Comes now, among us, born into, poverty's embrace

New life for the world

Who is this? Who lives with the lowly?

Sharing their sorrows

Knowing their hunger?

This is Christ revealed to the world

In the eyes of a child, a child of the poor...

I pray that your journey through Advent provides you with many opportunities to be still, be quiet, and reflect on who this child is, that was born into our world, so long ago.

Please keep the Year 6 students in your prayers as they prepare to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation. We pray that they be filled with the gifts of the Holy Spirit and be strengthened by their faith as they embark on their future beyond primary school.