‘Hope that isn’t wishful thinking’ – Scarborough vicar shares her Christmas message

I wonder what words you would use to describe Christmas.

Would you use words like joy or celebration, family fun or a great time?

The many adverts we are see at this time of year would have us believe that we are all having a great and upbeat time.

Many of us perhaps wouldn’t use these words when we think of Christmas.

Instead, we might describe Christmas as a time of worry, stress, worry, loneliness or a time of grief.

We have also heard many other words spoken this year – words about the state of the world – of war and famine.

Closer to home we may have heard words that bring news of illness or sorrow and during the year there have been many words spoken in public and on social media that stir up hatred and unkind behaviour towards those different to us.

As we head towards Christmas and 2026, I wonder what words and meanings we are looking for to give us a good Christmas and peaceful New Year?

I would suggest that what we are looking for are words of hope to hold on to and build our lives on in troubling times.

Hope that isn’t wishful thinking but a rock to cling to in all seasons.

The Christian Christmas story was written in troubled times – life has never been easy.

It points to a story of hope that was longed for in times of suffering.

It tells of God’s plan in the form of a fragile baby, born in a troubled part of the world, who was a refugee and who grew up and taught us how to live, how to care for others and extend the table to make sure all are included and asked us to follow him to make the world a better place.

So this Christmas I invite you to explore this story of hope, the words of wonder, and to use them to make our community a better place.– you may have to dig it out from under the tinsel and chocolate – but it is worth it and will sustain you and me with hope into the New Year.