Superintendent Christmas Message

A Christmas Message from the ‘Henry’s’

Dearest friends
I can't believe that this is our third Christmas here in Doncaster.

Without question this has been a wonderful move for us and I continue to feel extremely fulfilled in ministry and in serving you. We feel we are in the right place, at the right time.

I have become increasingly fond of so many of you. How I wish I could split myself into 17 parts each Sunday, so that I could visit each Church on a weekly basis. But of course, that is not possible.

All of this reminds me that our Lord and saviour Jesus is always present to us through the power of the Holy Spirit, and it also reminds me of the truth of this season – Emmanuel – God with us.

As we anticipate and move ever closer to the edges of 2026, may we never forget the truth that God journeys with us.

Quite a few of you will know how much I love the poetry of John Betjeman; but particularly his Christmas poem and the lines:

The Maker of the stars and sea
Become a Child on earth for me ?
No love that in a family dwells,
No carolling in frosty air,
Nor all the steeple-shaking bells
Can with this single Truth compare –
That God was man in Palestine
And lives today in Bread and Wine.

I want to slightly change the last line of Betjeman’s poem that Jesus lives in the hearts of ordinary everyday people, just like so many of you.

May we take this opportunity to wish you all a very happy Christmas and a peaceful New Year.

Revd John, Wendy and Debs

P.S. I am so aware that it is likely this will be read out after Christmas, because of the poor planning on my behalf; however the sentiments are still the same.