Like most children, my favourite time of year was Christmas. I had lots of favourite times, but Christmas was that bit extra special. It was because we had an open coal fire blazing in the hearth making the house toasty warm. We had extra special food like turkey and Christmas pudding, and if I was lucky, I got more than two toys.

As I grew up my expectations changed but the thrill of Christmas didn’t. Even as an adult I still find Christmas wonderful, not for me anymore but for my children and grandchildren. I can relive the thrill of my own Christmas experience through the faces of others.

For some, Christmas in a very difficult time. Personal circumstances, lack of money, bad relationships and a whole host of other things just can’t help but get in the way. Sadly, for some, Christmas is the worst time of the year. Christmas is meant to be a time of giving. Today, that seems to mean spending lots on as many presents as you can afford even when they already have so much. As a Christian, I believe in giving, and giving for giving’s sake, not because it is expected of me.

Jesus told us that we don’t need a lot of money to make a difference to others, in fact we don’t really need to spend a penny. All we need to do is give. We can give time, support, help and anything else that will, in the giving, help those who receive. It is amazing just how much a few words of comfort can affect the hearer; a simple gesture of helping someone in and out of the house with shopping bags.

Jesus gave the greatest gift of all, a chance to live with him in his Father’s house. To give us this, he gave his life.  This gift is worth more than anything money can buy.  I am not suggesting that you ignore friends and family at Christmas, in fact quite the opposite: be generous, but that doesn’t need to be in the price and number of gifts. Just remember to be even more generous to those who are in need.  We live in a society that is build on wealth, but it should be built on kindness and love, both of which we can give in abundance without cost. Have a wonderful and giving filled Christmas.

Rev David Teece, St Peter’s Church, Stanley

It would be interesting to ask a group of people to say a word which they associate with each month of the year. I am sure that for the month of November the word “remember” or remembrance” would feature.

The month begins with the Christian festival of All Saints or All     Hallows on 1st November (hence Halloween on 31st October is really ‘All Hallows Eve’). All Saints Day celebrates all Christian saints, particularly those who do not have their own special feast day of remembrance. Of the 16,500 churches in the Church of England, 1467 are dedicated to All Saints.

The 2nd November is All Souls day which is set aside to commemorate the souls of Christians who have died. Typically, we remember deceased relatives on that day. It is seen as an extension of All Saints Day and several Anglican churches are dedicated to All Souls.

“Remember, remember the 5th of November, gunpowder, treason and plot I see no reason why gunpowder treason should ever be forgot.”

This rhyme of course refers to Guy Fawkes and the plot to blow up the Houses of Parliament on 5th November 1605 in order to remove James 1st from the throne and return the country to Catholicism. Robert Catesby was the instigator but Guy Fawkes was put in charge of the explosives. The plot failed as an anonymous letter caused a search of the House of Lords and Guy Fawkes was found guarding 36 barrels of gunpowder.

Remembrance Day falls on 11th November and it is a day when we can remember those in the armed forces who have died in the line of duty. It is a time to give heartfelt thanks for those who willingly sacrificed their lives to give us the freedom to live out our own lives. At the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918, the armistice was signed between the allies of world war 1 and Germany. Since then many brave men and women have fought sacrificially, and lost their lives in conflict, so on Remembrance Day we remember them and their families for the sacrifice they made.

But of course we need to remember also the words Jesus spoke to his disciples at the last supper and which we hear during the communion service. As Jesus broke bread, he gave it to his disciples saying “This is my body which is given for you, do this in memory of me”. Offering them the cup of wine he said “This cup is God’s new covenant sealed with my blood which is poured out for you. Drink it in remembrance of me”.

We have much to remember and be grateful for. Let us this year, 100 years since the end of world war 1, pray for peace in our world .

Vicky Wilson, Reader, St Peter’s Church Stanley