Christmas carries such a mixture of emotions across our communities. For some, it’s a time of joy, yet for many, it brings the ache of someone missing, the strain of relationships under pressure, or the quiet weight of feeling alone. Services like the Tree of Light service at St Mark’s Church or the Blue Christmas service at Cornerstone St Andrew’s remind us that we all face difficult times in our lives.
So we pray for one another. We hold before God the households where conversations feel fragile, the families who aren’t sure how to navigate the coming days, and those who face Christmas without the person they long for. We pray for neighbours who carry their struggles quietly, and for friendships that need patience and grace to see them through this season.
Our hope is that Christ’s light will rest on every corner of our communities. May it bring comfort where there is sadness, steadiness where there is strain, and small signs of hope in the places that feel weighed down. And may we, as the churches of Horsham, be attentive to those around us, ready to offer kindness, prayer and companionship in ways that help someone feel less alone this Christmas. Amen