‘Christmas comes but once a year’, the old saying goes, and most of us are very glad that it’s like that. What a shame, therefore, if this year it should make its one appearance with much of the village forgetting its real importance. At Christmas, we feel a real sense of’ community joy, which is most obviously expressed by the coming together of many people to sing carols and bring to their minds the stable at Bethlehem. May we all have a wonderfully enjoyable time – but I do hope that you will spare at least a small part of your busy schedule to reflect on the real religious significance of the festival.

T.W.