Christmas May Be Familiar But Always Gives Hope
The Anglican Bishop of Auckland, The Right Reverend Ross Bay, says the Christmas story may be familiar, but is a
continual source of hope.
Bishop Ross Bay says that each year amidst the expected busyness of the season, there lies the birth of Jesus, which
speaks of hope. ‘The story of the child in the manger at Bethlehem captures us afresh each year, with the message of
peace and love, and of hope.’
A great deal of work of the church and community groups is about offering hope to people in difficult times, and this
message of hope is celebrated at Christmas. ‘This is my first year celebrating Christmas as Anglican Bishop of Auckland
and there are many signs of the Christmas story in our city and across the country that speak of hope in our midst’,
says Bishop Ross. ‘There is the work of the Auckland City Mission offering companionship at the Christmas lunch, the
singing of carols in the community, and the way in which we greet each other. These and so many other things are the
spirit of Christmas.’
Bishop Ross says that the stillness of the stable scene of Bethlehem contrasts with our inevitable busyness as we
prepare for Christmas.
‘The Bethlehem scene invites us to pause and contemplate these things that are the true spirit of Christmas, to see the
signs of hope in those things and to carry them with us into a New Year,’ says Bishop Ross.