Χριστουγεννιάτικη ελπίδα

Μήνυμα Προέδρων του Συμβουλίου Εκκλησιών της Αγγλίας

Οι 6 Πρόεδροι του Συμβουλίου Εκκλησιών της Αγγλίας δίνουν φέτος μια ευχάριστη νότα στους παγχριστιανικούς πανηγυρικούς εορτασμούς για τη Δεσποτική Εορτή των Χριστουγέννων.

Συγκεκριμένα σκέφθηκαν και αποφάσισαν να δώσουν ένα μήνυμα ελπίδας προς όλους τους χριστιανούς της Αγγλίας, με ένα κοινό εορταστικό μήνυμα, το οποίο έχει ως εξής:

Together we wish you a Christmas full of peace and hope.

Two thousand years ago God became part of our world in a unique way at the birth of Jesus Christ. God loved us so much that he became a helpless, vulnerable baby, born to a family that had to escape from persecution and live as refugees.

Christmas is a precious, important time of celebration because God is still in the midst of our lives, sharing in all our joys and difficulties.

God is not remote, but still very close to women, men and children, and because of Jesus he understands us completely. His presence gives us strength and hope, and the ability to overcome our misfortunes.

We have found this to be wonderful good news, at times of celebration, and especially in hard times.

Whatever your circumstances, our prayer this Christmas is that you too discover how much God loves you and longs for the best for you and the world we share.

May God’s presence, peace and love be yours this Christmas.

Οι έξι Πρόεδροι που υπογράφουν το εν λόγω μήνυμα είναι:

- Archbishop Justin Welby, Church of England, Archbishop of Canterbury
- Archbishop Vincent Nichols, Roman Catholic, Archbishop of Westminster
- The Revd Michael Heaney, Moderator of the Free Churches Group
- Bishop Jana Jeruma-Grinberga, for the other churches in England
- Σεβ. Αρχιεπίσκοπος Θυατείρων & Μεγ. Βρετανίας κ. Γρηγόριος, for the Orthodox tradition
- Bishop Eric Brown, for the Pentecostal tradition