Christmas

Christmas (or the Nativity of Jesus) is a celebration of the Incarnation – the birth of God as a human being.

The key celebration takes place in most churches at Midnight when a Communion Service is held (Midnight Mass).

Churches are decorated and many people go to church once only during this year at this time.

On Christmas Day, there will be family services, and services around the crib.

Prayers are often said for those for whom Christmas is not a time of celebration.

The stories in the Bible of the birth of Jesus are read.

Often churches have wonderful cribs and some of the more home-based ways of celebrating are starting to be found in churches, for example, Christmas trees.

Christmas carols are joyful ways of telling the world about the Good news – that Jesus has been born for us all.

Nativity plays are ways that all people – even those who do not usually go to church can remember the true meaning of Christmas.

Christmas presents remind us that God gave us the ultimate present – his only Son.