Ministers Letter December 2025

Rev. David Speirs

Dear Siblings in Christ, 

As December arrives, we enter a new liturgical year and season in our Church calendar: Advent. It is a time of hope filled waiting as we seek the light of the world: Jesus Christ. As we enter into this season, our communities begin to glow with light as we move through Advent towards the celebration of Christmas. Twinkling decorations, the sound of carols, and a sense of joyful anticipation begins to shape the environment around us. Yet we also recognise that this time of year is a difficult one, especially for those of us who feel loss and disappointment at this time of year and who might feel alienated from some of the more superficial presentations of glitz and glamour around us. 

This year the Methodist Church is inviting us to reflect on a single, meaningful word, during our Advent worship: Gifted. It’s a word that recognised that at the centre of all things is the greatest gift of all: Jesus Christ, God’s only Son. Gifted encourages us to look beyond the shiny gifts that we see on shop shelves and on internet websites and instead consider the gifts and blessings that have been bestowed upon us by God in Christ. 

As we read and hear the promises revealed through the Hebrew prophets and engage with the familiar nativity story, we are reminded that Jesus came into the world, not in glitz and glamour, but on a dark night in Bethlehem where there was no room for him at the inn. Gifted reminds us that Jesus came as gift to everyone and especially the poor, the vulnerable, the lonely, and the broken hearted of this world. Jesus came to show us how much God loves us and how we should live with love and compassion in relationship with each other. In receiving him into our lives, we celebrate with thankfulness the God who gifts us his hope and joy in difficult and challenging times. 

Many of you might be sharing Christmas cards this year with messages alongside other gifts. This year we encourage you to say thank you; to a family member, a friend, neighbour, or a fellow church member or adherent, for the way that their presence blesses you.  
 
 
This small act of thankfulness can hopefully be a powerful way to share God’s loving kindness. It may remind others of the hope and love we are called to share through our relationship with Jesus Christ, offered to us through the gift of the Holy Spirit.  

Advent can be a busy and sometimes overwhelming time for us. If you are seeking a space to reflect you might consider joining one of our Gifted small groups that are meeting across the circuit. These gatherings are designed to offer a warm, welcoming space; a place to pause, consider, and experience Advent. In these moments of sharing, we remember that we are each uniquely created, deeply loved, and valued by God and that Jesus came to offer us healing, wholeness, and reconciliation. As we light the candles of hope, peace, joy, and love this Advent, may we prepare our hearts to welcome Christ anew and to notice the precious gifts that surround us every day. May these Advent and Christmas seasons be filled with a sense of belonging, thankfulness, and the deep assurance that even in the darkest and most difficult times we are deeply loved by God in Christ. 

Have a blessed Advent and a Happy Christmas, 

Yours faithfully 

Revd David Speirs 
Superintendent Minister, Northampton Methodist Circuit.