Church next to the Beverley Road/Clough

Road crossroads in Hull. It is the parish

church of Newland, and is linked with St.

Faith's in Dunswell and Riverside Church,

which meets in the Riverside Community

Centre next to Parkstone School,

Parkstone Road, off Beverley Road, Hull.

Like any living church, we enjoy

welcoming new people. Through this

news sheet, we hope to make an impact

on the people in our local community.

Our activities and facilities are open to all,

and we hope you will find we have

something for you.

The Real Meaning Of Christmas

Sir Cliff Richard, David Suchet and Gloria Gaynor say: `If you've got it, share it!'

There is nothing more likely to bring a lump to the throat

Suddenly the trappings of Christmas become just that  

or a tear to the eye than the sight of little children in a

packaging around the real thing.

nativity play, especially when they embark on the first

quavering notes of `Away in a Manger'. You may have been

When Christmas is real to you in this special way, self 

busy beforehand adapting Dad's stripy pyjamas for a

indulgence becomes the last thing on your mind. You

shepherd, turning a wire coat hanger into an angel's halo,

become humbly grateful for many blessings. You want,

or raiding the rabbit hutch for straw for the manger, but

above all things, to celebrate the birth of that baby who

you still can't help being affected by the children's simple

has done so much for you, to celebrate simply, without

faith in the Mary and Joseph story and their eagerness to

the glitz and the hype of media and marketing. You feel

share it with their audience.

love and compassion as He did, and you want to share it.

In these days of unemployment, famine, pollution, war and

But why does a children's nativity affect you so deeply? 

terrorist atrocities, there are many opportunities for us to

express love and care.

Perhaps it goes beyond the sweet little faces, the piping

Sir Cliff Richard

voices and the over sized costumes, straight to the baby in

agrees. 

the manger. There's something about babies that makes

He said:

everyone soft hearted   but that baby is more special than

`There is so

others. He was tiny and helpless, like any other baby, and

much I don't

without the advantages of many (there was no Mothercare

understand, but

in Bethlehem!), but He grew up to save the weak and

this Christmas

helpless like you and me.

I'll be grateful

for the fact that

There is no more humbling experience than to realise that

God is with us

that little baby, born 2000 years ago, can have a

and that, in

relationship with us today. This is what Christians call

Jesus, there is

`knowing Jesus personally'. Nothing is more likely to make

hope and life

the real meaning of Christmas suddenly come alive. Forget

 . for a

the shopping and cooking, forget the office party, forget

desperately

the eating and drinking   and the credit card statement.

needy world'.

continued overleaf