Bishop of Salisbury festive message on 'missing Christmas'
She says many have missed Christmas in the past
The Rt Revd Karen Gorham, Acting Bishop of Salisbury has been giving a festive message ahead of Christmas day tomorrow.
Her message comes at a time of much uncertainty, and while many thousands of people across the country will be choosing to miss Christmas with their families because of coronavirus.
It's thought more than 24,000 people may be in that position across the South West, having tested positive in the week leading up to Christmas.
In this year's Christmas message, she says many people have missed Christmas in the past:
"I read once about a man who got locked in a bank vault on Christmas Eve. He worked late at the bank and whilst in the vault the door shut firmly behind him. There was nothing he could do but sit to wait out the endless hours. He indeed missed Christmas.
"But he was not the first person to miss Christmas.
"In fact, the Bible records that several individuals were totally unaware of the true meaning of Jesus’ birth. There were the innkeepers of Bethlehem who were too busy.
"King Herod too missed out. He panicked when the wise men announced that a baby would be born who would be a new King. So passed up the opportunity to come to meet him. And there were the religious leaders of the day. They knew where Jesus would be born but stayed in Jerusalem. They were caught up in being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
"And that’s a challenge for all of us too, that we also may miss out on the real meaning of Christmas because of our busyness; because we are too concerned about our position, our plans, our lifestyle; and we look for meaning in all the wrong places.
"The meaning of Christmas is that Jesus, is called Immanuel meaning God with us.
"That means that God became real so he can be with us in our lives. Bringing hope and peace.
"So don’t miss out on that good gift and know that joy and hope today and always."