Dear Friends,

I am writing this on the Sunday before Christmas, the 4th Sunday in Advent, which is also the Winter solstice, the shortest day of the year. It is 8 o’clock in Belgium and it hasn’t even started getting light yet, partly because it is very cloudy and drizzly! With such a lot of darkness in mid-winter, it is no wonder that our distant forbears wanted to celebrate some kind of festival of light, looking forward to the longer days and in the seemingly life-less winter darkness, the hope of life once again beginning. Out of my apartment window, a tree has been dressed in Christmas lights, which from where I am sitting shine and twinkle beautifully!

At Christmas we celebrate the coming of Jesus into the world. Christians across the world believe that his coming was hugely significant for us all, that he was the expected Messiah and the two names given him in scripture, Emmanuel (‘God with us’) and Jesus (‘God saves’) are very significant, pointing to what he will accomplish in his life and in his death on the cross- No less than the redemption and salvation of the world. And of course his death was not the end, but we believe that Jesus rose again from the dead, thus defeating the powers of sin and death and bringing new life to the world. At Christmas we celebrate Jesus, the light of the world, piercing the darkness and troubles of our world with hope and joy. I pray that you may all know the presence and peace of Emmanuel, Jesus who is God with us.

At St George’s we are seeing consistently more people in church for our services on a Sunday and at other times.Our Carol Service was both well-attended and a joyful occasion, with a wonderful reception afterwards in the church hall (thank you to Carine, one of our churchwardens, and her helpers for making this such a successful occasion!). For 2026, we already have a quite a number of concerts booked for St George’s and also other special events coming up. We also hope to move forward with the planned works in the church hall, having already done some of the essential items. We look forward to the year ahead with anticipation and hope!

May I wish you all a blessed & joyful Christmas and a happy & healthy New Year.

The Reverend Richard Clement

Chaplain, St George’s Memorial Church