We wish you a peaceful and joy-filled Christmas!
Welcome to the chapel, right in the heart of Salisbury District Hospital. And I'm here to visit someone in the hospital, but also to come and be with Steve, who's one of the chaplains at this time of year when many will be visiting people in hospital or visiting those at Christmas who are lonely or bereaved.
Who will you be visiting this Christmas? This Christmas is going to be different for my family. We're a very Christmasy family, and two of our three children work in the National Health Service, and they'll be working this Christmas, doing their duty, standing alongside. And Steve, you'll be doing that as well this Christmas. I gather you're working on Christmas Day.
Steve Hawkes (Chaplain): I am working Christmas Day. Yes.
Bishop Stephen: And what will that look like for you?
Steve Hawkes (Chaplain): We generally try to get round to as many wards as we can, and literally just let people know we are here. We're here to spread the love, the love of God, in whatever way they feel most appropriate.
Bishop Stehen: Well thank you for doing that, because at this time of year it can be wonderful. And it can be really challenging.
And my prayer at Christmas is for all those who will rejoice in these days, but at the same time, will find them often difficult times as well. We need not be alone at Christmas, because the essential message is that Jesus visits us at Christmas. That's the whole point of the meaning. The word made flesh, God coming to be alongside us in our humanity. My prayer is that this Christmas, wherever you are, whoever you are with, whoever you are able to visit and to stand alongside, that Jesus, the Saviour of the world, will come to you.
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby keeping watch over their flocks by night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.
Today in the town of David, a Saviour has been born to you. He is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you. You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.
Luke 2:8-12