Comfort and Joy
The Church of England has launched a new Advent & Christmas campaign this year, called ‘Comfort and Joy’, following on from the successful #FollowTheStar campaign last year. I’ve checked it out and am very impressed with what I’ve seen so far. I’d like to ask you to commend it to you.
It has been put together to reflect the difficult year that we have had. To quote from the literature: “it holds together the hope that Christmas will bring joy and celebration with an acknowledgement that – for those who have lost loved ones or livelihoods or who are potentially still not able to be together with loved ones – it may be the Church’s role, both nationally and locally, to provide consolation, rather than assume everyone will be ready to join in jubilation.” 
There’s a wealth of helpful resources for both groups or individuals – weekly reflections through Advent, an Advent Activity Calendar, 9 different services to log into, daily reflections between Christmas and 2nd Jan, and for those on social media, reflecting the growing digital capability of the CofE, dedicated #comfortandjoy platforms for news & developments across the country.
Gosh – do we need comfort and joy in our lives at the moment! Comfort – because we have all suffered differing levels of discomfort, stress and unpredictability through this year and we’re diminished as a result. In the Bible, comfort doesn’t exist for itself, but to restore us and refresh us with confidence and hope. It is what is given in the Angel’s message to Elizabeth, Mary and the Shepherds and Jesus’ words to his friends – ‘Fear Not!’ And Joy! Well who can have too much of that? It’s not a feeling, but a disposition, a way of being. It’s a ‘Fruit of the Spirit’ (Galatians 5). It’s about knowing we are God’s and in his hands. Comfort and Joy is what we have to offer, not just for Christmas, but all the time.
Those who have developed ‘Comfort and Joy’ hope this will enable us to reconnect with the rich and joyous traditions of the past and to offer God’s consoling love in the present. Sounds good to me!
Terry Joyce
(More information on the Comfort and Joy campaign is available on p7 Church News)