The Feast of the Nativity of the Christ in the Flesh

(25th of December 2025)

Kontakion

"Today the Virgin gives birth to the Transcendent One, and the earth offers a cave to the Unapproachable One! Angels with shepherds glorify Him. The wise men journey with a star, since for our sake the Pre-Eternal God was born as a young Child."

From the Fathers of the Church on the Nativity of the Christ in the Flesh

"Come, then, let us observe the Feast. Truly wondrous is the whole chronicle of the Nativity. For this day the ancient slavery is ended, the devil confounded, the demons take to flight, the power of death is broken, paradise is unlocked, the curse is taken away, sin is removed from us, error driven out, truth has been brought back, the speech of kindliness diffused, and spreads on every side, a heavenly way of life has been implanted on the earth, angels communicate with men without fear, and men now hold speech with angels." - St. John Chrysostom.

"Arouse yourself, O man; for you God has become man. 'Awake, sleeper, and arise from among the dead, and Christ will enlighten you' (Eph. 5:14). For you, I repeat, God has become man. If he had not thus been born in time, you would have been dead for all eternity. Never would you have been freed from sinful flesh, if he had not taken upon himself the likeness of sinful flesh. Everlasting misery would have engulfed you, if he had not taken this merciful form. You would not have been restored to life...

"Therefore, 'let him who takes pride, take pride in the Lord,' (1 Cor. 1:30-31) not in himself. Hence, when the Lord whose birthday we are celebrating today was born of the Virgin, the announcement of the angelic choir was made in the words: 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men of good will.' (Luke 2:14). How can peace exist on earth unless it be because 'truth is sprung out of the earth,' that is, because Christ has been born in the flesh? Moreover, 'He himself is our peace, he it is who has made both one (Eph. 2:14), so that we might become men of good will, bound together by the pleasing fetters of unity." - Saint Augustine.

"Dearly beloved, today our Saviour is born; let us rejoice. Sadness should have no place on the birthday of life. The fear of death has been swallowed up; life brings us joy with the promise of eternal happiness. No one is shut out from this joy; all share the same reason for rejoicing. Our Lord, victor over sin and death, finding no man free from sin, came to free us all." - Saint Leo the Great.

Parish Notices

This month's newsletter

Apologies for this month's newsletter being a bit behind schedule. Work and health issues have impacted on the time I had available this month to put into preparing the newsletter.

I apologise to those folks who have already given me articles or items to include in the newsletter. I was hoping to have a few in this month's, but, as mentioned above, time was in short supply, so I will now put them in future newsletters.

Catechectical Group

In a similar vein, I need to apologise for my delays and cancellations in getting the Catechetical group up and running. Delays and cancellations are down to the same reasons why I struggled to get the newsletter out this month.

I had originally planned for the group to be on Thursday evenings at 6.30pm. However, I now have work commitments which mean that I am no longer available on Thursdays.

I am planning to ask the Anglican Trustees at Christ Church if we can use the building on Friday evenings for our group. I know that Fridays are not ideal, but the Church is not available on any other evening of the week.

I have not had an opportunity to speak with the Trustees yet, but am hoping that I can catch them after the service this coming Saturday (13th December).

So, unfortunately, we won't be having the group this Friday.

Christmas Divine Liturgy in Cleethorpes

Please Note:

We will be having the Vigil Divine Liturgy for the Feast of the Nativity of the Christ in the Flesh on the 24th of December, beginning at 10pm at night, and finishing around 12.30 am (approx).

We will now be starting an hour earlier than I had originally planned. This should help those who are intending to drive to the service from other parts of Lincolnshire.