Opinion Column Andy Bryant reminds us that the first Christmas was also a time of great hardship. Christmas trees are glinting everywhere, out and about there is the soundtrack of Christmas songs and at church the preparations for the Christmas services are all in place. But however hard I try I am still stuck in the middle of Lent.
Partly that is because the last time Church felt anything like normal, just before we were locked out of our church buildings, we were in the middle of Lent. And despite all the best attempts of online offerings and the introduction of Covid safe in-person worship, I never really completed the Lenten journey through Holy Week, Good Friday and on to Easter Day.