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A spiritual comment and prayer to start the day with the Revd Dr Stephen Wigley.

Good morning. Advent is traditionally a time of preparation and in Christian tradition part of this has been considering the serious things which will in time confront us all. But we’re now half way through Advent, and I sense that for most folk there’s a very different kind of preparation underway, an alternative calendar based around office parties, Santa’s grotto & of course Christmas jumpers. You see them about everywhere, brightly coloured confections in acrylic with a cheesy message across the chest. It seems like everyone has to have one, and I even saw a photo of a dinosaur modelling one in the Museum of Natural History. So I was not surprised to discover that today has been designated ‘Christmas Jumper Day’ (alongside National Ambrosia and Poinsettia Days!)

However, a bit more research led me to discover that there is more to this than just a bit of festive fun. Having a ‘Christmas Jumper Day’ may seem a little silly, but there’s a more serious cause behind it. It’s actually intended as a charitable initiative, where people are encouraged to put on some ‘festive knit wear’ whether at work or home or school and then encouraged to make a donation to charity. The aim is to have fun, but also to raise money for children in desperate need, both in the UK and around the world. There are plenty of silly jumpers about, but equally there are plenty of children who need our support. So for the sake of a little bad taste, here’s an opportunity to spread a little Christmas cheer to children who really need it.

Loving God,
You invite us to share your joy in the coming of your Son into the world; help us as we celebrate to remember those children and young people who need our support during this Advent time.
Amen.