Christmas and Children

Originally written December 2011 — updated in 2026 for clarity and reflection.

Christmas is such a lovely time of year.  

It is probably one of the busiest seasons for churches. Many people attend services at this time, which is wonderful because they are setting something aside for God.

I often wonder if this has something to do with our childhood memories.  

Most of us remember the Christmas rush at school: the play, the Nativity, and the carols sung loudly in assemblies. Those moments helped us feel the Christmas spirit. My sister‑in‑law recently posted on Facebook, “Christmas songs playing in the car and it’s snowing — now feeling all Christmassy.” It reminded me how deeply those traditions stay with us.

For Christians, even if attending church once a year isn’t quite the same as regular worship, we should still use this opportunity to present God and Jesus in the best way we can. It’s a chance for our churches to capture hearts and welcome people in. I know that can be difficult, but for now I’ll simply smile at seeing new faces come for the special events.

My focus this year is the Nativity Service. I’m hoping to welcome as many families as possible, especially those with children. Word has spread quickly, and we already have several families planning to come. My goal is ten — ten families gathered to celebrate together.

If you live in the Twydall or Gillingham area, come and help me reach that number. Holy Trinity Church (the pointy one) is holding its Nativity Service at 5 p.m. on Christmas Eve. Dress your children as Nativity characters, sing carols, and let them experience the joy we remember from our own childhoods. Give them memories that last and remind ourselves why we celebrate Christmas in the first place.

While this is December 2011, it was too early for a Christmas post — here are some photo's of our 2011 Christmas.

[Image 2. The boys and I sat together. James is a 8 months old and on my lap wearing a stripped top. 

Will is at the front, wearing a red and green jumper and almost 3 years old. 

I am wearing a wooly panda hat]

[Image 3. The boys sat on a brown fluffy rug on a brown carpet opening presents. Lots of rubbish and wrapping paper around them]

[Image 4. The boys still on the brown rug. James reaches over and grabs the wrapping paper of Will's massive present]

[Image 5. Will is standing to open a giant rectangular present, wrapped in red and gold wrapping]

2026 Reflection 

Reading this in 2026, I can see my early ministry and the hope I placed in the Nativity service for gathering families together. I was a year away from leaving the Sittingbourne churches, carrying the weight of spiritual abuse, the collapse of my marriage, undiagnosed mental health, and ten months away from being sectioned. I returned to Bobbing when weekly services began in 2014 and never left. That return reshaped Christmas for me, especially as a fairly new parent, along with my church role and vocation.

My Christmas seasons since then have grown. Advent became a time of grounding and preparation. The early excitement of Christmas beginning and coming, things I was looking forward to, especially when the boys were young, and I was a relatively new parent, shifted into something steadier. I learned to love the small traditions, from gingerbread making and making Christmas dinner items, to sending a Christmas message, Christingle and carols by candlelight. Even the years when I reviewed Christmas books and letters, menus, or gifts taught me something about Christmases as a single parent.

Looking back at this 2011 version of myself, I see someone trying hard to make Christmas work for everyone while smiling through unspoken pain. I am more settled now and understand the season differently, even if Easter is my preferred holiday.

I am grateful for the boyish enthusiasm in this post, the man who kept going, the years between them, and the years where I documented so much. 

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