The story tells us
that it’s those who wait in the world’s shadows
who are the first to know of the Christ-child,
born into darkness
bringing great light.

So we gather as those who carry the rumour of peace
and the truth of love
into a world longing for light.
We gather as those who pray for the justice
another is waiting for,
who speak the hope another needs to breathe.

This is a pdf of the handout for Christmas day in the prison… there’s a reflection in the middle which isn’t included in the handout, which is made up of questions – what do you need to hear from the story [that the birth of God is told first to those who the world would least trust and believe? that love can be born even when it seems impossible?], and what do you need to say yes to [the gift of peace? the promise of justice?].

And yes, we’re singing – which i suspect will be a monumental disaster! But the lovely thing about doing stuff in the prison is that the men are much more forgiving than any other group i’ve worked with…