I feel disappointed that we appear to ever so subtly be removing Christmas from our culture. I was listening to our local ABC the other morning when one caller phoned in to say that he had received a letter from the school his children attended informing parents that there would be no celebration of Christmas at the school this year. I can only assume that it was felt this might cause some offence to other religious groups.

A report in the Herald Sun from 9 December indicates parents at Ringwood East's Tinternvale Primary school were upset over the schools decision to scrap its Christmas Carols concert in favour of scaled-back shows featuring nursery rhymes and Madonna's Papa Don't preach.

I find this all a bit strange really. We still call the holidays 'Christmas' holidays. We still talk about doing the 'Christmas' shopping and buying 'Christmas' presents and we ask friends 'what are you doing for Christmas?"

Whether we like it or not, our calendar is set by the birth of Christ. B.C. before Christ and A.D. in the year of our Lord. There is still much in our culture and life as Australians that is influenced by our Christian Heritage.

Parliament opens in prayer as do our local Shoalhaven City Council meetings. Our laws are framed very strongly around the 10 Commandments and the Judaeo Christian ethic. If you were to go and live in a Muslim or Hindu country you wouldn't find those folk embarrassed about their particular religious festivals, so I wonder why it is that we are?

Has our technologically advanced society lost the wonder and marvel of a virgin birth?

Does our concern over mortgage stress hide for us the simplicity and humility of royalty born in a stable?

Does our obsession with economic prosperity mask the underlying problems of depression, relationship breakdown, alcohol abuse and dissatisfaction with life?

The Christmas message is one of hope! In the midst of darkness, oppression, despair and injustice came one was proclaimed as the Prince of Peace. Who lived our life on our planet experiencing every facet of life as we know it. Who gave his life in death to restore us to friendship with our creator and who came that we might have life to the full.

Christmas proclaims a God who is personal. Interested in you and me. A God with feelings and emotions - "and he feels for all our sadness, and he shares in all our gladness."

There is no-one else quite life him and those of us who know and love him, love to celebrate his birth.

You could do worse that join the celebration of Jesus Christ who has changed human history and with that, changes the lives of millions around the world.

by Rev Geoff Deutscher
Rector Martin's Anglican Church Ulladulla
Crn Princes Highway and Green Sts Ulladulla
Ph 4454 2030