Christmas messages: Religious leaders in South East reflect on 2023

The Bishops of Dover, Guildford and Chichester have spoken about their thoughts on the past year

Religious leaders from across Kent, Sussex and Surrey have given their Christmas messages reflecting on 2023.

The Bishops of Dover, Guildford and Chichester spoke about their thoughts on the past year.

Each gave a short radio sermon, reflecting on varied topics including homelessness, war - and also the birth of a grandchild.

You will be able to hear their sermons from Christmas Day on BBC Radio Kent, BBC Radio Sussex and BBC Radio Surrey.

Bishop of Guildford - The Right Reverend Andrew Watson

The Right Reverend Andrew Watson has been Bishop of Guildford since 2014

It was one of our highlights of 2023 - the arrival of our second little grandson, Joel Jacob Emmanuel Emmerich, born on 10 August and weighing 10lbs, with mother and baby doing well.

At first it seemed a rather grand series of names to give to such a tiny scrap of a child, though I'm sure the little boy will grow into them.

But the meaning of the names, Joel - the lord is God; Jacob - may God protect; Emmanuel - God is with us, could hardly have been better chosen.

It's that last name, Emmanuel, which we most associate with Christmas of course, popping up as it does in several of our best-loved Christmas carols.

It was a name first given by the prophet Isiah to one of his children, as a reminder of God's presence at a really tough time, and a name they'll apply to Jesus where it took on a whole new significance.

Because it's that little word "with" in Emmanuel - "God with us", which brings such joy and hope each Christmas, reminding us of a God who knows us inside out and loves us through and through. A god who feels our sadness and who shares our gladness.

Now five months old, Joel Jacob Emmanuel Emmerich had his first starring role in a nativity play in his church in Norwich playing, you've guessed it, the baby Jesus.

And how better to finish this one-minute sermon than with a prayer from the carol that concluded Joel's acting debut - O come to us, abide with us, our Lord Emmanuel.

Have a very happy Christmas.

Bishop of Dover - The Right Reverend Rose Hudson-Wilkin

The Right Reverend Rose Hudson-Wilkin is the Church of England's first black female bishop

I greet you with the message of the angels to the shepherds - peace, goodwill to all.

This message is still relevant for us today.

We all need that deep peace in our hearts to enable us to reach out to one another, recognising that some of us may be lonely, some of us may be experiencing homelessness, some of us may not have enough food to put on the table.

In our reaching out, we say to each other "you matter".

And in our reaching, we bring hope, we bring joy, we bring peace, and we bring love.

So may the joy of the angels, the eagerness of the shepherds, the perseverance of the wise men, the obedience of Mary and Joseph, and the peace of the Christ child be yours this Christmas.

Bishop of Chichester - The Right Reverend Dr Martin Warner

The Right Reverend Dr Martin Warner has been Bishop of Chichester since 2012

One of the exciting things about Christmas is getting Christmas cards, and all kinds of designs, pictures and details on them.

There are shepherds, there are kings, there are stars, there are Christmas trees, there's Father Christmas of course, and there's a robin.

But I always look to see the way in which the baby Jesus is depicted, so often wrapped in swaddling clothes, adored by mother and shepherds and Magi. It all looks idyllic.

But there's one picture of the baby Jesus at Christmas which is very disturbing but very appropriate.

It's a picture, a painting by the Spanish artist Murillo, and it shows Christ child fast asleep, not in the manger but on a little cross and his arm rests on a grotesque skull.

It says to us that Jesus Christ, born to live like one of us, embraces not only our life but also our death.

And the identification of our death with this Christ child reminds us this Christmas, particularly of those parts of our world where it is little children, babies, the most vulnerable who are suffering the effects of war and bloodshed and evil and death.

Jesus Christ comes to embrace them this Christmas and all who mourn for them, to offer them what the angels sang about which is the promise and hope and struggle for peace on earth.

May that promise take deep root in our hearts and lives as we face the coming year.

But I hope for all of you that this is a very happy Christmas.

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