30th December 2024
Christmas everyday
‘The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel’ (which means ‘God with us’).
Matthew 1:23 (NIVUK)
When I was growing up one of my musical heroes was the Brummie Roy Wood. In the 1960s he was a founder member of the rock band The Move and in the early 1970s, he was instrumental in forming the Electric Light Orchestra, a group characterised by their fusion of rock, pop, and classical arrangements. By 1972 he had formed the glam rock band Wizzard and since then he has remained productive in the studio as a musician, producer and songwriter.
On 30 September 1967, Wood’s song Flowers in the Rain was the first record played on Radio 1, but perhaps his most famous single is the seasonal classic I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday, which remains one of the most played Christmas songs in the UK since its release in 1973.
The title of this song resonated with me as a child because December was full of anticipation. Christmas Eve was spent wondering what would happen that night and whether I would get the presents I so wanted, culminating in the joy of Christmas Day itself. And then, it was over, and I was left thinking ‘I wish it could be Christmas everyday’.
The season of Christmas is in fact 12 days long: from Christmas Day to Epiphany, but even then, after 12 days of celebrations, it’s over, and we move on into the new year. Or is it over?
Christmas is about the coming of Jesus who is, as our header scripture shows, our Immanuel which means ‘God with us’. The Word was made flesh and made his dwelling with us (John 1:14). Jesus now lives in, and through his followers, so much so that the apostle Paul can say, ‘…I no longer live, but Christ lives in me…’ (Galatians 2:20). Philip Brooks’ desire that the ‘Holy Child of Bethlehem…be born in us today’1 has come true, and that was not for just one or 12 days, but forever more. Jesus himself said, ‘…surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.’ (Matthew 28:20).
The presence of Jesus is constantly and fully present with us through the indwelling of the Spirit of Christ, providing us with ever-present help in times of trouble (Psalm 46:1). In this sense Roy Wood’s desire has come true too: we have Christmas every day, God is with us all the time.
This should give us great security and reassurance, and lead us to sing along with Roy Wood’s Songs of Praise,2 after all that’s what the angels did at Christ’s birth (Luke 2:14): ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favour rests.’
Prayer
Loving Father, we are blessed to know that we are not on our own, that Jesus is not only with us but lives in and through us every day of our lives. We join with the angels in singing your praises, in Jesus’s name, Amen.
1 O Little Town of Bethlehem | Hymnary.org
2 Roy Wood – Songs of Praise Lyrics | Genius Lyrics
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Study by: Barry Robinson About the author: |
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Local congregation:
Grace Communion West Hampstead
Sidings Community Centre
150 Brassey Road
West Hampstead
London
NW6 2BA
Meeting time:
Sunday 12.30 pm
Local congregational contact:
Gordon Brown
gordon.brown@gracecom.church
Word of Life contact:
wordoflife@gracecom.church