In his Christmas message, the Acting Bishop of Carlisle focuses on the hope we have in the birth of Jesus.

The Rt Rev Rob Saner-Haigh was filmed at Kendal Parish Church – where he previously served as vicar for 10 years – and which is currently hosting a Christmas tree festival.

Bishop Rob draws on Jesus’ birth into a normal family, adding: “God comes to real people, in a real place at a real time, because God loves real people, in real places at real times. It happened in Bethlehem then, but it could just as well have been Egremont, Torpenhow or Appleby now.

“God does amazing things in ordinary places with everyday people, because God doesn’t just love those who are sorted, calm and well turned out. God loves those who are a bit frayed around the edges, those who wonder whether anyone can help, and those who are determined to make it on their own.”

This year’s film also features an eight-strong children’s choir, led by Kendal Parish Church’s musical director Jonathan Bielby, singing Away In A Manger.

Bishop Rob concludes: “The nativity story is the proof of God’s love for us and the proof that he wants to bring new life, new hope and new meaning to anyone who is willing to let him in and risk it. May you know the joy and the hope of this good news this Christmas.”

This year’s Christmas message can be viewed on the Diocese of Carlisle’s YouTube channel.

Notes to editors

A full transcript of Bishop Rob’s Christmas message for 2024 is attached below.

“We're recording this year's Christmas message in Kendal Parish Church, one I know so well from my time as vicar here and which looks wonderfully festive at the moment thanks to its Christmas tree festival.

“The beautiful scenes in stained glass windows and on Christmas cards give us an idea of Jesus’ birth as slightly other worldly, or as being terribly peaceful and calm.

“I’m not sure it was really quite like that! It may have been a bit more like those fantastic nativity plays that many of us will be enjoying over these weeks – lots of noise, quite a few people and maybe just a touch of chaos and unexpected things happening.

“Jesus’ birth was both totally amazing, the coming of God himself to be with us, and also totally normal, a birth to a normal family. The point is that God himself is born into a normal family in a normal place, but this birth gives hope to all those involved. It brings shepherds running in from the hillside and wealthy stargazers from the east.

“God comes to real people, in a real place at a real time, because God loves real people, in real places at real times. It happened in Bethlehem then, but it could just as well have been Egremont, Torpenhow or Appleby now.

“God does amazing things in ordinary places with everyday people, because God doesn’t just love those who are sorted, calm and well turned out. God loves those who are a bit frayed around the edges, those who wonder whether anyone can help, and those who are determined to make it on their own.

"The nativity story is the proof of God’s love for us and the proof that he wants to bring new life, new hope and new meaning to anyone who is willing to let him in and risk it. May you know the joy and the hope of this good news this Christmas.”

ENDS

For further information contact Dave Roberts, Diocesan Head of Communications, on 07469 153658 or at communications@carlislediocese.org.uk.