LIGHTS are one of my favourite parts of Christmas, writes the Rev Archie Coates of St Peter’s Church in Brighton.

I like it that when we’re in the darkest month of the year, Christmas lights seem to stand out and shine all the brighter.

Light and darkness dancing together.

Lights were important at the first Christmas too.

The news of Jesus’s birth is described as “the true light coming into the world.”

What an astonishing

claim.

That somehow Christmas is about a light being switched on right across the world.

How is that possible for you and me?

First, light shows us who we are.

It is in times of personal darkness that the light of Jesus works best because one of the names given to Him at birth is Emmanuel, which means God with us.

Who are you?

Quite simply, you are the one who God has chosen to put himself with: whatever you face or fear, He is with you.

Second, light shows us where we’re going.

On Christmas Day exactly 80 years ago, King George VI quoted an old poem by Minnie Haskins: “I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year, ‘Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown.’

And he replied, ‘Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the hand of God.

That shall be to you better than light, and safer than a known way.’”

Jesus said, “I have come into the world as a light; no one who follows me stumbles around in darkness.”

Thirdly, light gives us purpose in life.

Jesus says “I am the light of the world”.

But he also says to you and me: “You are the light of the world.”

He wants to be the light that shines through us into the world around us.

Christmas is a good time to find ways of shining – with our family, friends, neighbours, and in our city.

To love people, listen to people, give them the benefit of doubt, try and forgive their failures or irritating habits, build them up.

Shine!

Finally, how can we have Jesus as our light this Christmas?

It’s very simple: like a Christmas gift, all we have to do is receive it, by asking Jesus to come and live in our hearts and be light in our lives.

In the New Year, I’m going to run a group at St Peter’s church called an Alpha group.

We’ll meet once a week for food and good chats about faith and spirituality.

The group is free, and the only requirement to join is that you cannot already be a Christian, and you have to be willing to consider and check out the facts before you make a decision.

Come and join me.