When I was a child, one of my favourite TV series was The Moomins, based on books by Finnish author Tove Jansson. I am currently reading ‘Tales from Moominvalley’ – a book of short stories. The Moomins hibernate every winter. They are deep in sleep when one of the other creatures of the valley interrupts their slumbers to tell them that Christmas is coming and they need to get ready. The Moomins have no idea what Christmas is at all and have to pick up on clues from their increasingly harassed neighbours. It seems to them that Christmas is some kind of dread beast which will appear in the valley. They are told they need to get a tree, which at first they think they have to hide in. When they are told they have to ‘dress the tree’, they work out that this is to placate the beast or to distract it. They set up the tree outside the house and decorate it with their most beautiful possessions.  Then they hear another creature talking about getting ‘food for Christmas’. Not sure what Christmas might like to eat, they place a range of plates around the tree. Just when they have all this sorted, a another valley inhabitant sits down near their home. It is sullen and cross, staring at a long list. It explains to Moomintroll “More and more presents every time Christmas comes around.” The Moomin family give up their most treasured items and lay them out around the tree. They then sit and wait in the snow for “the frightening guest” to appear. 
 
This story was first published in 1962. I wonder what Tove Jannson would make of Christmas today. Many folk absolutely love this time of year and all the busyness that goes with it. Present buying is a wonderful chance to show love and appreciation for those around us. Those who love to cook are trying out recipes and will have already sorted out their puddings and Christmas cakes. For many, decorating the home and the tree is a big part of Christmas family ritual. Yet the overwhelming message that the Moomins receive is that Christmas is a monster which needs to be fed and placated. Perhaps it is worth taking time to reflect on we think of all the preparation for Christmas. Which bits speak to us of hope, peace, joy and love? Which are the parts that make us feel that Christmas is some kind of frightening guest?
 
And what is the end of the story? The Moomins wait in the cold and dark for Christmas to appear. In the darkness, some very tiny creatures, woodys, start to appear – ‘small and grey and miserable and frozen’, drawn by the candlelight around the tree. They gaze in wonder at the tree and the food and the presents, as they have never had a Christmas of their own. The Moomins decide to risk the anger of Christmas and invite the woodys to have the presents and food and the tree. The Moomins go back to their slumbers and leave their little guests to enjoy all that they have prepared for Christmas. Perhaps they have understood the true meaning of Christmas after all.

God bless

Cecilia 

Do you believe in angels? If so, what do they look like? When do they appear? Do angels have a gender? Or show emotion? How do you know that they are angels? At our Advent group on Wednesday night, Peta led us through a couple of very interesting readings that took a fresh look at the encounter between Mary and the Angel Gabriel. That evening, and the following morning, as we visited the Angel of the North, Preben and I discussed angels. (It is always the sign of good discussion material, when you are still pondering it 24 hours later!). Preben Sloth was our guest speaker for World AIDS Day and stayed for a couple of days to sightsee. He had told the Advent group that he believed in angels, so I was interested to know more.  He explained that, to him, angels were anyone who was going good, offering kindness to others. He actively looks for these moments in the world around him. In this way, every single one of us has the opportunity to be an angel to others. Preben first came across this idea in a workshop in his native Denmark. The facilitator offered an alternate to angels too – zombies. These are people who take and do not give, who drain our energy and steal our joy. We are capable of being these people too.
 
I love Preben’s description of angels for a couple of reasons. One is that it offers each of us the opportunity to be angels – God’s messengers. We are bringing Good News even if we don’t talk about our faith. The other reason is that it gives us a focus for seeing how much good, how much kindness, how much generosity there is in the world. In our Advent worship, we are considering how to restore hope, rebuild peace, reawaken joy and revitalise love. When we reach out to others to do any of these things, we are being angels.
 
My experience of angels has been slightly different. For me, angels are messengers who suddenly appear and then vanish in my life. They are ordinary human beings whose surprising presence in my life affirms something that I have been struggling with or sends me on another path. I do not see that individual again – they are strangers to me and disappear from my life as quickly as they entered it. My encounters with these messengers have been few and far between. Yet, when they happen, I know, deep down, that they are significant.
 
The Christmas story is full of encounters with angels. I invite you to take time this Advent to read the first chapter of Luke and chapter 2 to verse 16, and Matthew 1:18 – 25, 2:13 – 23. Notice how the different people react to these encounters – Zechariah, Mary, the shepherds, Joseph. Imagine how you might react if the angel arrived in your home or in your dreams, saying ‘Do not be afraid’.
 
God bless
Cecilia