Christmas message from Revd Mark Coleman

A Christmas message from Revd Mark Coleman.

What’s the opposite of homeless? Perhaps we could say home-blessed?

Most of us reading this have homes.

They will all be a bit different; some big, some small, some flats, some detached.

But they have one thing in common, they are our homes. 

It is in our homes that something precious happens.

You may think it’s mundane and routine but feeding, washing, and cleaning along with loving, listening, and encouraging are like gold indeed, in the important business of caring for each other.

Mary and Joseph struggled to set up a home initially.

They were far from their home town of Nazareth when Jesus was born.

There was no room at the Inn in Bethlehem but fortunately they found some space in a stable.

It was not ideal for a young family. Environmental health and social services would not have been happy!

Many people in and around Rochdale do great work with homeless people and refugees.

Neighbours look in on those who are isolated.

Each year I am moved by the amazing generosity and kindness of local residents.

It seems to me that the spirit of love is truly alive and flourishing. When you are down on your luck, here you’ll probably find someone to give you a helping hand.

Some of us from the churches have been looking at setting up a house for destitute refugees.

Mosques in the town do so much practical help to those with very little.

I have seen this year the excellent work of the homelessness team at based at Rochdale Boroughwide Housing who got a place for a young man who had fled from Afghanistan.

Day after day Petrus and a whole host of other agencies give people on the street a good place to live.

Homes are really important places.

Jesus was given a home by Mary and Joseph, it was in that place that he grew. Without their love and care would we have had the Saviour of the World living amongst us?

Let us spare a thought this Christmas for those without a settled place to call home.

Let’s remember all those parents and single parents who provide a loving home.

It’s their love and care that make a house into a home.

They may struggle at times, as did Mary and Joseph. Money may be short, there may be rising damp.

But it’s in our homes that the next generation are helped to reach their full potential, and our older folk cared for.

I pray we all may be home-blessed this Christmas.