By Steff WillisThursday 19 Dec 2024ChristmasReading Time: 2 minutes
It’s hard to believe that 2025 is almost here.
Before the new year begins and thoughts turn to resolutions and what lies ahead, we wanted to take a moment to reflect on the mix of joys and trials that made up 2024.
96five has teamed up with local Brisbane pastors and church leaders to share some encouragement and a Christmas greeting.
These messages are shared on air in the lead up to Christmas, but we have gathered them together here and we pray they would be a source of encouragement to you.
National Church Leaders Share a Christmas Message for 2024
Alongside these greetings from our local church leaders, the National Council of Churches in Australia has shared their Christmas messages from various denominations around Australia.
Reverend John Gilmore, President of the National Council of Churches in Australia reflected on the social realities surrounding Jesus’ birth, a time marked by military occupation, violence, and little justice or compassion.
“There are parallels with our global environment” Rev Gilmore said.
“What is very different, though, is the ease with which we have all this darkness, trouble and hopelessness presented to us on a daily basis. Media giants thrive on doing this and we can experience hopelessness.”
“In a humble setting in Bethlehem, not in a place of power, in a feeding trough, love was born.” Reverand John Gilmore, President of the National Council of Churches in Australia
This message extends to the present day, as love continues to emerge through acts of kindness, forgiveness, compassion, peace, and justice. Reverend Gilmore reminds us that nurturing even the smallest signs of Jesus’ presence allows love to be born and to grow.
Archbishop Geoffrey Smith of the Anglican Church urged people to rediscover the true meaning of Christmas through generosity, following the example of St Nicholas, whose legacy mirrors God’s generosity in Christ. He challenges us to give to those in need without expecting anything in return.
“If we as Christians welcome the Lord Jesus Christ into our hearts… we can become healers of division, relievers of hardship, and dispellers of despair.” His Eminence Metropolitan Basilios, Archbishop Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia, New Zealand and the Philippines
Archbishop Timothy Costelloe shared on behalf of the Catholic Church, reflecting on the message of peace central to Christmas, urging Christians to be peacemakers in a world marked by conflict and to live out Christ’s teachings of reconciliation and compassion.
“The Christmas story speaks to these very struggles. Just as hope was born into poverty on that first Christmas, so hope continues to be born into our broken world. Jesus’ birth is God’s promise that no matter how dark or uncertain life may feel, we are never alone. There is hope.” Reverand Charissa Suli, President Uniting Church Assembly
Representatives from the Australian Baptist Ministries, Australian Christian Churches, Lutheran Church of Australia and more also shared their Christmas encouragement.
Read the messages in full here.