But what is hope?  

I believe there are two kinds of hope – the first is a strong optimistic desire which offers no certainty –   The Second is the hope of a certain future with God a future where all will live in peace and suffering will end; this is the hope that came into being with the birth of Christ.

This may seem a contradiction when we see the suffering in the world both near and far.

But the Christmas story is full of contradictions – the Saviour of the world comes as a weak and vulnerable baby, born in poverty and is visited by shepherds themselves living on the margins of society.

This certain hope is revealed in and through the unexpected.

This certain hope, the promise of Christmas might seem distant but if we look closely we will see that in the struggles of life there are glimmers of that certain hope as people share Gods love getting along side those who suffer to bring comfort and healing.

Equally in the midst of the difficulties in Dewsbury over the last year there have been many who have bought messages of hope as they worked together for the good of the others.

The hope of the world came in an unexpected form at Christmas as the baby of Bethlehem

In 2009 let’s remember that God still brings hope through the unexpected and let us pray that each of us might have the humility to receive that hope from others especially in those we might be tempted to pass by, disregard, or pass judgment on.

And that we might play our part in bringing hope to our community throughout 2009.

By Kathy Robertson, Team Vicar - St John the Evangelist Church.  

On behalf of Churches Together in Dewsbury