Hallo again to all.

We've often thought and said before what we're happy to say again at this year's end: the best living Anglican preacher is a woman, a layperson, and the present Queen of the United Kingdom and of the other Commonwealth realms. If you have not heard this year's Christmas Message, we urge you to spend the nine minutes doing so.

This year, the queen spoke about the importance of balance in a healthy spiritual life—in which time for quiet reflection, meditation, journal-keeping and the like may give us some perspective on the needs of the world around us. (By entire coincidence, we're sure, the youngest member of AO's staff announced to her father on Boxing Day 'Papa, I think I need a pause'. Out of the mouths of 27-month old babes and 87-year old monarchs....)

Still better, if you have not seen or heard the 2012 Christmas Message, its powerful closing content remains worth sharing in extenso:

At Christmas I am always struck by how the spirit of togetherness lies also at the heart of the Christmas story.

A young mother and a dutiful father with their baby were joined by poor shepherds and visitors from afar.

They came with their gifts to worship the Christ child. From that day on he has inspired people to commit themselves to the best interests of others.

This is the time of year when we remember that God sent his only son 'to serve, not to be served'.

He restored love and service to the centre of our lives in the person of Jesus Christ.

It is my prayer this Christmas Day that his example and teaching will continue to bring people together to give the best of themselves in the service of others.

The carol, In the Bleak Midwinter, ends by asking a question of all of us who know the Christmas story, of how God gave himself to us in humble service: 'What can I give him, poor as I am? If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb; if I were a wise man, I would do my part'.

The carol gives the answer 'Yet what I can I give him? Give my heart'.

The queen's sincerity is beyond question, whether one is a supporter of monarchy, a republican, a Muggletonian, or of any other political persuasion. The lovely and moving point we hear in her annual pause for reflection is a gentle focus on the heart of the Good News of the birth of Jesus Christ. We are thankful to call this preacher whose pulpit is the world our sister in Christ. And it is the prayer of every member of the staff of Anglicans Online that our readers will have opportunities this year at Christmastide to ask and answer with her and with us the beautiful love-words of Christina Rossetti:

Yet what I can I give him? Give my heart.

Do take the pause. Do give your heart. We shall endeavour to do the same.

See you next week.

All of us at Anglicans Online

29 December 2013
http://anglicansonline.org