Like many families, we have a bi-annual cycle where my children spend one year with my family and the other year at their in-laws. Christmas 2024 was a year when the family were elsewhere and whilst there were invites to join them around the country for my first Christmas alone, I chose to stay in Manchester and continue my volunteering at LifeShare, the homeless charity which offers food and hospitality at Methodist Central Hall.
Whilst LifeShare offer breakfast for up to 140 people every Friday, Saturday and Sunday, over Christmas week it also remains open 7am – 7 pm from Monday to Friday. Thousands of meals and drinks are served, songs are sung, entertainment provided as well as presents, showers, and clothing. It is an amazing undertaking. Donations of food and clothing pour in, the volunteer rota offers a wide range of opportunities for regular volunteers as well as for those who come just once a year. The aim: to help those on the streets, or those living alone in poverty to have the best Christmas possible in their circumstances.
At times the party atmosphere seems a million miles from the original Christmas story, but on closer reflection I wonder if that is correct. Many of our guests are estranged from their families and have moved to an unknown city looking for accommodation. The bible does not tell us, but I think we can assume that Mary and Joseph were not on best terms with their families and whilst the reason for their journey was not the same, there was no welcome for them when they arrived in Bethlehem. Like our guests they accepted hospitality from strangers and made do with the safest space they could find.
Every year celebrities come to LifeShare bearing gifts. The guests love being valued by their football heroes and TV entertainers and there is real significance in receiving the gifts from these famous people. I wonder if Mary and Joseph felt similarly honoured when the Magi arrived and how they felt about their humble surroundings as they received these respectable and wise men and their generous, if unusual, gifts. And after the party is over, all the chocolate eaten, our guests go back to their extraordinary lives. Many are refugees to our city and understand the persecution Mary, Joseph and Jesus faced as they fled to Egypt.
The privilege of hearing the myriad stories over this special period cannot be underestimated and as I listen, I know Jesus is there. Jesus, the incarnate God, who ministry was about welcoming the marginalised, loving the unloved, seeking justice for the persecuted. Jesus is there amongst us in the basement of Central Hall – listening and caring, healing and transforming both volunteers and guests alike. Christmas may have taken on many guises over the years, but the gift of Christmas is not about expensive presents or even beautiful Christmas trees. My words are inadequate, so I will borrow words from Christina Georgina Rossetti (210 Singing the Faith)
Love came down at Christmas,
Love all lovely, Love divine;
Love was born at Christmas,
star and angels gave the sign.
Worship we the Godhead,
Love incarnate, Love divine;
worship we our Jesus:
but wherewith for sacred sign?
Love shall be our token,
love be yours and love be mine,
love to God and all the world,
love for plea and gift and sign.
Deacon Jenny Jones