Awn i Fethlem, bawb dan ganu, neidio, dawnsio a difyrru,
i gael gweld ein Prynwr c’redig aned heddiw, Ddydd Nadolig.
(Rhys Prichard 1579?-1644)
Let’s go to Bethlehem, everyone singing, jumping, dancing and having fun,
to see our beloved Saviour who was born today, Christmas Day.
(Rhys Prichard 1579?-1644)
Every year Christmas arrives with its familiar glow: small lights twinkling in the darkness, the sharing of a Christmas dinner, familiar songs, and the quiet hope that something tender can still take root in a complex world. The heartbeat of Christmas tells a radical story — one that still speaks to us today. A story about a child born not into comfort or power, but vulnerable; reminding us that human dignity does not depend on wealth, status, nationality, or strength.
In a time of division, inequality and uncertainty, the values at the heart of the Nativity are an urgent matter for our world today to pay attention to: Compassion instead of indifference; Community instead of solitude; Justice in place of cruelty; Care in place of convenience. These are not ideals — they are choices we make every day; in the way we treat each other and how we shape the society in which we live.
Christmas requires us to expand our circle of concern. It invites us to see refugees as neighbours seeking safety and community. It encourages us to care for the poor not just by giving, but with equity — by building systems where everyone has access to food, health care, housing and dignity. It reminds us that peace is not just the absence of conflict, but the presence of equality, understanding and opportunity.
This season encourages us to slow down and notice each other again. To listen more deeply. To forgive where we can. To imagine a future that is kinder than the present — and then to help build it, together.
May this Christmas renew our commitment to each other. May it strengthen our resolve to stand up for the vulnerable, to speak the truth with empathy, and to act with courage. And may the light we celebrate today not fade with the season, but guide us through the coming year — towards a more just, inclusive and loving world for all.
Wishing you all a festive Peace
Rev’d Dylan Rhys Parry