James Woodward

St George’s Chapel Windsor Castle Christmas Eve Communion 2014: The Christmas Truce This evening I want to remind you of something very remarkable that happened exactly 100 years ago to this day. The world was at five months into an armed conflict that ended the lives of fifteen million people. On the western front German, British, and French were dug into trenches. It was cold and wet. The conflict was slow and bloody. Unexpected and spontaneous German troops held small…

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  And because of His visitation, we may no longer desire God as if He were lacking: our redemption is no longer a question of pursuit but of surrender to Him who is always and everywhere present. Therefore at every moment we pray that, following Him, we may depart from our anxiety into His peace. W H Auden  

The Christmas Truce One hundred years ago the world was at war – it was a conflict that changed the world for ever and at this anniversary we have been remembering its impact upon the families and communities in our country. In particular we remember with sorrow our human capacity for conflict injustice and destruction. This evening our Carols and readings speak of the peace and light and hope that we find in Christ. The birth of Christ – has…

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Lord God, whose Son, Jesus Christ, understood people’s fear and pain before they spoke of them, we pray for those in hospital; surround the frightened with your tenderness; give strength to those in pain; hold the weak in your arms of love, and give hope and patience to those who are recovering; we ask this through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen Amen

A Prayer for Peace in Syria Spirit of wisdom and grace, the power of truth and judgement; we pray for all who are working for peace in the tangled conflict of Syria today. For international leaders holding a thread of control, for the politicians holding a thread of power, for the religious leaders holding a thread of authority, for the fighters holding a thread of influence, and the citizens clinging to a thread of hope. Bring unity through the untangled…

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God of compassion, your love for humanity was revealed in Jesus, whose earthly life began in the poverty of a stable and ended in the pain and isolation of the cross: we hold before you those who are homeless and cold especially in this bitter weather. Draw near and comfort them in spirit and bless those who work to provide them with shelter, food and friendship. We ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Lord God of compassion, whose will is for peace built on righteousness, we pray for peace in Gaza: for an end to hostilities, for comfort and help for all who suffer, and for reconciliation between Palestine and Israel, through Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace. Amen.

People often complain that religion doesn’t make a difference – that people aren’t better because of it. So what difference does worship this morning make to our lives? Does Christmas mean anything? Yes – today makes a world of difference. For in the message of this Christmas morning God gives us so much that can inspire, console and refresh us. In Christmas God does not give us explanations. In our religion we cannot have answers to our questions for we…

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 Last month I travelled to Paris for a short break and spent some time with in the Louvre. It was good to catch this wonderful painting by George de la Tour ‘ the Adoration of the Shepherds’. I captured some fragments of photographs and have been dwelling on it in these last hours as the rain lashes down and we all move full throttle into Christmas. Why? because the is a deep stillness  to this work and endless depth in the…

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