Advent Pastoral Message from the Bishop of St Asaph
Today’s reflection is the Advent pastoral message from the Bishop of St Asaph, who has asked for this to be read throughout the diocese. Hopefully, it will give food for thought further afield too!
ESGOB LLANELWY
THE Bishop of St ASAPH
For use on Advent Sunday 30th November 2025
Dear Friends
Advent Pastoral Message from the Bishop of St Asaph
When I was growing up, my parents were great fans of pop music. They particularly liked the crooners – the singers of the great ballads. One of the songs that I remember from my childhood is
“What the World needs now is love, sweet love,
Not just for some but for everyone… “
In our diocesan life, we’re concentrating on the third part of our diocesan mission. That we are called to be people who demonstrate love. It’s a lovely phrase, because it’s not just about feeling love or even showing love. It’s about proving love in action.
There’s another song which is used in our hymns and it’s written by a 17th century Christian: My Song is Love Unknown.
“My song is love unknown –
my Saviour’s love to me;
Love to the loveless shown,
That they might lovely be.”
As Christians we show love, not just out of sense of common humanity or to be sociable but because we believe that God loves us and therefore everyone is worthy of being a receipt of love: Love to the loveless shown; that they might lovely be.
In the end, the real value of a church will be shown by its ability to transform lives. Love to the loveless show that they might lovely be. And I want to encourage us in this year of demonstrating love to be churches which push the boundaries. We might be very good at embracing people already; we might be resting on our laurels a little. But this year, let’s make every one of our churches in the diocese, known for the quality of love they show to others. What better celebration could there be of the Christmas message that God loved the world so much that he gave us his only son?
