THE new Bishop of Portsmouth has recorded his Christmas message for 2010 on video

The Bishop's Christmas message has been uploaded to YouTube, and can be viewed here.  The recording was made at the Christmas tree festival in Rowlands Castle and a Christingle service held at St Mary's Church, Fratton. 

In his message, the bishop invites people to consider how they can engage more deeply with the Christmas celebration, just as those involved in Bethlehem for that first Christmas felt compelled to somehow get involved.

“We want ourselves to enter more fully into the Christmas celebration as we share in community events, go carol singing, share time with family and friends, support those less fortunate than we are, and as we go to church for carol services and Christingles, for Midnight and Mass and on Christmas morning.

I invite you this Christmas to visit the Church near you and be with Jesus to share in this great festival. God came among us to bring love, joy and freedom; that’s what we want to share in. So let us enjoy this Christmas, let’s rejoice in Jesus being born among us.

I send you, and all those with whom you will share the Christmas celebrations my very best wishes for a happy Christmas; a time of peace, harmony and joy.  That is exactly what God wished for us all when Jesus was born in Bethlehem”.

Here you can listen to a Christmas radio interview with the bishop (Audio supplied with permission of BBC Radio Solent and remains copyright of the BBC).