A Christmas Carol
In 1872, English poet Christina Rossetti penned her timeless poem In the Bleak Midwinter, later set to music and known as A Christmas Carol. Her words paint a vivid picture of a cold and quiet world awaiting the warmth of divine love:
In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan,
Earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone;
Snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow,
In the bleak midwinter, long ago.
Our God, Heaven cannot hold Him, nor earth sustain
Heaven and earth shall flee away when He comes to reign
In the bleak midwinter, a stable-place sufficed
The Lord God Almighty, Jesus Christ
What can I give Him, poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb;
If I were a Wise Man, I would do my part;
Yet what I can I give Him — give my heart.
Rossetti’s simple yet profound words remind us that Christmas is not only about celebrating the gift of Christ, but also about what we offer in return. In a world that can sometimes feel “bleak,” our greatest gift is not found in what we own or achieve, but in the love, kindness, and care we give from the heart.
May this Christmas be a time when each of us pauses to offer that gift, to God, to one another, and to our world.
Wishing you a joyful and hope-filled Christmas,
Rev Kate Vergers
School Chaplain
