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I am standing here in this exquisite Chapel of Saint George at Windsor Castle so close
to where my beloved mother the late Queen is laid to rest with my dear father I am reminded
of the deeply touching letters cards and messages which so many of you have sent my wife and
myself and I cannot thank you enough for the love and sympathy you have shown our whole
family Christmas is a particularly poignant time for all of us who have lost loved ones
we feel their absence at every familiar turn of the season and remember them in each cherished
Edition
in the much-loved Carol a little town of Bethlehem we sing of how in thy dark Street shineth
the Everlasting Light my mother's belief in the power of that light was an essential part
of her faith in God but also have faith in people and it is one which I share with my
whole heart it is a belief in the extraordinary ability of each person to touch with goodness
and compassion the lives of others and to shine a light in the world around them this
is the essence of our community and the Very Foundation of our society we see it in the
selfless dedication of our armed forces and Emergency Services who work tirelessly to
keep us all safe and who performs so magnificently as we mourn the passing of our late Queen
we see it in our Health and Social Care Professionals our teachers and indeed all those working
in public service whose skill and commitment are at the heart of our communities
and at this time of great anxiety and hardship be it for those around the world facing conflict
famine or natural disaster or for those at home finding ways to pay their bills to keep
their families fed and warmed we see it in the humanity of people throughout our Nations
and the Commonwealth so readily respond to the plight of others
I particularly want to pay tribute to all those wonderfully kind people who so generously
give food or donations or that most precious commodity of all their time to support those
around them in greatest need together with the many charitable organizations which do
such extraordinary work in the most difficult circumstances our Church's synagogues mosques
temples and gurdwaras have once again United in feeding the hungry providing love and support
throughout the year such heartfelt solidarity is the most inspiring expression of loving
our neighbor as ourself The Prince and Princess of Wales recently visited Wales shining a
light on practical examples of this community spirit
some years ago I was able to fulfill a lifelong wish to visit Bethlehem and the Church of
the nativity there I went down into the Chapel of the manger and stood in silent reverence
by the Silver Star that is inlaid on the floor and marks the place of our Lord Jesus Christ's
birth it meant more to me than I can possibly Express to stand on that spot where as the
Bible tells us the light that has come into the world was born while Christmas is of course
a Christian Celebration The Power of light overcoming darkness is celebrated across the
boundaries of faith and belief so whatever Faith you have or whether you have none it
is in this life-giving light and with the true humility that lies in our service to
others that I believe we can find Hope for the future let us therefore celebrate it together
and cherish it always
with all my heart I wish each of you the Christmas of peace happiness and everlasting light
[Music] I believe
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