Excitement for the big day . . . but not forgetting the wider picture!!!
A message from Chaplain Deb
Over the last couple of weeks we have seen great excitement at our club.
After a nail-biting FA Cup tie against Swindon Town (eventually winning on penalties) saw our eyes and ears turn to the next round’s draw one Monday night early December on BBC1.
Most people on social media were hoping for a much needed draw against a Premier League team and for it to be an away match too:
a) to get some much needed money in the club’s coffers and
b) to be able to support our lads in front of many thousands and experience what would be deemed a “top day” in the club’s history. At the time of writing I’ve got Sky Sports on with Liverpool just going 5-1 up (away) against Tottenham after 60 minutes (gulp!!!).
Ever since the draw, players, staff and fans alike have all got Liverpool predominantly on their minds and I’m no exception. Every conversation seems to be about that match and how we are all looking forward to the big day on Saturday, 11th January, 2025. We cannot wait for this special day which will see us all come together to “celebrate” in our unique way to such a memorable occasion.
Another special day which we are all looking forward to is December 25th – Christmas Day. It is one of the most important dates in the Christian calendar and not only for Christians in our country but those worldwide where the birth of Jesus Christ is celebrated in many different ways.
*Giving presents at Christmas goes back to the Wise Men, who gave gold, frankincense and myrrh to the infant Jesus. There is also the tradition of St. Nicholas. He was a fourth-century Byzantine monk who secretly handed out bags of money to the poor. This practice still takes place on St. Nicholas’ Day, 6th December. And some people think that Santa Claus can be traced back to this generous monk. God and every person involved in the first Christmas brings something different to the Jesus’ birth.
*taken from A Gift of Christmas by The Methodist Church
Mother Teresa once said “It’s not how much we give, but how much love we put into giving.” – very wise words indeed.
The excitement in many households especially where young children are will be extra special as their faces on Christmas morning will be such a joy to see. It is also a time too for families to come together and take some time out of their busy lives to celebrate a special day; but let’s not forget the real reason behind it.
However, mentioning the above dates which we are all looking forward to, i.e. FA Cup tie at Anfield and also Christmas Day, we must not forget the bigger picture. It would be foolish to say that all is going well in League Two this season and some are even saying after the defeat at home against Salford that, “We have to get our minds away from that forthcoming Liverpool match as we need to pick up some points in the league”. Sometimes when we are looking forward to a certain date we can sometimes forget about the “here and now”. Over the Christmas period let’s continue (I know sometimes it’s hard) to keep getting behind John, Ged and the lads. It is a journey we make together and those of us (dare I say) old enough will remember other hard times supporting Accrington Stanley, BUT we don’t give up – we keep going through the ups and also the downs. Its all part of supporting a football club!
In the Christian calendar, before Christmas there is Advent, a time where we think about what Christmas means and is a time of looking forward to Christmas Day but not forgetting that we still need to look around in our communities to see where we can help those who are less fortunate than ourselves – in the “here and now”. There is a lot of darkness in our world today but the hope that Christians have in their belief of Jesus Christ being their Saviour, and who is the light of world, brings hope that we can and should be trying to make a difference to everyone we meet – a very hard challenge indeed.
Football at Stanley isn’t only just for the “big matches” but also in the normal league matches too. It is looking out for one another – in Coleys, on the terraces and in the fanzone. We can all play our part too in being light to those who we meet who are struggling in their own “darkened world”. We all can make a difference, not only this Christmas-time but throughout the whole year.
Whatever you decide to do this Christmas, whether it be the first without a loved one or all your family being together, I would like to wish you all a blessed, peaceful Christmas and a Happy New Year and as always I will sign off with – let’s look out for each other and keep the faith.
Chaplain Deb x