14. New Year’s Day: The hopes and fears of all the years

Today’s carol is “O little town of Bethlehem”The words in today’s reading are those spoken to John the Baptist when he was still in his mother’s womb proclaiming him the forerunner of Jesus.As we read them at the dawn of a new year, let’s ponder how Christ himself is a new dawn for the world.

Om Podcasten

Comfort and Joy invites us to hear again the message of the angels – good news of God’s unfailing love for a world that is weary and hurting. Taking inspiration from a traditional carol service, Comfort and Joy features weekly reflections throughout Advent, and daily reflections from Christmas day to the second of January, from Kate Bottley, Jonathan Bryan, Bob Chilcot, Martha Collison, Stephen Cottrell, Guli Francis-Dehqani, Chine McDonald, Sally Phillips and Justin Welby. Beginning on Advent Sunday, each episode explores a Bible reading and a familiar carol, encouraging us to look with fresh eyes at how the timeless truth of Christmas might shape our lives in these extraordinary times.