Senior church figures reflect on Christ’s humanity, vulnerability and hope for the nation

CHRISTIAN leaders from across Wales have come together to deliver a joint Christmas message, reflecting on the meaning of Christ’s humanity and the message of hope at the heart of the Christmas story.

The message is issued jointly by The Most Revd Cherry Vann, Archbishop of Wales (Church in Wales), The Most Revd Mark O’Toole, Catholic Archbishop of Cardiff-Menevia, and the Rev Dyfrig Rees, President of the Free Church Council of Wales.

Drawing on the writings of theologian and Second World War martyr Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the leaders reflect on the idea that Christ helps humanity not through power or domination, but through weakness, vulnerability and suffering.

Quoting Bonhoeffer, the message states that the Bible “makes it quite clear that Christ helps us not by virtue of his omnipotence but rather by virtue of his weakness and suffering” — a truth reflected in Jesus’ life, which began in a borrowed manger and ended on a cross.

The leaders warn against the temptation to lose sight of Jesus’ full humanity by turning him into a distant or superhuman figure. Instead, they invite people to return to the birth narratives found in Scripture, where the infant Jesus reveals God’s presence within ordinary human life.

The message emphasises the Christian belief in Emmanuel — “God with us” — and describes Christmas as a profound paradox: that God, in all power and majesty, chose to be revealed in human vulnerability, dependency and weakness.

“The amazing truth of Christmas,” the leaders say, “is that God chose to reveal himself in the Bethlehem babe — weak, needy and totally dependent on others.”

They note that the Christmas story challenges modern culture’s rejection of vulnerability, failure and dependence, and instead calls people away from self-sufficiency and the pursuit of power at the expense of others and of creation.

Reflecting on the journey to Bethlehem, the leaders acknowledge that many people experience lives marked by brokenness, uncertainty and a lack of purpose. They describe the infant Jesus as a symbol of “complete and true humanity” and invite people to join the pilgrims at the stable in trust, prayer and hope.

In their closing words, the Christian leaders pray that Jesus will be “more fully received and honoured” across Wales, and that people will find in him a deeper sense of humanity, compassion and love.

“If we let him,” they say, “Christ can be a living presence within us — empowering us in our weakness, calling us to love and be loved, to serve and be served, and to become channels of God’s life-giving love and compassion.”

The message concludes with a Christmas greeting to the people of Wales:

“May you have a happy and blessed Christmas. Nadolig Llawen.”

Issued by:
• The Most Revd Cherry Vann, Archbishop of Wales
• The Most Revd Mark O’Toole, Archbishop of Cardiff-Menevia
• Rev Dyfrig Rees, President of the Free Church Council of Wales

STAFF and pupils from Orbis Education and Care services in Pembrokeshire have helped donate more than 100 Christmas gift bags to seriously ill children, as part of a Wales-wide festive charity campaign.

The initiative, known as the Build a Bag campaign, saw Orbis staff, pupils and residents from specialist schools and care homes come together to prepare festive goodie bags for children aged between three and 16.

The bags were donated to Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospital Charity at Cardiff’s Heath Hospital and to Dreams and Wishes, which supports children living with life-limiting conditions.

Pembrokeshire services operated by Orbis include The Old Manse in Haverfordwest, Bangeston Hall and Maes Y Coed in Pembroke Dock, Stockwell in Pembroke Dock, Rosendale in Tenby, and Awel y Mor in Saundersfoot. Staff and residents from these homes took part alongside Orbis services across south and mid Wales.

Each bag was filled with a mixture of toys, games and festive treats, as well as practical items such as clothing and toiletries, aimed at bringing comfort and cheer to children spending Christmas in hospital or dealing with serious illness.

The campaign encouraged pupils and residents supported by Orbis to take an active role in giving back to others, reinforcing values of kindness, empathy and community support during the festive period.

Lou Aubrey, Commercial Director at Orbis Education and Care, said the response from staff and young people had been overwhelming.

She said: “We are incredibly grateful for the generosity of our staff and pupils and are thrilled to be able to give back to those in need this Christmas.

“It was incredibly moving to see the reaction when we delivered the bags. To be able to support Noah’s Ark Charity and Dreams and Wishes – two charities close to our hearts – is especially meaningful at this time of year.

“We would like to thank everyone who donated and helped make this year’s Build a Bag campaign such a success.”

Orbis Education and Care is one of the UK’s leading providers of specialist education and residential services for children, young people and adults with complex needs associated with autism. The organisation employs around 900 staff across Wales and England.

Its Pembrokeshire services provide residential care for adults with autism, supporting individuals to live as independently as possible within their local communities.

Orbis said the Build a Bag campaign also gave pupils and residents a sense of pride in contributing to something positive, while strengthening links between care services and charitable organisations supporting children across Wales.

Pic caption: Orbis Education and Care staff delivering Christmas gift bags to Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospital Charity (Pic: Orbis).

A MAN from rural Carmarthenshire has been sent to the Crown Court after appearing before magistrates charged with a series of serious sexual offences and alleged breaches of court orders.

Leof Sceaga, aged 57, appeared at Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on Friday (Dec 19) facing multiple charges relating to indecent images of children, extreme pornography, and failures to comply with restrictions imposed on him by the courts.

Magistrates heard that Sceaga is accused of making indecent photographs or pseudo-photographs of children, with alleged offences said to have taken place on Thursday (May 8) and during further incidents in December.

The court was told that the charges relate to the creation of prohibited material, rather than simple possession, placing the allegations among the more serious categories of offences dealt with under child protection legislation.

Sceaga is also charged with possessing extreme pornographic images, offences which involve material considered so explicit or violent that it is banned outright under criminal law.

In addition to the image offences, the court heard that Sceaga is accused of breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO), or an interim version of such an order. SHPOs are imposed by the courts to restrict the behaviour of individuals considered to pose a risk of sexual harm, and can include strict conditions on internet use, devices, and personal conduct.

He is further charged with failing to comply with the notification requirements of the Sex Offenders’ Register, with the alleged breach said to have occurred on Thursday (Dec 18). Individuals subject to notification requirements are legally required to keep police informed of key personal details, including address and changes in circumstances.

All matters were considered together by Llanelli magistrates, who concluded that the seriousness of the allegations meant the case was beyond their sentencing powers.

Sceaga was therefore sent to the Crown Court to be indicted. He was remanded in custody, and will next appear before a Crown Court judge at a date to be fixed.

No pleas were entered at this stage, and reporting restrictions apply in line with standard legal protections.