Bolton Wanderers' Club Chaplain, Phil Mason, has written this message for all Wanderers fans.
Light in the Darkness
We are into a packed run of fixtures through the season of Christmas in what has been a most extraordinary year for everyone.
For so many this year has been really tough, loss of loved ones, loss of jobs and anxiety through the lockdown.
In this darkness through the work we carry out in the community we have tried to bring some light. Over this festive season we have sent out cards to all those on our loneliness programme and we have distributed gifts bought from money donated by our players to Bolton Hospital, Bolton Hospice and Darrien House children’s hospice.
We have supported Urban Outreach to get out over 2,000 Christmas day hampers that contain all the ingredients for a full Christmas meal for those who would otherwise go without in Bolton this year. Thanks for your efforts to support with the donations of Christmas puddings.
This is sharing light in the darkness.
As news breaks of even tougher restrictions there is still the hope of the vaccine for the New Year and beyond. We can begin to look forward with some hope for 2021, once we get through what will be a tough winter. More light in the darkness.
Interestingly over the past few days in the night sky there has been the alignment of Jupiter and Saturn that have come together in a “Great Conjunction” unlike any seen in nearly 800 years. The two planets will appear so close together in Earth’s night sky that they’ll almost look like a single object. That’s prompted some to dub the sight a "Christmas Star, like the star of Bethlehem. A bright light in the darkness, at the darkest time of the year.
This is actually the hub of the Christmas message, a baby born in a stable 2,000 plus years ago to bring light in the darkness, hence Christmas celebrated at this time of the year.
My hope and prayer for you is that this Christmas you will find light in the darkness of the year we have had and that, although in a very different way, you can have a wonderful and a very happy Christmas.
From all of us at BWFC, thank you for all your support and let’s look forward to a brighter 2021.