The Christmas message from Uniting Church in Australia President Rev Charissa Suli is now available to download, watch share!

In her first Christmas message as President, Rev Suli reflects on how the good news of this season surprises us with unexpected hope.

“At Christmas we remember the birth of Jesus, the birth of hope itself,” says the President.

“Jesus, the Son of God, was born not in a palace but in a stable – God entering our world in humility and vulnerability. Through this child, God chose to come among us, bringing love and light into the darkness.”

The President speaks of the heavy burdens many of us carry at this time, weighed down by grief, fatigue and a world in conflict.

“It can feel like hope is not enough.”

“But the Christmas story speaks to these very struggles. Just like hope was born into poverty on that first Christmas, so is hope born into our broken world.”

The message was filmed on Gadigal land in Sydney and produced by creative agency The Signal Box.

Watch in full below and scroll down to see Christmas messages from Uniting Church Moderators across the country. More will be added as they are released.

President Suli is available for media appearances in the lead up to and on Christmas Day. Contact the Uniting Church Assembly Communications Unit: comms@nat.uca.org.au or bethanyb@nat.uca.org.au