Lately, I am finding that along with all the other things that make this season special, it is the music and the songs of Christmas that fill my mind.

Over the years we have listened for 'Silver Bells' and envisioned 'Chestnuts roasting on an open fire'.

We have 'Rocked Around the Christmas Tree', swayed to the rhythm of 'Blue Christmas' and dreamed of a 'White Christmas'.

You won't hear these songs in church of course, but they also reflect the spirit of the one who, as we say, is the reason for the season.

His spirit still weaves its way into our popular culture. The music of Christmas moves our hearts to discover again the things that really count – love, family, peace and the joy of giving.

One of the songs we hear on the radio and occasionally in church is 'Little Drummer Boy'.

Its mesmerising beat entices us to make our way back to the manger.

And, like a diverse and poorly disciplined army, many fall into step and follow. The scriptures say "a little child shall lead them".

A child with a drum leads us to the infant Jesus. And what all the philosophers and biblical scholars and lords of culture cannot do, this infant does.

He opens our hearts to God and to one another. He beckons to all of us, churchgoers or not, believers or not, to come to the manger and receive the true gift of Christmas.

The God who cannot be confined to church comes to us still, in the most unlikely places.

Through the music and the songs of Christmas the creator makes us aware again of the manger and its tiny guest.

We see replicas of the stable and manger in the stores in Hamilton, St George's and Dockyard.

The same scene can often be found in the foyers of our businesses. 'Little Drummer Boy' is heard, 'parrup-up-pum' piped in over the public address systems of stores and businesses.

Without thinking, we follow the drumbeat to this reminder of the God who is still with us.

God, stripped of all worldly power and wealth, reaches out to us from a cradle and invites us to consider where true power and wealth are to be found.

Here God offers us gifts of faith and hope and love.

Merry Christmas. God bless you and keep you and all you love this Christmas season and throughout the coming year.