By Ben McEachenWednesday 20 Dec 2023Hope MorningsChristmasReading Time: 2 minutes
‘Tis the season to be wrapped up in the joy of Jesus’ birth. Except there are all these other things going on in our lives.
Along with the annual explosion of parties, purchases and slacking off at work, Christmas 2023 lands squarely amid Australia’s “cost of living” crisis.
Inflation and interest rates have dominated discussion about Australia’s economic reality.
The lived reality in your household might be a pressure-cooker of surging costs which you struggle to meet.
Increased demands for services such as food banks indicate how we can be so consumed by making ends meet.
Hope Mornings spoke with Christian leaders across New South Wales and Australian Capital Territory about this “cost of living” Christmas.
They shared personally about the financial burdens being carried by so many across the communities they are part of.
Listen to the interviews below as your circumstances are compassionately considered at this “most wonderful time of the year”.
Be encouraged by the reminder that, even when life weighs heavily upon us, the free gift of Jesus to the world is a source of enormous comfort, perspective and joy.
More than just words. The generous offer to us of Jesus – The Word of God – changes everything.
Now and forever.
Phil Dooley
Global Senior Pastor, Hillsong Church
Faaimata Havea Hiliau
Moderator, Uniting Church in Australia, Synod of NSW and ACT
Steve Bartlett
Director of Ministries, Baptist Association NSW and ACT
Kanishka Raffel
Archbishop, Sydney Anglican
Ben Greig
Moderator, Presbyterian Church NSW
Kim Haworth
Divisional Commander, Salvation Army NSW/ACT
Danny Meagher
Auxilary Bishop, Catholic Archdiocese Sydney
Paul Bartlett
State President, Australian Christian Churches (ACC) NSW/ACT
Antonios Kaldas
Parish Priest, Archangel Michael and St. Bishoy Coptic Orthodox Church, Mount Druitt
Feature image: Photo by Canva Pro