Today the Church launches its #GodWithUs Christmas campaign, aimed at encouraging people across the country to experience the love of God at this special moment in the Christian year.

Your Christmas Journey is a series of reflections, in print and online, to help people take the journey through Advent, Christmas and into 2018. You can sign up by texting GodWithUs to 88802; via email; by visiting the Church of England website at https://www.churchofengland.org; following the Church on social media; or buying a copy from Church House Publishing.

Archbishop Justin Welby writes: “#GodWithUs: Your Christmas Journey seeks to help you explore what the Christmas story might mean in your life. The constant refrain of Christmas, in carols and readings, is that God is with us. In whatever situations you find yourself this Christmas, God is with you – you need only turn to him and ask to know his presence.”

The relaunched A Church Near You – which went live yesterday (November 30) will point  to tens of thousands of local Christmas services across the country by simply typing in a postcode. This site receives more than 13 million page views throughout the year, with a spike in traffic in December.

Local PCC AChurchNearYou editors are being asked to upload their details and the information about their Christmas services and activities to the site.

In addition, three videos have been produced that will be released throughout December to showcase some of the many services that take place during Advent and Christmas. The first focuses on Nine Lessons and Carols.  The second shares the joy of children enjoying a Christingle service and the final a Christmas service. The videos will reach millions through social media advertising throughout December. They were all filmed at All Saints Church in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire.

Steven Croft, Bishop of Oxford, said: “December is a very hectic month for many, but we know that millions of people across the country go to their local church for an Advent or Christmas service. This year’s #GodWithUs campaign seeks to share a Christian message from the national Church through three videos and a series of short, open and accessible reflections. We’ve been really encouraged with the response to the printed booklet and the digital resources will help us reach even more people.”

William Nye, Secretary General of the Archbishops’ Council, said: “The #GodWithUs Advent and Christmas campaign is part of the Church of England’s Renewal and Reform programme. This is aimed at helping us become a growing Church for all people and for all places. The campaign is just one example of how we’re engaging with people who might not go to church regularly and helping them start or strengthen their faith journey.”