A couple exchanging presents. Who can forget the excitement, as a child, of unwrapping a Christmas gift? As an adult, perhaps, the memory of that delight is tempered by unease at the gross consumerism of our society. Shopping arcades are only too pleased to house a nativity scene, knowing it will help boost sales, but are strangely reluctant to display a cross at Easter…

Saint Nicholas - the original Santa Claus - to whose memory we owe the tradition of gift giving, rejected his own wealthy background and used his money to redeem those threatened by poverty. It's a self-denying tradition of gift-giving that we seem to have lost.

And beneath the story of St Nicholas lies the story of God's self-giving generosity shown in Jesus Christ. What sort of a response does that call for? At the end of one of the loveliest English carols, Christina Rossetti suggests an answer:

What can I give him,
Poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd
I would bring a lamb;
If I were a wise man
I would do my part;
Yet what I can I give him -
Give my heart.

· Gustav Holst's subdued but powerful tune, Cranham, can be found at http://rememberjosie.org/carols/s6700.asp

· More information about Christina Rossetti can be found at http://65.107.211.206/crossetti/crov.html