The President of the Lutheran World Federation, Bishop Mark S. Hanson, has issued his Christmas message for 2006 in which he reminds believers of God's desire for peace on earth as revealed through the birth of Christ.

"We live in a visited world. On that holy night twenty centuries ago, God visited the world in the miracle of Bethlehem. Held in Mary's arms that night was the revelation of steadfast, unbounded love for all humanity. The birth of Jesus disclosed God's saving will and eternal desire for reconciliation and peace," said Bishop Hanson.

He added, however, that in the gathering of the Church to celebrate the Lord's Nativity, "we hear sounds of discord throughout the world".

"From divisions caused by walls of separation, from the struggles of many for survival from disasters, devastation, hunger, and poverty, from the dread of rampant disease and the spread of HIV and AIDS, from war and the threat of war, even with nuclear weapons, from broken relationships in homes and hostilities within communities and countries, we seek rescue," he said.

"We yearn for the gracious, healing, and reconciling Word of the Prince of Peace."

Bishop Hanson reminded believers, however, that despite the many conflicts ongoing in the world, God has not abandoned man.

"We hear the angel say, 'Do not be afraid.' With that message of courage, we realise as believers that we are never alone. We have been claimed by God and made a part of the household of faith," he said.

Church leaders in Britain have been outspoken in their defence of Christmas this year in the face of creeping secularisation and attempts to replace the Christian core of Christmas with secular winter festival themes.

The Christian Muslim Forum, which was established by the Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams, complained that taking the Christian message out of Christmas played into the hands of right-wing extremists who then accused Muslims of undermining Britain's Christian culture.

"The desire to secularise religious festivals is in itself offensive to both our communities," said Dr Ataullah Siddiqui, vice chairman of the forum.

Meanwhile, the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, the Rt Rev Alan McDonald, told Christian Today that Muslim and Jewish leaders in Scotland "want us to celebrate Christian festivals like Christmas and it doesn't trouble them at all".