In their Christmas messages, the leaders of the Christian churches in Ireland have urged people to think of others.
Cardinal Desmond Connell said Christmas showed believers the face of God through his son, Jesus, and helped dispel the perception of God as a "faceless, remote being".
"We mustn't remain buried within ourselves. We must be able to see the face of Christ reflected in others, those many others who need our presence and our help, and reach out to them," he said.
"That is what God did in coming to dwell among us. That is how he showed his love for us and that is the fundamental message of Christmas."
The Church of Ireland Archbishop of Armagh, Dr Robin Eames, said that after September 11th "the entire world was faced with questions about life and death, about the brevity and fragility of life and the uncertainty of the future. The global village is still coming to terms with the questions and we have yet to find the answers."
Archbishop Eames said that behind the spending and appearance of prosperity in Northern Ireland, there were issues "we still have to address on the long road to stability, justice and equality for all: issues of fear, uncertainty, want, need and loss of confidence."
The Church of Ireland Archbishop of Dublin, Dr Walton Empey, said Christmas could be a time of great loneliness and weariness as well as wonder and joy.
"We need to remind ourselves amidst all the hustle and bustle leading up to the day itself that the meaning of Christmas has nothing to do with trees, turkeys, parties and all the other things we consider to be essential for the observance of a 'traditional' Christmas.
"Christmas is essentially God breaking into time and space in a unique way: 'The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us'. The Son of God comes to us in self-giving love - that is the heart of it."
The Presbyterian Moderator, the Rev Alastair Dunlop, urged people to let their family and friends know how much they were appreciated. "Christmas is also a great opportunity to bring some love and hope into the lives of those without family or friends - the homeless, the displaced, the hungry, the poor. This Christmas let us also show in practical ways how much they matter."
The Methodist Church President, the Rev Harold Good, said it was time to "abandon our unhealthy preoccupation with our own problems and become more concerned about what is happening in the wider world". He called for prayers and generosity for the victims of war, terrorism, poverty and abuse.
