Dear All,
Advent is almost here, the start of a new Church year, with the promise of Christmass right behind it! Together with the Cross and Crown this website has the Advent order of service, in case it is helpful. For some people, the thought of Christmass is wonderful: for others, not so much! I am in the 'wonderful' camp myself, but then, I don't have turkeys to cook! I do have some preparations to make, however: and they are not always seamless. If the candles in the Advent wreath look odd, it will be because I didn't order them in time!
Apart from the wreath, there are various other ways in which we prepare for Christmass in Advent. The Advent Lunch will be tomorrow after Church: and part of the purpose of that is to raise money for the charities we support. If you can't come to the lunch, but would like to support the Church's charitable giving, please let me know. (All the money raised will go to Kids Out, the friends of Mombasa Children, and the local food bank). Also, the PCC has decided not to use the pigeon-holes for Christmass cards this year. Instead, there are a table and a board at the back of the church. Please put individual cards in named piles on the table, or pin up one card for everyone on the board.
Next week, the Grand Union Choir are singing carols in the Church car park from 6:30 pm on the 4th, and on the 11th we are hosting the Musica Christmass Concert: please do buy tickets for this, the money raised will go to church funds. Then we have the St Mary's Carol Service at 3 pm on the 12th of December, and our Service of Nine Lessons and Carols at 6 pm on the 19th at St B's. If all of that doesn't make you feel Christmassy, I don't know what will! But you could try bringing a Christmass decoration to St Barnabas: once again, the Church will be open from 10 am - 12 noon on Saturday the 11th for anyone to bring a decoration to put up in the Church for Christmass.
And of course, the point of all this carol-singing and decorating, is to try and help us prepare not just our homes, but our hearts and minds, to receive Christ, not just as a memory or in nostalgia, but as a living presence in our lives every day. The light of Christmass shines every day. The warmth of God's love is not seasonally-affected! But sometimes we forget to look, or let that message get crowded out. These 'special' times of year are opportunities for us to refocus on what is lasting. Even as the days shorten, we have nothing to fear. The light of God's love in Christ shines in the darkness, and the darkness cannot overcome it.
See you tomorrow
Fr Bernard
The Rev'd Dr B Minton
Team Vicar of Linslade
Ouzel Valley Team
Advent is almost here, the start of a new Church year, with the promise of Christmass right behind it! Together with the Cross and Crown this website has the Advent order of service, in case it is helpful. For some people, the thought of Christmass is wonderful: for others, not so much! I am in the 'wonderful' camp myself, but then, I don't have turkeys to cook! I do have some preparations to make, however: and they are not always seamless. If the candles in the Advent wreath look odd, it will be because I didn't order them in time!
Apart from the wreath, there are various other ways in which we prepare for Christmass in Advent. The Advent Lunch will be tomorrow after Church: and part of the purpose of that is to raise money for the charities we support. If you can't come to the lunch, but would like to support the Church's charitable giving, please let me know. (All the money raised will go to Kids Out, the friends of Mombasa Children, and the local food bank). Also, the PCC has decided not to use the pigeon-holes for Christmass cards this year. Instead, there are a table and a board at the back of the church. Please put individual cards in named piles on the table, or pin up one card for everyone on the board.
Next week, the Grand Union Choir are singing carols in the Church car park from 6:30 pm on the 4th, and on the 11th we are hosting the Musica Christmass Concert: please do buy tickets for this, the money raised will go to church funds. Then we have the St Mary's Carol Service at 3 pm on the 12th of December, and our Service of Nine Lessons and Carols at 6 pm on the 19th at St B's. If all of that doesn't make you feel Christmassy, I don't know what will! But you could try bringing a Christmass decoration to St Barnabas: once again, the Church will be open from 10 am - 12 noon on Saturday the 11th for anyone to bring a decoration to put up in the Church for Christmass.
And of course, the point of all this carol-singing and decorating, is to try and help us prepare not just our homes, but our hearts and minds, to receive Christ, not just as a memory or in nostalgia, but as a living presence in our lives every day. The light of Christmass shines every day. The warmth of God's love is not seasonally-affected! But sometimes we forget to look, or let that message get crowded out. These 'special' times of year are opportunities for us to refocus on what is lasting. Even as the days shorten, we have nothing to fear. The light of God's love in Christ shines in the darkness, and the darkness cannot overcome it.
See you tomorrow
Fr Bernard
The Rev'd Dr B Minton
Team Vicar of Linslade
Ouzel Valley Team