Thursday 21 December 2023

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

It is nearly Christmas! I hope you are keeping well and able to celebrate this important Christian festival and enjoy time with family and friends.

I am still not fully well and have been advised to be cautious in what I do. It has been painful for me not to have been present with you at this important time of the Christian year and to miss several of our special services. It has been a lesson for me in learning patience and trust and in receiving the help and care of others. Thank you for your patient support. I am determined to be with you to celebrate the service on Christmas Day so please pray that will indeed be possible!

Details of the services for Sunday 24th and Monday 25th December are below.

NB Please do note that this year the 4th Sunday of Advent and Christmas Eve are on the same day; included below is a description of the different services:

SUNDAY 24th DECEMBER:

10:00:

4th Sunday of Advent (Eucharist): Theme is Mary's obedience
(Please note there will be NO Junior Church or Crèche at this service, but toys and books will be available)

16:00:

Christmas Eve: Christingle and Crib Service: especially for young children and their families. (I am grateful to Archana who will lead this service)

22:00:

Christmas Eve: First Communion of Christmas (I am grateful to David who will preside and read my sermon)

MONDAY 25th DECEMBER:

10:00:

Christmas Day Family Eucharist (I hope to preside and give a talk for All Ages)

I hope to see as many of you as possible on Christmas Day as we celebrate together. I know that some of you are away for Christmas and I may not see you. I wish you all a very special Christmas and pray that you will know the joy of Emmanuel, God with us.

Bishop Robert's Christmas Message
You can read and listen to Bishop Robert's Christmas message here.

I conclude with some words of St John of the Cross about Christ as the Word of God.

'In giving us his Son, his only word (for he possess no other) God spoke everything to us at once in this sole word - and he has no more to say.'

With love in Christ,
Helen