Thoughts from The Vicarage with Advent, safeguarding NS an appeal
Warm greetings as we prepare for Advent and Christmas and welcome to new readers! There is a single service in the Valley this week. Advent Sunday will be celebrated in St James (the 5th Sunday of a month is generally a Benefice service)
This Sunday in St James I will be reflecting upon the ‘O’ antiphons as we begin the waiting and watching of Advent. They are ancient biblical names and images used for the coming Messiah – the babe in the manger.
Advent Sunday marks the beginning of the church year. It is a season of expectation and preparation as the Church looks forward to celebrating the coming of Christ, Emmanuel, God with us. Church decorations are simple and sparse, and purple is the traditional colour used. Advent falls at the darkest time of the year, and the natural symbols of darkness and light are powerfully at work throughout Advent and Christmas.
The Advent Wreath is a circle of greenery with five candles rising from it. There are four candles on the outside that are purple, one is pink, lit on 3rd Sunday. The candle in the middle is white. The candles are lit in the same order each week so that by the fourth week, the candles have burnt down by different amounts.
An important piece from Louise Whitehead Head of Safeguarding is attached today – she speaks of Safeguarding as a ministry of hope. It is compassion turned to action. In the gospel, Jesus continually reaches out to those who are pushed to the margins, those who are fragile, those who others overlook. His example shows us safeguarding is not an add-on to the Christian life. It is the Christian life. Its compassion turned into action. Louise concludes ‘as a church, let’s make safeguarding a shared responsibility’.
Bishop Stephen’s Advent appeal This Sunday and throughout Advent the Benefice will be taking part in the appeal for the Diocesan link of Jamaica and the Cayman Islands, devastated on 28 October by Hurricane Melissa. Thousands were left homeless and many buildings were destroyed or damaged. Four churches were completely destroyed and 23 other churches and schools need substantial repair.
Our Bishop is appealing to as many parishes as possible across the Diocese of Oxford to support disaster relief in Jamaica through donations writing: ‘There are many, many connections already between our two dioceses and these will grow stronger in the future. the need is critical now for our sisters and brothers.’ Further details found on our website.
Finally a prayer from Malcolm Guite after what has for many been a challenging week:
When winter comes and winds are cold and keen,
when nights are darkest,
though the stars shine bright,
when life shrinks to its roots,
or sleeps unseen,
then may He bless and bring you to his light.
For He has come at last, and can be seen,
God’s love made vulnerable, tightly curled: the winter child,
the Saviour of the world.
Amen
God bless
Julie
Diary Dates
- November 30th Advent Sunday
- December 8th 1.30 pm Lambourn CE school Christmas celebration St Michael & All Angels
- December 14th 5pm Carols & Christingles St James
- December 14th 6pm Carol Service All Saints
- December 16th 6.30 Jingle & Mingle St Michael & All Angels
- December 17th Carol singing from The Vicarage
- December 19th 3pm Dress up Nativity service St Michael & All Angels
- December 21st 6pm Carol Service St Michael & All Angels
- December 24th 4pm Crib service St James
- December 24th 4pm Christingle St Michael & All Angels
- December 24th 11pm Midnight Mass St Michael & All Angels
- December 25th 9am Christmas Day Communion All Saints
- December 25th 10.30 am Christmas Day Communion St James
- December 25th 10.30am Christmas Day Communion St Michael & All Angels
- December 28th 10.30 Holy Innocents Day Holy Communion (said) St Michael & All Angels