Thoughts from The Vicarage with Bumper Pews News, a Christmas Blessing and A Happy New Year!
Greetings! Please find a Bumper Edition of Pews News attached for everything you need for the 4th Sunday of Advent through to the end of 2025 in each church! Make your Christmas complete by coming to church to welcome the child born in a manger for us.
There’s something for everyone. A Nativity with carols in St Michael’s for all ages on Friday at 3pm. All are welcome young and old to a wonderful celebration of the Birth of Christ. Come along to our dress up Nativity for an inclusive child centred but all welcome service at this special time of year.
St Michael’s traditional 9 Lessons & Carols by candlelight is at 6pm on Sunday. Then moving on to Christmas Eve there’s Christingle at 4pm with Midnight Mass beginning at 11pm both in St Michael & All Angels. St James’s Crib service is at 4pm on Christmas Eve.
If you are a morning bird celebrations continue in each church on Christmas morning with the young in mind! For times please see the Pews News that also includes, no expense spared December 28th when we remember the Feast of The Holy Innocents which will be a BCP communion service (said) at the High Altar in St Michael & All Angels.
Whether it’s the beauty of the Nine Lessons & Carols, the timelessness of Midnight Mass or the eager anticipation of a Christingle service you are very welcome at any of these services.
Our Bishop, Mary, has recorded a beautiful piece and invites us to look to the Christmas lights around us as reminders of a hope for December and beyond. She prays that every time you see these beautiful Christmas lights, you would be filled not only with wonder, but also with hope. Because in the darkness, you are accompanied. And one day, the darkness will be overcome with brilliant light. You are in my prayers as we watch & wait over the coming week. And then when it comes, the happiest of Christmas, because the light has come into the world. https://tinyurl.tools/fd32be82
Finally a prayer:
We pray that this Christmas we might not be distracted.
May the story of this God who is with us
Teach us to love with all our heart, mind, soul and strength.
That we might reflect everywhere the grace and love of God,
and all lives might be suffused with the warmth of his light.
A Christmas blessing
May the humility of the shepherds, the faith of the wise men, the joy of the angels and the peace of the Christ-child be God’s gift to us and to all people, this Christmas and always. Amen
God bless
Julie
Pews News will be taking a break till January 2026