“A saviour is born unto us, He is Christ Jesus our Lord”
As the psalm expresses; “Though we walk through a valley of darkness, no evil should I fear. You are there with your crook, your staff, with these you give me comfort”. And we need that comfort. We were fortunate in our seminary as I left full of hope that a new life of faith was possible. My first introduction to parish life and the deanery meetings revealed how much of a challenge that was in store. Yes, I could see signs that the writing was on the wall. A sharp fall off in the numbers entering the seminary continued to take place. A need to ask questions and to address the situation was required.
The focus of our celebration at Christmas is because our saviour Jesus has come into our world. This brings light to our world, and we have been constantly blessed by the work that the children’s liturgy provides. This work is displayed in our windows and will hopefully find a good home on our website to provide the background to growth and development of the good news that they continue to present. The parish carol service was a joyful experience, a quality occasion. The choir was remarkable and we were blessed by the quality of their performance. The readings were very well presented by our younger generation and made for a memorable and special experience. The hospitality in the hall is a continuing reflection of the efforts that are being made for us to grow together as communities.
Next year St George’s Church will be providing the hospitality for this event. They will also facilitate our parish sponsored walk which has become very enjoyable and raises funds for good causes. We hope to continue to support foodbank and the service that they provide, which is so important to many. As we celebrate Christmas the essential is the news that has come into our world, and with the help of God it will bless our world and bless your Christmas, your home and your families this Christmas.
I continue with my favourite focus; grace and peace, and please God, you may all have a peaceful and enjoyable Christmas.