Looking back to something we did in the autumn of last year – and something we hope to take part in again in 2020!
What is the best Christmas sweet? Rachel’s vote goes to the chocolate orange – at this time of year, the church often uses oranges to symbolise Jesus. How can unpacking a chocolate orange remind us of the good news Jesus brings – despite the need to break to be made whole?
Is Christmas just for the children? It’s fair to say that children are a focus for the season – but it’s certainly not, if we mean it’s something we grow out of as we get older. Rather, we should grow into Christmas – there’s so much more to Christ, than the story of a birth. Jesus is the light of the world – Christmas is so much more when we follow Christ, as we are pulled from the darkness to live in the light.
One for the children – and young at heart – our Crib and Christingle service on the 24th December started our final Christmas countdown. Rachel explains how the story of Jesus birth can be explained through crisps …much to the entertainment of all!
Our service for the fouth Sunday of Advent, as we focus on Mary – mother of Christ and the promise we have in a new life at Christmas. What would you wish for a new child: what would you want to protect them from experiencing? Our thanks also for the gift to the church from Phillip and Frances – a twinned toilet – and for eighteen years service, preparing the altar for communion services, Freida who passes the torch to another.
With Christmas Day only a week away, St Mark’s tests the lighting with a fun carol and readings evening, culminating in the somewhat frenetic Twelve Days of Christmas.
Our minds are looking towards the big day – when we celebrate Christ’s arrival, at his birth in Bethlehem. What a celebration; so why, when reading our old testament reading this evening, I wonder who decided to be the buzz kill with Isiah and his description of Woes and Judgements as we’re gearing up to the excitement of the season? But at a time of reflection – it’s more important than ever we focus on if we’re ready to receive Jesus.
Today we remember John the Baptist. The cousin of Jesus, he was convinced Jesus was the true messiah – to the extent that he went to the wilderness and proclaimed the redemption of sin through the baptism of water, and a promise that one more powerful would come, to baptise with the Holy Spirit. In Advent, we prepare to welcome the Christ child, but it’s a time of repentance, and preparation for Jesus second coming. As we take this journey, will we ask Jesus through his spirit, to strengthen us?
A how to guide for churches with open trussed roof beams, who want to hang Christmas lighting creatively above the congregation. All you need is a drone, fishing line, pink twine and good company…
John the Baptist is an unusual character; we might find an encounter with him a little off putting at first – would we want to spend an evening with him? But then, prophets force us to face the part of ourselves we find uncomfortable – and John’s message of repentance, to turn our lives around, can be just as hard for us to hear today.