Rev Chris’s Weekly Update 04/12

Dear all,

This coming Sunday is the Second Sunday of Advent, and we will light another candle in church to acknowledge a further step on the journey to Christmas, the time when we celebrate the birth of Christ. This ‘journey’ is also filled with anticipation for the return of Christ and the bible readings at services in Advent reflect that sense of what is to come.

I love the developing tension of this time of year as it begins to feel a lot like Christmas. The Christmas lights appear, there are the usual jingles in the shops, the joy of school nativity plays, the endless Christmas films, the ritual of putting the Christmas tree up, and so on. All these things help with that growing sense of excitement – but we are not there yet. The world must patiently wait, because the waiting time is itself an important time to reflect on ourselves and our lives, and our relationship with God.

A couple of Sunday’s ago was ‘Christ the King Sunday’ and I encouraged us all to consider the meaning of the presence of Christ in our lives. Last Sunday our bible readings in church caused us to reflect on how we are ‘prepared’ in this waiting time for Christ, not just for Christmas but in anticipation of His return, however and whenever, that works out.

Christ isn’t just for Christmas.

Blessings,

Rev Chris

p.s. In this ‘waiting time’ don’t forget all that is going on, in addition to the usual services – see the flyer with this email for details of Christmas services. Coming up in the next couple of weeks we have;

SATURDAY 3^rd CHRISTMAS MARKET 10.30-2.30

SATURDAY 10^th MESSY CHURCH – Messy Christmas 3pm

SUNDAY 11^th DECEMBER – CAROL SERVICE 5pm