'Maureen's
Musings'
November 2016
November comes along
as the month of Remembrance. Poppies and fireworks; scarlet blooms
across the night sky. Sparklers and cinder or treacle toffee
and bobbing for apples. Solemn old soldiers with a tear in the
eye. Marching bands and foggy mornings. All of these and more
are memories that come to mind - (at least for me!) . It may
be very different in your mind's eye of course, but I would love
to hear your memories if you have different ones. Why not come
and find me - I am often in the coffee shop around 11am on Saturday
mornings if I can be, and I would love to hear your stories....
Perhaps there is a special person you always think of at this
time of year as the nights get longer and the temperature cools?
We have been holding
our memorial service of thanksgiving for the departed at the
end of October or beginning of November for many years now ...
and I know how important that is for many people. We love being
able to welcome you to church on that occasion. And it got me
thinking whether we might be able to do something else to help
brighten winter season - which for some is particularly difficult.
As we are swept mercilessly
up into the commercial hype and the glitz and glitter of Christmas,
I am always aware that for some people it can be a very difficult
time. With such emphasis on happy family time, cheery smiles
and general bonhomie, it can feel very lonely for those who perhaps
are not feeling much like celebrating the Christmas festival.
For that reason, I thought I would offer a short, relatively
meditative service on the evening of Wednesday 21st December.
This marks the longest night of the year - the shadows are at
their deepest and darkest - but from this time on the nights
will grow shorter again as we journey, hesitantly at first, towards
spring. We may still have the worst of the winter to face, but
the daylight will gradually beat back the night. Hope will replace
despair and through it all God is there with us - Emmanuel.
So forgive the early
publicity for this event, but I know it will need word of mouth
to create an awareness that there will be a service this year
for all those who find the enforced jollity of the festive season
a bit hard to take. 21st December; 7.30pm - 8.15pm. Come light
a candle to keep the long night at bay. Please wrap up warmly
as I am not sure we will have our boiler problem fixed by then!
Every year I also hope
that we may be allowed to keep a proper Advent - a time of thoughtful
preparation before all the razzamatazz of Christmas bursts upon
us. I know it is a folorn hope. But it really does help make
Christmas extra special if there has been a time of restraint
and preparation before-hand. This year Advent begins on November
27th and we hope to be able to unveil and dedicate a new Advent
Candle Ring in church on that day. Why not come and experience
it? Then you can go home and write your Christmas Cards and your
letter to Santa.... if you must!
Every blessing
Maureen
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