Newsletter: 25/11/2022
As we head into the winter months we seem to be surrounded by news of how challenging life is and how it is forecast to get worse. With the nights drawing in and all the emotions which already surround Christmas for many of us, it can be hard to feel like we will find joy in the weeks to come. At least not how we used to - perhaps we recall a childhood memory of Christmas when all was right with the world and we felt joyful and dream wistfully of those times.
But how do we find joy now, as we approach the winter of 2022 with the cost of living crisis and all else which is going on in our world? It seems like as the days get darker so does our world. But this is exactly where our gospel message of hope and joy comes into its own. "The people walking in darkness have seen a great light." (Isaiah 9:2).
Joy is supposed to be something beyond happiness - a great feeling of pleasure. But in our world we so often look for joy in all the wrong places; in money, in possessions, in people, in work. I have no doubt those things can bring us happiness for a while but do not give us lasting joy.
When I worked for a pharmaceutical company, one of my colleagues asked me one day "Why are you always so happy?!" She didn't mean to suggest I was never sad but that whatever was going on in my life I always seemed to have a flicker of light still. That light comes from Christ. True joy comes from the one we welcome in our celebration of his birth in a few weeks - born in a manger in Bethlehem.
It can be so easy to develop tunnel vision about our problems and the challenges we face. And that is not to say they are not important or that we should ignore them or scorn those who are struggling to be joyful. But we should remind ourselves that we have a joy beyond happiness, a peace beyond contentment and a hope beyond wishful thinking.
As we begin to journey into Advent and prepare to celebrate again the birth of Christ, let us all take that light afresh for ourselves in our dark world and shine it out for others to see that the good news may spread far and wide. I pray that light shines in your hearts this day and all through the Advent season as we journey together back to the stable.
December Services
Our December services are many and varied so I am going to take it two weeks at a time (this week and next) but they will all be available on our website soon.
Sunday 26th November
8:00am - Holy Communion (BCP) @ St. James-the-Less, Stubbings
10:30am - Holy Communion @ St. Mary the Virgin, Hurley
Sunday 4th December
10:30am - Advent Carol Service (with Communion) @ St. Mary the Virgin, Hurley
2:15pm - Christingle Service @ St. John the Evangelist, Littlewick Green
5:00pm - Advent Evensong, St. James-the-Less, Stubbing
Website Updates
There have been a few tweaks to our website - we are trying a new way of putting the services up there and we now have a page for Pebbles to name two of them. It is really helpful if you are able to pop on there and give us some feedback on what is there (and what isn't!) and let us know how we could make it better.
Parish Giving Scheme
I mentioned about the Parish Giving Scheme last week and just a reminder that it is a really helpful way of giving regularly to the parish. If you want to know more either visit here or contact me.
Parish Coffee Morning
We have our regular parish coffee morning at the Soltau Centre, Stubbings on Wednesday 7th December @ 10:30am-12:30pm. It is a great opportunity for fellowship and this time we are also drawing our raffle where our wonderful hampers will be given away. Thank you to all who have contributed and to all who have bought tickets. If you haven't yet then please contact the office just in case there are any spares.
Pebbles
As some of you know we have restarted Pebbles at Hurley on a Friday morning from 10:00-11:30am. If you have any spare Friday mornings please let me know as it is great to have people there for the grown-ups to talk to over a coffee and also to help out making the teas and coffees.
Morning Prayer at 9:15am
Just a reminder that Morning Prayer is now happening in our parish rooms (Soltau Centre, Sunday Cabin, Priory Room) over the winter months.
Wednesday St. James-the-Less, Stubbings
Thursday St. John the Evangelist, Littlewick Green
Friday St. Mary the Virgin
Our churches are open for private prayer:
Littlewick Green – open every day 11am – 4pm
Hurley – open every day 8am – 4pm
Stubbings – open Monday to Friday 9am – 12 noon
Parish Office
As you may be aware, our Parish Administrator Claire is having some time off from today following surgery. In the meantime, we will be running reduced hours in the office so the best way to get in touch is via the office e-mail (office@burchettsgreenparish.org). There should be someone in the office on Monday and Thursday morning and I will be available as many Wednesday mornings as I can. For anything which you need I can also be contacted on vicar@burchettsgreenparish.org and 01628 822974, - please note the vicar's day off is Tuesday
Blessings to you all,
Tom