Dear Friends in Christ,
Supermarkets are a constant pointer to what time of year it is. The cycle from season to season seems to get swifter and also increasingly blurred.
We’ve had Halloween, with every possible opportunity taken to shove witches and skeletons onto anything. Some of the items are creative and entertaining, but its created a massive selling opportunity completely out of proportion to the event itself. And of course, the moment its done there’s Christmas merchandise in all its forms, only punctuated by the massive hype around the recent growth of Black Friday (and I’m no more immune to this particular hype than anyone else-the temptation to score that bargain that I don’t actually need is very alluring).
But what of Christmas? What are we actually encouraged to engage with over the next 4 weeks is the season of Advent? Most people’s only contact with Advent is via the plethora of admittedly lush Advent calendars. There’s nothing wrong with this, but surely the season of Advent is more than this.
Advent’s a period of reflection. It’s a thoughtful, positive anticipation, the excitement of Christmas set alongside the invitation to see beyond the busyness and prepare us to meet with God and truly rejoice with arrival of Christmas as we celebrate the birth of Jesus.
This Sunday the 1st Sunday of Advent 30th November
8:00am Holy Communion - BCP, All Saints
10:00am Benefice Sung Holy Communion, St. Mary’s
4:30pm Christingle Service, All Saints
The week ahead
Mon 1st Dec 10:30am – Tiny Tots, All Saints
Tue 2nd Dec 10:30am – M4T, St. Mary’s Parish Rooms
Wed 3rd Dec 9:00am – Celtic Morning Prayer, All Saints
Thu 4th Dec 10:00am – Holy Communion, St. Mary’s
Fri 5th Dec 11:00am – Living After Loss, St. Mary’s
Fri 5th Dec 7:00pm – "Christmas Choir" Practise, All Saints
Sat 6th Dec 10:00am – Coffee Morning, Book Sale & Bristol Repair Cafe, All Saints
Sat 6th Dec 11.00am - 2.00pm Christmas Fair - St. Marys
Next Sunday Second of Advent 7th Dec
10:00am – Toy service with Guides & Brownies, St. Mary’s
10:30am – Holy Communion, All Saints
10:30am – Junior Church, All Saints
6:30pm – Advent Carol Procession, St. Mary’s
May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all, evermore. Amen.
Blessings,
Fr Kester de Oliveira