Reflection – Sunday 28th December – The First Sunday of Christmas – and for the week ahead:

Heavenly Father, whose blessed Son shared at Nazareth the life of a earthly home, help your Church to live as one family, united in love and obedience, and bring us all at last to our home in heaven. (Prayer after Communion)

It has been such a joy, in these days of Christmas, to welcome to our churches so many families, united for this festive season. Many of them grew up as part of our church family, and now return with their own children to celebrate Christmas, continuing the familiar traditions of church and home.

But we remember, too, those who are separated from their families by distance, misunderstanding or death. We give thanks for our church family, for the love and support and encouragement we share, and pray that we may be channels of God’s fatherly love to all those in need.

Revd Rosemary