Dear FriendsI am surrounded by paper as I write this – working out what I need to do for each of the Christmas services coming up. As an extra to those advertised we are carol singing in both the Plume of Feathers tomorrow evening – 18th December at 7.30 pm and also the Hand and Crown at 8.30 pm, if you want to join in.We have already collected £300 so far for the Winter Night Shelter from our Outdoor Carol service at St James last Sunday, which is much needed and I am not sure yet how much we have raised from using our large Christmas card again this year.I would like to draw your attention to the Christmas services which are still to happen (see flyer).Also, we are making Christingles in the Rectory on Tuesday 23rd December at 10.00 am if you would like to come along to help. We have 200 to make. We can offer Christmas music and mince pies to make it more fun. For this we will need donations of oranges so if this is something you could help with can they be in church this Sunday (21st) or at the Rectory by Monday 22nd December. So far, I have had 10 donated but I am hopeful after last year’s generosity that we will get to 200. If everyone brought me a bag we should have enough.If you have been knitting donkeys can you also bring them to church this Sunday so that we know how many we have to give away on Christmas Eve to the children.This will be our final Advent Communion this Sunday at 9.30 am at St James and then we are into the Christmas services of Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. If you would like to read or do prayers at any of these services please let me know.After the Christmas morning service I will be taking annual leave and will not be back at work until Saturday 3rd January 2026.I wish you all a joyful, peaceful Christmas.Happy New Year.Alison
Dear FriendsWell, Christmas is definitely coming…….And I hope there are some lovely events that you are looking forward to.This week we have, in our family, celebrated birthdays. And now the birthdays are over the Christmas tree is going up…The Star is once again outside the Rectory as we wait with joyful expectation for the coming of Jesus. So, over the next two weeks there will be a proliferation of tea towels being used for shepherds and Inn keepers and Joseph’s….. not to mention tinsel as we head towards ‘Light Up High Wych’ once again with tinsel and fairy lights and joyful singing.Our advent study this year is ‘Joy to the World’ and I realise that you may have to make a conscious effort to find joy and not let other people or the news or difficult circumstances steal your joy. Jesus is coming – and we have hope – hope for a world that at times seems hopeless. We must not forget those who in our world are dealing with the outcomes of natural disasters, war and famine – please use the Welcome sheet to help you with your prayers, and you can always join us on Tuesday mornings where we bring our world, and our community into the presence of God, in prayer.As we move towards Christmas I hope you will find joy in all our Christmas services.This Sunday we have our 9.30 am communion service at St James.Followed by our communion service and Christmas preparations at St Mary’s, Gilston at 11.15 am (decorating the Christmas tree).And then in the afternoon we can gather at 3.45 pm at St James for the ‘Light up High Wych’ ceremony and then our wonderful outdoor carol service which starts at 4.00 pm.This joyful time of being together and singing together, hearing the Christmas story once again will be followed by a lovely community time of mulled wine, mince pies and, if you are a child, I believe that Father Christmas will be making an appearance.Also, as a first we are gathering the men of our Community together for a Men’s Christmas meal at the Plume of Feathers, Gilston on Tuesday 16th December 7.00 for 7.30 pm. Please let Paul (my husband) know if this is something you would like to be included in at thegoodjack@gmail.com .I look forward to seeing you at one of our lovely services and I attach the full list of all our Christmas services across the Benefice today for you to stick on your family notice board. Come along, have some fun, meet with old friends, make some new ones and journey together as we Welcome Jesus into our midst once again.Every blessingAlison
Dear FriendsWell, this is it, the countdown to Christmas…Last week we had a lovely time at the Advent Study – it was such a joy to be with you.This week… apart from video, music and conversation we are making Christmas cookies.There is room for anyone else who would like to come so just let me know and I will make sure there is a chair for you (you might have to bring your own rolling pin though). Wed evening (tonight) 7.30 pm at the Rectory.I would just like to draw your attention to our Advent Challenge for this year (see flyer).Which finishes early as the bags are being made up on 13th December 2025, so all donations before that time will be gratefully received.Our plan is to support the Winter Night Shelter in Bishop Stortford again this year by using a giant Christmas card to send seasons greetings to each other and donating the money we would have spent on Christmas cards. The card should be in church for you soon to start writing on, thanks to Sam, for organising this again.Just a heads up – we will need a group to come to the Rectory on 23rd December to make up the Christingle bags. We have had great fun working together doing this over the past couple of years, please let me know if this is something you would like to get involved in.We are aiming to make over 200 Christingle kits this year – the bags are bought, the candles and red ribbon ready, I’ve even got the sweets. As last year, nearer the 23rd we will need 200 oranges. If any of you could donate in that last week a bag of large oranges we should have enough to make the Christingles. This Sunday sees Judith Denton, our Reader, preaching at the 8.00 am BCP at St James and then we will have a Family friendly feel at our Family service at 9.30 am at St James. We start with breakfast and around 10.00 am we will begin our service, following the theme of our Advent Study and one of my favourite Christmas hymns – Joy to the World. There will be lots of activity and some familiar carols as we celebrate the Christmas story together.I hope to see you again soonEvery Christmas blessingAlison
Joy to the World! Dear friends, Every Christmas, when we lift our voices to sing “Joy to the World,” something stirs in my heart and I hope in yours too. Those familiar words — “The Lord is come!” — remind us that joy isn’t just a feeling for a season; it’s the presence of Jesus Himself. He is our joy — God with us, right here in the middle of our ordinary lives. Still, I know that for many, this season can be bittersweet. The world feels heavy at times — full of noise, worry, and uncertainty. Some of us are missing loved ones or carrying quiet burdens. And yet, this is exactly where the message of Christmas breaks through. The angels didn’t bring their good news to a perfect world. They came to shepherds in the dark, saying, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy for all people.”That same message is for us today. Real joy isn’t about pretending everything is fine. It’s about knowing that even in the struggle, God is near. Jesus came so that we would never have to face life’s challenges alone. He entered the world not as a distant king, but as a child in a manger — humble, close, and full of love. If we take a moment to look around, despite the challenges we may face, in our every day lives we can see signs of His joy everywhere. In the sparkle of children’s laughter. In the quiet peace that comes when we pray. In a simple walk in nature. In the kindness of a neighbour or the warmth of a shared meal, or the fun of being together. Joy shows up when we choose gratitude, forgiveness, and hope — when we let God’s love shape the way we see and treat others. My prayer this Christmas is that you’ll experience that deep, steady joy — not just for a day, but as a way of living. Let’s share it freely, especially with those who need it most. A simple smile, a visit, a prayer — these small acts can carry the light of Christ into someone’s darkness. So, dear friends, may your hearts be filled with the true joy that Jesus brings — a joy that strengthens, comforts, and renews. Let’s welcome Him again with open hearts and voices that sing, “Joy to the world, the Lord is come!” “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” — Philippians 4:4 With love and every blessing, Your Priest Rev Alison Jackson
Dear AllI hope you are managing to keep warm through this cold snap, now’s the time to dig out hats, scarves and gloves – if you can find them!This weekend sees another busy time for us all.You can come to High Wych Memorial Hall to pick up a hoop at the ‘Let there be light’ workshop from 10.00 am to 11.30 am on Saturday 22nd November, some materials can be provided. Janet will give us a demonstration of what we can do. These hoops will be used to decorate the village for our ‘Light up High Wych’ event which takes place at 3.45 pm on 14th December 2025 just ahead of our outdoor Carol service again this year at St James. Come and have some fun and eat cake and drink hot drinks and spend time together with your friends.Or you may want to join us on Saturday 22nd November in the afternoon from 2.00 pm at St Botolph’s, Eastwick for the last ‘tidy up the churchyard’ session for the end of the year. Refreshments are provided, we may also be planting bulbs around Eastwick if we have enough volunteers.On Sunday 23rd November we have our usual Holy Communion service at St James at 9.30 am and we will have a Family service at St Botolph’s, Eastwick at 11.15 am.There will also be a wedding in St James church on Sunday afternoon, so the church itself will be closed from Saturday morning as the flowers go in for the wedding.As we are moving rapidly towards Christmas, I attach the 2025 Advent Challenge to help the Pop-Up Shop in Sawbridgeworth in case you want to get involved.We have lots of opportunities to meet up this weekend, I hope I see you soon.Every blessingAlison
Dear FriendsThis week in both St Mary’s, Gilston and St James, High Wych we are running something called Safeguarding Sunday. Safeguarding will be the focus of our service and Cath Sharples our Safeguarding Officer will be running us through some of the things we may not know, as legislation in this area is changing rapidly.I know many of you are currently DBS checked for our different church activities and will be on a regular programme of safeguarding training, but for many of you this maybe the first time you have considered safeguarding in a church setting.We will not be showing any videos for this service, but their maybe elements of what we are talking about that maybe ‘triggering’ from your past experience. If this is you, you may not want to attend this service or may want to make a time to meet with myself or Cath to discuss things through with a safeguarded adult.Both services will still be Holy Communion services and follow the usual service sheet. St Mary’s service is an extra service to the normal timetable as we swopped last week to St Botolph’s, Eastwick, because of the Act of Remembrance at the War Memorial. If you normally come to St Mary’s this will help you understand the change of date for this month.On Sunday afternoon we will have our Messy Church session in High Wych Hall 3.00 pm – 5.00 pm. (see attached flyer for more details). Please invite a family member or neighbour if you think this is something they would enjoy. The theme for this Sunday is ‘Jesus the Good Shepherd’. We will also be welcoming Freya (who was baptised a couple of weeks ago) into our Messy Church family.Next weekend we have our churchyard clear up at St Botolph’s, Eastwick, please come if you are able, refreshments will be provided and it has turned into a fun, community event each time we have done this.I look forward to meeting you at one or more of these events as we strive to; Grow in Faith, Grow in Hope, and Grow in Love.Every blessingAlison
