This week has been a real mix of joy and sadness. On Monday I took the funeral of a neighbour from Stroud and today, Friday, I have just been to a very windy Coney Hill Crematorium for a funeral service, followed by a burial of a local woman. These events take quite an emotional toll as the Priest or Celebrant, as you are holding the space emotionally and practically, so that others can express their feelings and grieve as they need to.
However, in between these two days I had a joyful Wednesday. I visited the All Nations Community Centre and was greeted by about 100 folk, of mainly advanced years, doing chair yoga and exercises. Walking in from the Chase Lane Estate there was no sign of the life, vitality, and community thriving inside. It was good to meet some old friends and hopefully a few new ones too. After All Nations, I popped into the Junior School and was invited to have a school dinner. It was far and away the nicest school dinner I can remember having! A fantastic vegetarian roast with almost all of the trimmings…I shall make sure I am free for their Christmas Lunch. Although this does clash with the Fair Shares Christmas Lunch at the Friendship Cafe (Wednesday 17th) so I have a real dilemma on my hands! There was more joy as I was asking the children about their favourite Christmas films.
(We shall be showing a free film on December 23rd at 5pm. You can book a ticket here :https://familyhubs.gloucestershire.gov.uk/gloucester-haf
In addition we are hosting a Pop Up Pantomime on December 28th which can also be booked on the same site. It would be great for as many local children and families to be able to attend as possible.
Anyhow, their favourite film was Home Alone!
Then, to round off a joyful day I was in St. James as everyone, other than me, worked really hard to decorate the church for Christmas. The results were amazing and the church looks extremely festive. I can’t wait for Carols by Candlelight on the 14th December. After this we had the first of our three Advent Study groups where we explored the theme of HOPE. It was great to share this with such lovely people. You can listen to the session and read the passages and prayers we used on the ADVENT SMALL GROUP tab on the left hand side.
So, a really full week, filled with joy and sadness. I am not sure what all of this teaches us, except perhaps to be reminded that Christ is present in all aspects of our lives; the joyful, the sad, and the tedious. We are invited to be open to God at all times and to live life fully, knowing that God is present. As we travel through Advent we are especially reminded to be awake and alert to the coming of Christ into our world, into our lives. Therefore I don’t wish for you a joyful or a sad week necessarily; my prayer for you is that you may have a week in which you experience the living presence of God alongside you each step of the way, whatever it may bring.
Rev Steve