I hope the new year has begun well for you all. I have had a rich and varied week in the parish. It began well with a wonderful service for Epiphany on the 4th. Our wise men arrived at the church door having travelled around the parish for 10 days! (If you’re not sure what I’m going on about, check my facebook page). Alexandra preached about what it is that we can give to God in this new year. It might be time, talents, prayers, etc. As we journey into this new year I am hoping to have conversations with most of the church about what it is we can give, and just as importantly, what it is we need to receive, so that we can grow into the people God wants us to be.Tuesday involved an encouraging discussion with a mum about her daughter’s baptism this month. It was great to share the words in the service and talk about what they mean for all of us. Later that day I went to visit Mr Dawkins who is currently unwell and in Cheltenham Hospital. It was a privilege to talk and pray with him and I’m sure you join me in praying for his swift recovery.Wednesday was more of a church-based day, although I also got into the school to listen to our amazing story teller and then chat with staff about worship, assemblies and the term ahead. In church we had Alistair and Alice with English Corner followed by Rosie and those coming for Art4Life. The move to using the balcony space for the art class was generally well received as it provided more space, light and warmth. The Wednesday Welcome was a good time and most of those who came got stuck into packing away our Christmas decorations. Huge thanks to all of those who worked so hard and got so much done in a short period of time. I must admit I did nothing to help! In my defence I was chatting to Sandie, Michael, and Hazel about church ‘stuff’ but that’s not quite the same.Thursday saw me going back to the classroom. I had a day at Hardwicke Primary school about being a School Governor (for St James and Hatherley Infants). I’m not a great student but I found the day interesting and a steady supply of snacks and good company (Abiola is also a new Governor) helped keep me awake and alert. Thursday was a miserable day weather wise, but that didn’t stop some of us joining St. Pauls and St. Stephens at the Linden Tree for a Skittles evening. It was great fun (and there was a huge, free buffet laid on) but I’m sure you’ll agree with me that it’s not appropriate to talk about individual scores (because mine were poor)!On a different note, I heard on Thursday that Dave, Pat Gifford’s husband had died on Tuesday evening. I know that many of you knew and were very fond of Dave. My apologies if you are hearing about this for the first time here. Our thoughts and prayers are with Pat and her family at this difficult time. We have faith that Dave is now resting in peace before rising in Glory.Friday, involved quite a bit of contact with our two schools. I attended their ‘Praise Assemblies’ to find out what the pupils have been achieving in the last week. I also went in to spend an hour writing prayers with eight Year 6 pupils. It was really encouraging to discuss with them about prayer being an expression of what is most important to us, our words being an echo of the hearts yearning. I encouraged the pupils to write their prayers in a particular form (that of a ‘collect’) which makes the writer reflect on what God has done for us before we share our own needs. It also ends with a consideration of what impact we hope God’s response to our prayer will make in our lives and in our world. I am looking forward to hearing the prayers when the school comes to church on Tuesday for their Christingle Service. Like those pupils on Friday, it is good for all of us to pause, and take some time out to reflect on what our hearts are yearning for as we enter 2026. What do we desire to give and what do we desire to receive as we grow in our faith and as grow in community with one another? Prayer is an act of integrity, of courage, and of trust because we don’t know how God will respond when we open ourselves in this way. What will God ask of me? What is mine to do? My prayer for each one of us is that we will find space to really pray, to really listen, to what is being laid on our hearts and that we will find the courage to trust God and move forward boldly in our journey of faith this year.
Merry Christmas to one and all. I just want to say thank you to all those who have helped the church and community celebrate Christmas over the last few days. Highlights for me include the Carols in the Farm Yard with all the animals. A magical time. Then we had a fun ‘love’ themed service with Alexandra and Sandie to mark the final Sunday of Advent. On the 23rd we had hot dogs, popcorn whilst watching Home Alone. (The church was transformed into an amazing cinema experience). On Christmas Eve we gathered around the crib to sing Silent Night and welcome the greatest gift of all into our lives, our homes, and our world. My first Midnight Mass at St. James was very special to me. Sharing the peace, and a Merry Christmas, as the clock struck midnight was wonderful. Christmas morning in the church has been my highlight of the last week though. Lots of my family attended and there was a joyful atmosphere as we praised God, greeted one another, ate chocolates (thank you Alice!) and departed in high spirits (Holy Spirit) for the rest of our Christmas Day. So, the main event is over but the joy, hope, peace, and love have only just arrived. My invitation to you is to spend time over the next few days with the gift of Christ. Explore what this gift might mean for you in the year ahead. Which parts of the gift might you be more uncomfortable with? What parts of the gift would you like to explore more? I look forward to exploring with the church what Christ means for us, what Christ desires for us, and what Christ will open up for us as we enter a New Year.
This was the week of Christmas lunches and fairs. In particular, Wednesday was the day of numerous Christmas events. It was lovely to be able to visit the All Nation’s Community Centre to see and hear Carlton Green share his memories of the Jamaican community in Gloucester. This was part of the pre-Christmas lunch entertainment the centre had put on. Then I was treated to delicious Christmas food at the Fair Shares Christmas Party which I think I invited myself too! It has been great to begin to get to know some of the folk connected to Fair Shares at the Friendship Café. A big thank you to Viv from church for introducing me to many people there. Then, it was onto the St James Junior School Christmas Fair. I didn’t have long there but just long enough to have a go at the tombola: 3 tickets, 0 wins, and then the Raffle: 10 tickets, 2 prizes! After a lifetime of bad luck I have had a lot of success at raffles this year. Long may it continue. This creates a moral dilemma in me about whether I should be accepting the prizes or ‘generously’ putting them back in the pot for others? I hope you’ll be pleased to know that I decided to keep them! Which means the next time you visit the vicarage there should be some “Mom’s Magic Cranberry and Strawberry Cookies” on offer. After all that Christmas activity it was time to return to Advent. Wednesday was also the last of our 3 Advent bible reflection groups in the church. We have spent time reflecting and sharing on the themes of hope, peace and joy. A group of 7 of us spent time with Psalm 16 which included these words, “You always show me the path of life. You will fill me with joy when I am with you”. We discussed whether the path of life was straight or winding. I discovered that I agree with the Beatles when they sang “The long and winding road”. It has been so nourishing to begin to share faith and worship with you all at St. James. This advent group has been small but perfectly formed and my thanks go out to my fellow travellers through this season of Advent. The journey is almost at an end, in the stable and God’s gift of his son. Do join us for one of our final Advent events and celebrate with us when we get to Christmas itself. We have all come along way to be wherever we are today; so, let us come together and celebrate together. Through it all, we have remained steadfast and received the gifts of hope, peace, joy and love to sustain us on our way. As Juliette and I celebrate our first Christmas with you all we’d like to say a huge “Thank you” for your warm and generous welcome. We already feel very much ‘at home’ in St. James' and look forward to where the road will take us as we journey onwards with you. With peace and best wishes. Rev Steve 07503164309 vicar@stjamesandchristchurch.uk https://www.achurchnearyou.com/church/14154/news/ (My day off is usually Monday)
This last week has involved lots of walking which has been a really lovely way to get to the know the parish, keep fit, and meet people. I have been delivering Christmas Cards. On Tuesday, after going to Park View Care Home, with children from St. James, for a carol service, I met up with my daughter, Amelie, and we delivered cards to many of the community groups in the area. It was a great way to meet some new people, such as Simian at Bethel Apostolic Church on the High Street, the receptionists at Colwell Music Centre, and Sam at the Nelson Trust’s Common Ground community garden. On Wednesday, I delivered some more, meeting the Assistant Head Teacher at Al-Ashraf Secondary School, and an English teacher at the Ukrainian Association. On Thursday I decided to drop some flyers about our Christmas events into local houses. I only had a limited number of flyers and didn’t want to give them to families that might not welcome them, so I came up with the idea of only knocking on doors with Christmas decorations. Out of about 20 houses I only had one person not want a leaflet (and even they took it eventually!) Again, there was a lot of good conversations with families new to the area and old-timers who are good friends of the church community. Hopefully all of this outreach will encourage some local people to discover the Joy of Christmas with us at St. James this year.The Joy of Christmas is not something to be kept to ourselves. Increasingly, it can feel as if the commercial and secular ‘traditions’ of the Christmas season have left little room to share the good news that Jesus, the light of the world, brings peace, hope and joy for ALL. Whilst I enjoy the more secular traditions such as Father (or Mother) Christmas, it is important for the church and followers of Christ, to be a still and joyful heart beating at the centre of the celebrations. A heart that reaches out to everyone, especially those who, like Christ, are born into poverty, on the margins, as refugees, or who have no place, no room within society. My hope and prayer for each one of you reading this is that you will discover this heart of stillness and quiet joy within you. That you will have enough space in the busyness of the Christmas Season to know that Jesus, the light of the world, is born in you this day.
