Perhaps you’re someone who’s been looking forward to parties and presents, to lights and music as the weather has gotten colder and the nights get longer. Some of us will feel rushed off our feet, overwhelmed by all that needs to be prepared. Others may be feeling isolated and lonely, or apprehensive about the pressure to enjoy things and keep everyone happy.It can be so hard to get the balance right at this time of year. December comes with a swirl of emotions and there is a risk that we just end up going through the motions on autopilot.Jesus loved a party and for people to enjoy themselves. However, he was also quick to call out traditions when they were harmful or empty. The Jesus whose birth Christians celebrate on December 25th is the same man who said “Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest,” and “Love God with all your heart, mind, body, and strength, and your neighbour as yourself.”So, amongst all the busyness of this month, can I encourage you to take time to pay attention to yourselves, and to those around you. Prioritise quality time and love over the best or most expensive gifts. Find time for both company and quiet. The churches across Hucclecote have lots of opportunities for sharing company and would be overjoyed to show you the love of this season, whether you want to sing carols, share your worries, dress up as a shepherd, or find friendship and community. May God bless you this month, and may you know how much you are loved.By Rev. Dr. Joseph Mottram
St Philip and St James Church will be holding their Christingle service on Saturday 6th December at 4pm. This service is suitable for all ages, and it is an ideal event for families to attend together. It offers an opportunity to bring light, hope and community togetherness as we approach the festive season. An orange, a red ribbon, sweets and a candle are used to help tell the Christian story. The custom of making Christingles originated in the Moravian Church in Germany and was adopted in Britain in the latter part of the twentieth century. Christingle means “Christ’s Light”. A candle in an orange is used to represent the world that God made and Jesus, the Light of the World. It is decorated with a red ribbon, representing the blood of Jesus who died for the salvation of the whole world, and sweets or dried fruit on four cocktail sticks which represent the four seasons of the year and the goodness of the fruit of the earth. Everyone is invited to make their own Christingle in the Church Centre, before moving into the Church where the candles will be lit creating a warm and uplifting glow, offering a sense of peace as we remember that Jesus brings hope to those living in darkness and difficult times. For many the Christingle service is a unique and cherished experience with a family and community focus.Here are some memories and reflections from past Christingle services that have been shared: “Christingle is a reminder that Christ is the Light of the World, and He will provide us with all our needs.” “The darkened church symbolises the sadness and sin in the world. Then the lighting of the Christingles gradually fills the church with a magical glow symbolising the spreading of God’s light and love.” “I remember bringing my sons, who are now in their fifties, to the Christingle Service when they were children – so a long time ago. It provided an opportunity for them to ask questions about the meaning of Christmas. The service evokes feelings of nostalgia and spiritual connections and brings back lovely memories.” "Attending the Christingle service as a primary school child was a deeply meaningful experience. It provided a special opportunity to reflect on the birth of Jesus and to remember that He is the Light of the World. The service fostered a strong sense of community, as we came together in shared faith and unity to celebrate the light and hope that Christ brings.” “I have a special memory of when our children were young, and we were invited as a family to deliver the bible readings which were written on cards. My daughter was only three at the time and couldn’t read, but she held her card and made sure that she could remember the words ‘Jesus said I am the Light of the World’! My parents attended the Christingle Service but were not aware that we were going to do this. They were surprised and very touched when we stood up.” “My daughter and I made the Christingles last year. The sweets were quite hard, and we kept breaking the cocktail sticks! Our hands ended up very sticky with an orange aroma, but it is a fun and social activity which brings a sense of togetherness and engages people of all ages in the festive spirit. This year we will use softer sweets!”
You may remember that just a month ago, on October 3rd 2025, Dame Patricia Routledge died at the age of 96. Perhaps like me, you took a nostalgic step back in time and ended up watching clips from ‘Hetty Wainthropp investigates’ or ‘Keeping up appearances.’ Perhaps you laughed again at Mrs Bucket – ‘No, no, it’s Mrs Bouquet!’I also read of an interview Dame Patricia did with BBC ‘s Desert Island Discs in 1999. She spoke movingly of the death of her parents - apparently, she was only 28 when her mum died. She said: ‘I remember going through a time when I thought about my mother and my father not being there and I would lie awake at night weeping. So, in a way, I came to terms with the fact of loss very early on.’Her interviewer then asked: ‘Still today you think of death?’ Dame Patricia replied:‘Oh yes, oh yes, I think one has to embrace it in order to live in the present.’The experience of grief is universal. It affects the famous and the not so famous alike. It is incredibly lonely. But Dame Patricia was very wise when she said the following about grief: ‘I don't think you can go it alone. There is a positive force for good outside oneself, call it God if you like, that has the strength to turn darkness into light.’In 2021, the actor, Richard E Grant, lost his wife of 35 years to lung cancer. Like Patricia Routledge, he embraced his grief by sharing it publicly. Soon after losing Joan, he began to post videos on Instagram about his grief. There, he speaks of how, underlying everything in this stage of life, is Joan’s absence. An absence that he eloquently described while walking on a beach in Australia, as being ‘like an old turtle without my shell.’ A turtle without its shell – an image of utter vulnerability. In the midst of his grief—that most isolating state of all—Grant rapidly built community through his posts. One of his Instagram followers wrote “I’ve found incredible comfort in these thoughtful videos you share with us; their beautiful honesty, their pain—but always the careful re-framing of each piece within the greater mosaic of a life well lived.” Revd Craig, a vicar in Weston Super Mare. wrote similarly about finding community in the deep ongoing pain of the sudden death of his Dad in 2024. ‘In the early months of my grief, I found myself held — not just by God, but by the people he sent to walk beside me. Friends who prayed, cried, and remembered. Family who stood when I couldn’t stand alone. … It made me think of geese flying in formation. They take turns leading. They honk encouragement to one another. When one falls behind, others stay until it can fly again. That’s what community looks like. That’s how we are meant to grieve: not in isolation, but in formation.’Revd Craig also writes of the joy that comes from knowing Jesus is with you even in the depths of grief. He says: ‘… somehow — mysteriously, tenderly — God turned my father’s death into a strange, sacred gift. Not because the loss wasn’t real, but because the love was. A love shared in community. A love anchored in Christ. A greater love, that opened a door to a greater joy in God. Not a brittle kind of joy that denies sorrow, … [but] a joy rooted in peace, sustained by hope, and strengthened by courage. A joy that whispers: You are not alone. A joy that says: Jesus is here.’ David, the writer of Psalm 139, has the same assurance that God’s presence will never leave him. Psalm 139:7-107 Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? 8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.Some Bible versions translate ‘in the depths’ as ‘in hell.’ Grief can be ‘hellish’. But David is confident. that where ever life’s journey may take him, God will never be distant or absent. 9 … if I settle on the far side of the sea, 10 even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.David expresses this same hope and courage in Psalm 23, often read at funeral services. Here he describes the challenges of life, the losses and the grief, as ‘dark valleys.’ But his Shepherd God is right there with him. So, he says with bold confidence: Psalm 23: 44 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.It may be that many of us already experience the support of family and friends in times of loss. But our desire as a church is also to share the love of God and offer support in any way we can. We want to fly together like geese in formation, encouraging one another. We want to be there for one another and for our community. Christian hope speaks of the confidence we have in those times when we feel like a turtle without a shell, that God is always with us. May his loving presence be our comfort in the inevitable times of loss and grief, Amen.Revd. Miriam Davis
‘Start’ is a six-week introductory course which explores the basics of Christian faith. The course provides a relaxed space for participants to ask questions and learn about God, Jesus and the meaning of life. It assumes no prior knowledge of the Christian faith or of the church and is open to anyone who is curious to discover what Christianity is all about. Sam, who recently attended the Start course held at St Philip and St James Church, has kindly agreed to share some of her personal reflections on the course and how it has impacted her faith journey.1. What made you decide to attend the Start Course?“I knew the ‘bare bones’ of Christianity, but since starting to attend church on a regular basis in April, I realised just how large the gaps in my knowledge were.Names and events often cropped up in sermons that meant nothing to me. A member of the congregation told me how much courses for exploring Christian faith had helped them when they first came to faith and recommended that I should accept if any such courses were offered to me. Consequently, when Miriam mentioned the Start course, I was very happy to be offered the opportunity and eager to attend.”2. Can you describe a specific moment or discussion during the course that was particularly meaningful?“I had heard the parable of the Prodigal Son many times before, but it was only when we covered it in the course that I realised the fact that the father in the parable also applied to God. I had simply never made this connection before. The fact that God the Father is not only willing, but also happy and eager to welcome back His children who have lost their way had a powerful impact on me.” 3. How has the course impacted your understanding of Christianity and God?“The course has given me a new insight into how I think about God and Christianity. The God that people of my generation have been brought up with, if at all, tends to be very judgmental, ‘fire and brimstone’ entity, to be feared as well as revered. The Start course has taught me that God is above all a loving, benign and forgiving entity, and that Christianity promotes love, kindness and a willingness and desire to help each other. Above all, it has taught me that the most important thing of all is love. God is all, everything and faith in God equals love.”4. Has the course inspired you to want to learn more and to continue your faith journey?“Definitely. The course has now finished, but I joined a weekly Bible study and fellowship group in September so that I can continue to learn and grow. Studying in a group setting is invaluable to me as it promotes debate and discussion and enables very different viewpoints and insights to be aired. Since I have been attending church, I have gradually felt a deep need and desire within me to be Confirmed, and I am hoping that this will take place in the next year or so.”5. Would you recommend the Start course to others, and if so, why? “Absolutely. The course is a golden opportunity to explore and expand your faith no matter how far on the journey you currently are. The group setting forges friendship and the opportunity for lively discussion and debate, as well as deep reflection and thankfulness. I am incredibly grateful that I was offered this course, and I am looking forward to continuing my journey into faith in September.”
