Bishop Rachel's Christmas message to all in Gloucestershire and beyond.It is said that Christmas is for the children — and amid the twinkling lights and Santas and food adverts, there is a tiny child – Lying ‘away in a manger’ over 2,000 years ago in Bethlehem, Palestine. The first Christmas. Although it’s not all sweetness. Let’s not forget King Herod. The nativity plays stop short of Herod’s slaughter of innocent babies, and Jesus and his parents fleeing into Egypt. It all seems rather poignant as I look to the Middle East this Christmas. There has still been the cry of a child – well many. Amid the joyful cries of new birth there have also been the traumatic cries of babies tortured in a kibbutz in Israel; crying child-hostages in tunnels; And there have been the cries of children buried under the rubble of military attack in Gaza; babies removed from incubators; and let’s not forget the cry of the children of Bethlehem and the Westbank. Indeed, let us not forget the cries of children in so many places of conflict, famine, earthquake, flood, poverty… And yet — and yet — here’s the glorious mystery of that first Christmas: Here is God as tiny child come to earth to be amid the mess and pain – And I hear too the cry of that Christmas child Jesus Christ, now as man, crying out in anguish as he is cruelly nailed to a cross. Yet amazingly — almost unbelievably — there is a cry of forgiveness. Here is love amid hatred and division. And his cry of pain and death was not the end of the story. Three days later Jesus Christ arose from the grave — love and life stronger than even death itself. And now the Christmas celebrations and the twinkling Christmas lights all make sense, because the hope and light of Jesus Christ are stronger than the darkness, even in the darkest tunnel or pile of rubble. And yes Christmas IS for the children — the children who are no longer with us, the children who laugh and play, and the children who scream in trauma; and the children now young people and adults celebrating, grieving, laughing, weeping… And that first-Christmas cry from the crib in Bethlehem is a cry of hope and love for everyone. Here is Jesus Christ, Emmanuel which means ‘God with us’. And God IS with us… And with God one day there will be no more crying — no more pain, no more death. Even now God longs to hold us — as children. Longs for us to cry ‘yes’ and to stretch out our hands to God and to each other. May it be so. I wish you a peaceful and hope-filled Christmas.
The garden is now closed for the winter. The plan (if the weather is kind) is to re-open in February.It's been quite a year! The raised beds were completed and our gardeners have grown a wonderful variety of fruit and vegetables with (mostly) great success, in spite of the variable weather over the growing season. The potting shed is fully equipped, the re-building of the workshop and The Cottage are in progress, we've held two Open Days, and had visits from two bishops - Bishop Rachel of Gloucester and Bishop Emmanuel of the Diocese of Western Tanganyika.We have much to look forward to in 2024, not least the completion of The Cottage which will give us the facility to make tea/coffee on site. The other major work is the provision of a seating area for rest and companionship.Thank you to all those who have done so much, and for those who have supported our efforts. We're grateful for you all. Please join us again next year.
Christmas always seems to come around quicker than we anticipate. Even though it happens at the same time each year, there are times when it sneaks up on us without any warning. As it descends it brings with it the busyness of the season. Amongst the school productions, planning for meals, seeing relatives, decorating, sending cards and buying presents, we may find ourselves needing five minutes peace.In the busyness of Christmas, our thoughts may also be drawn to a world that is in desperate need of peace. Whether it be the continuing war in Ukraine, the fighting that now ensues between Israel and Palestine or our own troubles with grief, loneliness, illness or something else. We may long for five minutes peace.In the midst of darkness, trouble and busyness stands a lowly cattle shed, where a mother laid her baby in a manger for a bed. On that night all those years ago, as light broke through the darkness, bringing hope to the world, peace descended. “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given…and he shall be called Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6). God entered the busyness of a stable, the busyness of family life and through that greatest of all gifts, love, stillness and peace were given.At Christmas, God continues to offer that everlasting gift of peace, joy and love. It is a free gift for all. Our prayer is that in the midst of everything this Christmas, you may find God’s peace and that you may enter the joyful wonder of this season. We invite you to join with us in any of our services as we celebrate God’s wonderful gift of love this year.Rev Duncan HutchisonAssociate Priest, St Philip and St James Church
Bishop Emmanuel shared with us about some exciting developments in his diocese. He is responsible for 175 parishes and 400 church plants that are not yet able to support their own minister. It was deeply moving and challenging to hear of DWT’s passion for evangelism. Bishop Emmanuel’s goal is to see five new churches planted each year and in the context is very achievable. It was encouraging to hear that relationships between Muslims and Christians are very amicable.Training of new pastors is vital as the church grows. Here the role of the Lake Tanganyika Theological College (where we sponsor four students) is key. Plans are to move the college to a new site and to provide ongoing training for those already in ministry but who may have only had primary school education.Churches build their own church buildings mostly with local materials but roofing materials are costly as they are not available locally. Financial help from overseas towards buying roof materials is a great blessing. The cathedral in Kasulu at the centre of the diocese is being rebuilt and he hopes the new building will be dedicated in August 2024. Climate change is on the agenda too with plans to plant trees around the diocese. What a privilege it is for Hucclecote church to be involved in God's mission in DWT through prayer, sponsorship and our link church of Mwilanvya in Kasulu.'We pray that God will open a door for His message so that our brothers and sisters in Western Tanganyika may proclaim the mystery of Christ and proclaim it clearly, as they should.' (Col.4:3-4)
