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SUMMARY:Sunday 28th December\, 11:30am Holy Eucharist for the Holy Innocen
 ts
DTSTART:20251228T113000Z
DTEND:20251228T123000Z
DTSTAMP:20260418T145016Z
UID:12596882025-12-28 11:30:00+00:00achurchnearyou
CATEGORIES:
DESCRIPTION:Today is the Feast of the Holy Innocents\, when the church rem
 embers the massacre of innocent children recounted in Matthew’s gospel (
 2:16–18) when King Herod ordered the execution of all male children who 
 are two years old and under in the vicinity of Bethlehem\, in an attempt t
 o remove any threat to his rule from what he believed to be a new King (Je
 sus) born in Bethlehem.\n\nThe story goes that the three Wise Men visited 
 Jerusalem to ask where the new King of the Jews was to be born. They meet 
 Herod and he directs them to Bethlehem\, but asks them to return to him an
 d report back. But they are warned in a dream that Herod wishes to find an
 d kill the child\, and so do not do so. Herod is furious at being outwitte
 d\, and he gives orders that all boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who we
 re two years old and under\, are to be killed. \n\nHowever\, the historici
 ty of Matthew´s account is questioned by modern scholars. It is not found
  in any other gospel\, despite the many stories of Herod's misdeeds\, incl
 uding the murder of three of his own sons. It is also argued  that\, if th
 is were a historical incident\, it is surprising that it was not recorded 
 by other historical sources at the time. It also appears that the author h
 as modelled this episode on the biblical story of Pharaoh's attempt to kil
 l the Israelite children in the Book of Exodus.\n\nThat said\, perhaps bec
 ause of its name\, this day has become associated with remembering innocen
 t people who have lost their lives in times of violence\, in our own time\
 , and a chance to pray for children and for an end to injustice. These are
  the words of the Invitation to Confession we use on this day:\n\nOn this 
 day when we recall the murder of innocent lives\,\nlet us stand before our
  just and holy God\,\nand remembering the violence and injustice of our wo
 rld\,\nconfess our sins in penitence and faith.\n\nPicture above: El Mirad
 or de la Memoria\, at El Torno near Cáceres in Extremadura\, inaugurated 
 in 2009 in memory of the victims of the Spanish Civil War.
LOCATION:Salinas Anglican Congregation
URL:https://www.achurchnearyou.com/church/8530/service-and-events/events/1
 259688/
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