Dear Friends,We have travelled through another Advent season which has brought unexpected pauses and the disruption of our best laid plans. Across our country now there are signs of strain and for so many people all that is not easy in life is at the forefront of their minds. In our world extremes of weather and the hostility of war make the headlinesYet, today is Christmas Eve. Across the world today and tomorrow people will still gather to pause and hear of the birth of a baby in a time of strain and challenge, in a nation under oppression; to pause at the image of a small family gathering visiting strangers; to pause perhaps long to hear that this birth is greeted in heaven by a chorus of heavenly joy, divine joy: the gift of God's son to offer love's healing in the world.I pray that as we pause, at home or in church to listen to the love song of the angels, our celebration of Christmas will renew our trust that love is stronger than all that opposes it, and that in the love of God, given to us in the birth of a child, lies the hope for a better world.May the joy of the angelsThe eagerness of the shepherdsThe perseverance of the wise menThe obedience of Mary and Joseph,And the peace of the Christ child be yours this Christmas May you know in your hearts, the love that comes down for you at ChristmasGod bless, Happy Christmas,SamanthaThank you for all your Chritsmas greetings and cards.I hope to see many of you at our services, and hold those of you I won't see in my prayers.Christmas Eve12 noon - 1pm St Mary's Lynton: informal time to light a candle and give thanks for those who have gone before us3pm St Mary's Lynton Candles at the Crib4pm Lee Abbey Nativity on the Farm11.30pm St John's Lynmouth Midnight MassChristmas Day9am Christchurch Parracombe Christmas Communion 11am Christmas Communion St Mary's Lynton Christmas Communion.
Dear Friends,I hope that you have been able to keep safe and warm through the extended cold and aftermath of last week's snow. I know the icy conditions in high and remote areas mean that there are a number of you who have not been able to get out. I've been keeping you in my thoughts and prayers and I hope neighbours have been supportive.As a result of the weather there are changes to the published services tomorrow:Cancelled Services:9am Lynmouth - there will be no 9am Holy Communion 3pm Trentishoe- the planned Carol Service will not take place due to icy conditions around the church and in routes towards it.Provisional:6pm Parracombe- currently we are hoping for the planned Parracombe Carol Service to go ahead but it is dependent on a continued thaw of the ice around the church. A final decision will be made tomorrow morning.As usual:11am Lynton: the Holy Communion for 4th Sunday in Advent will take place as usualThe message of this week's readings is that the child that Mary brings into the world is "Emmanuel" - God with is. We come to the final week of waiting and preparing to celebrate the birth of Jesus who comes to reveal God's presence in all conditions of human life. Around us there are lots of reasons why life doesn't feel smooth - there are multiple disruptions around us locally, nationally and internationally and yet remarkably the Christmas story we tell connects with so much of that uncertainty and displacement. "God with us" travelled to make sure his family were registered and had nowhere to stay when they got there, were dependent on the kindness of strangers and then hustled away as refugees. God with us in all the places of disruption and displacement - all the places which are messy and imperfect. As we travel through whatever this week might bring let's pray to recognise God with us in all of it.God blessSamanthaThe Current Plan for Christmas ServicesDecember 24th12noon - 1pm St Mary's Lynton: informal time for visiting church to light candles in remembrance of all we love and see no longer.3pm St Mary's Lynton: Candles at the Crib: a family friendly Crib Service11.30pm St John's Lynmouth: Midnight MassDecember 25th9am Christchurch Parracombe Christmas Day Communion11am St Mary's Lynton Christmas Day Communion
Dear Friends,It was a surprise to wake up to the view of snowy roof tops and white fields this morning and judging by conversations with the bold few who ventured out early to the shops this morning we were all caught a bit off guard by the extent of last night's snow fall across this part of Devon. It has disrupted life as usual: no bus running up the main road in its hourly routine, no papers delivered this morning, far fewer Saturday shoppers. For anyone with plans to fulfill tomorrow it raises the need to be alert, watching for the signs of which way the weather will turn. It has actually brought us a way of fully entering into the Advent spirit of waiting and preparing, waiting to see what moments bring, preparing to respond to whatever comes.This week's readings capture that spirit too. From Isaiah we hear the vision of the desert breaking out into abundant life - like for us the gift of spring we wait for after a hard winter and John the Baptist waiting in prison sends a message to ask Jesus if he is the one for whom he has waited - and Jesus tells him to look at what is going on around him and respond to that. In my sermon this I have included a reflection on John's questioning by Rob Marsh SJ published in Thinking Faith which is an online spirituality journal which I link in the attached document. He encourages us to remember that we can focus our Advent waiting and preparation with direct communication with God - "ask" he says. May this Sunday of advent give us space and pause to discover the deepest questions that our hearts seek answers to from God and to "ask".Currently we are planning to go ahead with services as planned tomorrow. Should conditions worsen I will consult with church wardens and make appropriate decisions with everyone's safety and well being in mind.Thank you to all who have been involved so far in extending a welcome to Advent events: to Keith and Marge Ash and the PCC at Martinhoe for a wonderful carol service last Sunday, and to Sue Rawle and her team who made Chrstingles with the children at at Parracombe school so we could celebrate Jesus the light of the world in church yesterday.God blessSamantha
