Dear Friends,I hope that however you spent Christmas Day you have glimpsed something of the love that is at the heart of the Christmas message.We will have a Morning Worship Service at Parracombe tomorrow at 9.30 (27/13/20) but there will not be a service at St Mary's Lynton. The next Eucharist there will be at 11am, 3rd January. Next Sunday Marilyn will be providing the Youtube service again too. I am planning to take a week of post-Christmas annual leave from this coming Tuesday. In this quiet time after the celebartion of Christmas Day, there is, perhaps a chance to enter more deeply into the mystery that God chooses to meet us in the birth of a child; that the love of God comes to us in person. I hope you can find time for the things that give you a sense of life and love, and help you to know God is with us as we tentatively enter the New Year which already holds out the prospect of change and the need to continue to take one day at a time! My prayers for health and peace for all in the coming year. The retreat centre I usually visit has produced a series of reflections to help us look at how God's love is reflected in our lives through Christ-mas tide and in daily life, you might like to take a look:https://www.pathwaystogod.org/my-prayer-life/sunday/christmastide-year-b2020God bless, Samantha
Dear Friends,Happy Christmas!And my prayers that however you are spending the day, God will bless you with the peace, comfort and joy that the coming of Jesus offers our world.Many thanks for all you lovely greetings and cards and gifts - I value your support, encouragement so much. And please join me in giving thanks for all who have enabled serviecs to happen this Christmas and all who have are keeping the faith with prayer at home. May we shine as lights of the one great Light, wherever we are today.To note: On Sunday 27th December there will be a service of Morning Worship at Christchurch Parracombe, but no service at St Mary's Lynton that morning. The next 11am Eucharist at St Mary's will be on 3rd January.God blessSamantha
Dear Friends,Wishing you a Holy and Happy Christmas-tide!In the midst of a tumultuous time, we have reached the days when we are offered a star in the night sky, the glory of angel song, and the wonder of our God coming to us as a child.I pray that you will find in the mystery of Christmas the particular peace and joy that you need and God wants to share with you this year.For anyone who is not able to get to church there is plenty available to watch at home. BBC television and radio have services through the afternoon and evening, and into tomorrow. The Church of England website has details of a Midnight service at which the Archbishop of Canterbury will preach streamed on various platforms.I will send both this reflection and a later one for Christmas Day. As in church the prayers are the same in each but the readings and my reflection are different.I hope to send some images of the crib in St Mary’s too. The church will be open for prayer through this afternoon (2-4pm) and I will carry in my prayers there all who are unable to be in church this year, praying that you will know the truth of the Incarnation – that God is with us - in a very special way this year. Be assured, God is with us in the everyday places we find ourselves, in the love we feel for those we care about, in the communion in prayer that we share with all Christians worshipping around the world this night, and tomorrow, God blessSamantha
Dear Friends, Here is the Advent Wreath with its four candles now lit, as we draw close to Christmas. It seems appropriate to send out this image of strengthening light, on this the shortest day of the year. From today the light strengthens and the days lengthen. Perhaps its a good reminder that the natural world keeps its rhythm, and the turning of the Christian calendar offers us the light of God's presence through whatever life sends. I wrote all that I sent out for Sunday before the announcement of changes to Christmas guidance, which has disrupted many plans and caused a lot of dismay, heightened anxiety and sadness. My heart goes out to you, if you are struggling with disappointment or worry. The new guidance does not require us to change the plans for Christmas services - and for many it will still be a great joy to be able to celebrate the birth of Jesus in church. Nevertheless, I am also grateful that the Archbiship of Canterbury has expressed his solidarity with any who feel too vulnerable to come to church at this time, encouraging their decision to stay at home. When we celebrate the Incarnation we celebrate the truth that God is with us, that nothing separates us from his love - and that our prayers and praises from home are a way of placing our trust in that love, and knowing God's presence through all that we experience. As the prayer at the wreath says, may God help us to bring love and healing to each other and all those around us, in kind words, thuoghts and deeds, through the coming days. God bless, Samantha
