A happy New Year to everyone from all of us at Stowey Church. We hope you were able to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas and that you’ve enjoyed some time with family and friends.

This year we managed to hold a traditional service of Nine Lessons and Carols. The bells rang out and Dr Andrew Day played the wonderful music of Christmas on the organ,  Whilst it wasn’t quite on the level of the world-famous Carols from King’s College, Cambridge, broadcast internationally on the BBC World Service, we all enjoyed singing those familiar words to the familiar tunes. The singing was augmented by some of the members of the United Parish Choir and this made a huge difference to the congregation, which was smaller than usual to accommodate safe distancing. Thanks to the Choir members and to those who read, especially to Duncan and Henry who captured the awe of the shepherds being told by an angel of the birth of Jesus.  It was a truly joyful service.

And the church looked wonderful, decorated in a glorious array of holly and ivy and red carnations. Thanks to those ladies who produced such a lovely display.

Our first service after Christmas will be Epiphany Evensong on Sunday 2^nd January.  Please let me know if you’d like to attend.

And at this time of year it’s traditional to thank all those who help keep the church clean and tidy. There are a good number of you, so I can’t name you all!  But to those who clean the church, cut the grass, undertake small tasks of maintenance, I say a heartfelt thank you! And thank you to all those who have supported our endeavours, either through gifts of time or money; we are hugely grateful. I pray that Stowey Church will continue to be a beacon of Christian faith through many centuries to come…..but it can only do so with help from all those willing to give it……..that may even mean you!

Until next time,

Jill Nicol, Churchwarden