Dear Friends,
The winter months of early darkness and shortening days will soon be punctuated by many thousands of tiny, blazing lights. Homes, schools, businesses and churches in our villages will be bathed in the glow of countless glistening fairly lights and candles each evening in the run-up to Christmas.
In church, the four weeks preceding Christmas are set aside as a special time for preparation. This season of Advent is really all about darkness, and how darkness was broken by a wonderful light. ‘The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light’ wrote the prophet Isaiah in the Old Testament, foretelling that our dark world would one day be visited by a great light and would never be the same again.
The season of Advent is important not just because it gives us an opportunity to step aside from the busyness of December. Advent is also important because darkness has a part to play in our spiritual development. A difficult part of being a Christian is being able to admit to ourselves that we cannot expect to see and understand everything clearly. We stumble in the darkness, disorientated and unsettled. We know that there are gloomy shadows in our world and in our lives that artificial light cannot dispel.
Christmas reminds us that God sent a light into this dark world in the most unlikely form of a helpless child. A light which ‘shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it’ (John 1:5). As we enjoy the festive glow of Christmas lights, let’s remember the ‘true light’ of the world who came to save us from the darkness.
May the peace of the Light of the World, the Christ-child, shine into your homes and your lives this Christmas.
Yours in Christ,
Rev ‘d Dr Ian Mills
Prayer
Our Benefice Contemplative Prayer Group meets on the first Monday of each month between 10.30am and 11.30am in St Andrew’s Church, Chew Stoke, led by Rev Dr Victor Barley.
Community Choir
Join us for our annual Carol Concert, ‘A Village Christmas’ on Thursday 12 December at 7.00pm in St Mary & St Peter’s, Winford. As always, our children’s choirs will be performing along with our adult Community Choir. There will be familiar carols and readings followed by seasonal refreshments. This is a free community event.
Following our Christmas Concert we will be taking a break in January and returning on Wednesday 12th February 2025 at 7.00pm.
Midweek Holy Communion
Holy Communion with intercessions for Healing is celebrated in our group of parishes on the first and third Wednesdays of each month at 10.30am.
Wednesday 4th December 2024
St Katharine’s, Felton at 10.30am
Wednesday 18th December 2024
St Andrew’s, Chew Stoke at 10.30am
(No service in Felton on New Year’s Day)
Wednesday 15th January 2024
St Andrew’s, Chew Stoke at 10.30am
‘Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.’
(Matthew 11:18)
Explore the Book
We are pleased to offer free after-school reading support in Holy Trinity, Bishop Sutton using fun stories from the Bible on Tuesdays 3rd and 10thDecember from 3.20pm until 4.20pm. Children from both Key Stage 1 and 2 are welcome to attend. The sessions are fully supervised, but parents are very welcome to attend. For more information contact Sandra: sandra.edgerton@gmail.com or 01275 331617.
Church Opening
Holy Trinity, Bishop Sutton is open daily during daylight hours for prayer and meditation.
Mind & Spirit
The next meeting of Mind & Spirit will be held at 10.30am on Wednesday 11th December in Felton Village Hall. These sessions are intended to support those living with conditions affecting the memory and those who care for them through conversation, Bible study and prayer. For more information, please contact Revd Fran: curatechewvalleywest@gmail.com
Contact
Revd Dr Ian Mills, Rector & Area Dean
The Rectory
4 Parsonage Lane
Winford
BS40 8DG
(01275) 474504
Revd Fran Smettem, Curate
(01934) 340682
