Dear Friends,

It seems crazy to me that we are in December already ! The Churches across the Benefice are all preparing for Christmas and prepare to welcome you all into our Carol Services; the choir, singers and band are already busy rehearsing to lead our carol singing.

“Silent Night! Holy Night! All is calm, all is bright…” is just one of the many carols that is loved and sung every year.

One of the reasons I think that this carol is so popular is because of the way it invites us right into the heart of Christmas… into the still centre of the Christmas story, to contemplate Mary holding the new-born Jesus, the Light of the World.

It’s that time of year when the streets and shops are full of bright, festive lights and we start to think about getting our own Christmas lights down from the loft to see if they still work ready for this year’s Christmas tree. It’s easy to connect with the ‘bright’ part of this theme from the carol but what about the ‘calm’? As we join other frantic shoppers, looking for the perfect but affordable gift, as we stock up our cupboards the best we can with foody treats and begin the countdown to Christmas, it’s easy to lose any sense of calm.

As we watch the news and look at events in other part of the world. ‘calm’ doesn’t seem to be the right word to describe what is going on at the moment. Bethlehem certainly isn’t calm this Christmas.

In the midst of all the noise and hurry, both around us and within us, the call of Advent is to pause — to make space for stillness. The image of Mary holding her newborn child in a quiet stable is a reminder that even in the most unlikely of places, peace can be found. The star that guided the wise men to Bethlehem, shining brightly in the dark of night, offers more than just light; it points the way to something greater than the chaos of the world.

Perhaps this Advent and Christmas, more than ever, we need to recapture that sense of calm. To allow ourselves time to reflect, to breathe deeply, and to remember that the Christmas story isn’t just about busyness and preparations, but about the quiet moments that speak of hope and renewal.

In a world often marked by uncertainty and unrest, these quiet moments offer a sense of peace that can’t be found in the noise. We may not be able to change the circumstances of the world but we can choose how we respond. So, in this season, let us metaphorically follow the star shining brightly in the darkness… to discover afresh the peace and the calm and the hope that lies at the centre of Christmas… that is Jesus, and then let us take that hope, that calm and that peace with us into the New Year to come.

We’d love to invite you to come and join us at our Carol Services this Christmas…
Come and enjoy the sense of hope there is in them and rediscover the true meaning of Christmas as you hear the familiar Christmas story and sing some of your favourite carols.

I hope you have a calm and bright, peaceful Advent and Christmas and then a really blessed New Year

God Bless, Rev Cathy x