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As we approach the
season of Christmas we are faced with the season of Advent. The mood of the
church’s liturgy changes from marking the Kingdom season to marking the
season of watching and waiting namely the season of Advent. It has been
customary to have study groups in Advent.
This year there will be specific sermons on the themes of Advent which will
each end with questions for discussion. Please come along to the discussion
evenings where you will also share wine and mince pies as discussing
together the previous Sunday’s sermon. There will be copies of the sermon
available at the discussion groups. The questions will be on the pew sheet
for that particular Sunday. Here are full details of my Advent Sermons.
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Advent Sunday 27th November: ‘He comes both child and judge’
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Second Sunday of Advent 4th December: ‘See the glory—wear the glory’
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Third Sunday of Advent 11th December: ‘Travelling the road of the coming
Christ’
The discussion groups will be on the following dates and times. What could
be better? Stimulating conversation, mince pies and wine. Prepare for
Christmas by keeping a Holy Advent.
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8-00pm—9-15pm Monday 28th November, small hall
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8-00pm—9-15pm Wednesday 7th December, small hall
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8-00pm—9-15pm Wednesday 14th December, small hall
Christmas Services
2005 has been a year which for many people has been marked by tragedy or
violence or natural disasters. It is against this turbulent background that
Christians (themselves under threat either by indifference in the Western
world or by actual hostility in the Muslim world) celebrate Advent and
Christmas. Advent when we look forward to the coming of Jesus. Christmas
when we celebrate the fact that God intervened in human history ‘when Julius
Caesar was emperor of Tiberius’.
God came in His Son Jesus to reveal the nature and extent of His love for
the human race. The world in no longer a mindless and meaningless entity but
the creation of a loving God who calls us to cooperate with Him ‘in drawing
all things to Himself’.
So at Advent and Christmas we are filled with this hope and respond with joy
and carols to God’s saving love. At St Mary’s we have a series of sermons
addressing these issues in Advent. Full details of all our Christmas
services are elsewhere in this magazine.
Parish Carol Singing
We shall be singing for the homeless charity ‘Crisis’ on Monday 19th
December. We shall meet at 7-00pm on the corner of Cannon Hill Lane and
Aylward Road. We shall end with mulled wine and mince pies at the home
of Meg and John Freeborn.
Jan joins with me in wishing all our readers a joyful and peaceful
Christmas.
Your priest and friend
Tom Leary
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