FRIDAY 16th DECEMBER

                                                       Caravaggio: St. John the Baptist.

God our Father,
you gave to Zechariah and Elizabeth in their old age
a son called John.
He grew up strong in spirit,
prepared the people for the coming of the Lord,
and baptised them in the Jordan to wash away their sins.
Help us, who have been baptised into Christ,
to be ready to welcome him into our hearts,
and to grow strong in faith by the power of the Spirit.
We ask this through Jesus Christ,
the light who is coming into the world.
Amen.

                                                        Three candles (Wait for it...)

Today...

Morning prayer at 8.30, and then Open Church until 11.00

at 12.00, Danny Brenna and Harriet Moss get married in church.

...but while that's going on, Our Walkers will be striding the fields, ending with lunch at The Red Lion at Brafield. If you want to know more about our walks, ask Bill Rothwell. If you don't know who Bill Rothwell is, ask someone to point him out. If they don't know, keep asking.  And that's the way a congregation becomes the Family of God...

19.00. Choir practice


Yesterday...

The bar of The Bold Dragoon was absolutely rammed with people singing carols and Christmas music under the batons of Bill Kingston and Martin Pettit. An amazing and thought-provoking experience, and fearless, charismatic animation from Bill and Martin.

Coming up:

Saturday: 10.00  Open House in the church hall. Something for everyone!

Sunday: 18.00:  Lessons and carols. Don't miss it. The Christmas 'signature' service.

Monday: 17.30: Carol singing around the parish. Thus combining Walking with Music. Clever, eh!  Dress warmly. Bring the Strepsils.

Wednesday 19.00: Blue Christmas

More about all these later.

Conversation piece   

You've read the story.
Did you like him then,
That John fella?

Reminiscent
Of a madman on the tube,
Don't you think?
Or Ian Anderson
Living in the Past
Gap-toothed
Standing on one leg with
A Pied Piper's flute,
Bewitching a generation.
Wouldn't care to meet his eye
Would you?
Move to another carriage
Sharpish
Wouldn't you?

Is it important?
The liking bit?
Can you split
The man from the message?
Put your daughter
In his hands?
Of course you wouldn't.
Be honest.

But some people
They really go for that stuff
The weirder wilder shores of faith,
Or the ascetic angle.
And you've got to admit
The story of Jesus
Would lack a dimension
Without him.

What do you think then?
A contingent literary device?
Or a necessary condition
Of salvation history?
i.e.
Let there be a world
Anywhere in any universe
And there will be a Jesus
And there will be a John?

                               Vince Cross
                        
This came about after a conversation with another parishioner about faith and doubt held during Open Church a week or so ago.