SUNDAY 11th DECEMBER

 

Blessed are you, sovereign Lord, just and true:
to you be praise and glory for ever.
Your prophet John the Baptist was witness to the truth
as a burning and shining light.
May we your servants rejoice in his light,
and so be led to witness to him
who is the Lord of our coming kingdom,
Jesus our Saviour and King of the ages.
Blessed be God for ever.

In some Asian cultures peafowl are thought of as messengers. Here is the resident solitary peahen known and loved by many around the northern end of the High Street.  She was sounding off like a good 'un this weekend: St. Peter's own Joan the Baptist?


Yesterday

There was music in the church during the morning, and people wandered in and out to enjoy what was going on. The stand out moment? Probably Chris playing his own transcription of Debussy's 'Snow Falling' from 'Children's Corner'. If you missed it, lobby him to play the piece for you again sometime in the near future. Lovely! One listener said of their time in church 'It was so good to just forget about minutes ticking by, and not worry about what I had to do next'.


Today

A surprise for worshippers at the morning services as they found The Prince of Wales Rattlers singing some seasonal music on the church doorstep. Our thanks to Harry, Clive, Clive and Graham for giving up their time to do this. You can catch the Rattlers again (sounds like a new virus!) at St. Matthew's on December 19th at 7 p.m., after you've joined our carol singers singing around the parish from 5.30 p.m....

We hear rumours that the Youth Pilgrims may have been getting their skates on this afternoon... Want to know more? Ask Allison.


And tomorrow...

No Open Church or Prayer Space in the church during the morning, because we're welcoming children from The Arbours Primary School.

Pilates in the evening at 6 and 7 (church hall), while the Cubs do their thing in the Scout Hut.

St John the Baptist's cry

I keep tellin' 'em
(although it's lights on
and nobody home with this lot)
it's not about being on trend,
not some badge to be worn,
not membership of a select club.
This is about death.
You go into the water, and you die.
Get it?
Then you rise
to a life changed for ever.
Don't do it
unless you feel you must.
Look at me.
It'll cost.
                   Vince Cross