Happy Christmas All Saints and St Marys
After all that waiting we are here. Christmas Eve. Christmas Day – A Whole Christmas Weekend. A weekend of celebrations around this world changing, life changing moment that impacts our daily lives as we learn to be with others in Gods name.
As I think about placing all of those people in the stable I try to reflect again about their story and who they are and why they might be there. Mary, Joseph, Angels, The Magi and Shepherds. As I again imagine that child born in Bethlehem, I think of them all, and the story that they still have to tell us. What would they whisper to me? What would they lean close to tell you?
The crib lies empty only a little longer, we are now so close to the good news that starts in that place in the middle east and then reverberates around the world. What makes this moment, this incarnational centre, the most critical of festivals for me, is that Christians believe that God does not remain other, but becomes one with. Simple. Yet mind blowing. Ridiculous, but also so obvious. Terrifyingly beautiful. There is a prayer that captures perhaps part of that paradox – we pray it at Midnight Mass:
“Welcome all wonders in one sight! Eternity shut in a span. Summer and Winter, day in night, heaven in earth and God in Man. Great little one whose all embracing birth brings earth to heaven and heaven to earth.”
For a moment those words take us to a different place. A place of possibility. A place of hope. Emmanuel. God is with us.
Happy Christmas everyone.
SERVICES FOR THE CHRISTMAS WEEKEND
Saturday 24th December - Christmas Eve
4pm | Family Carols and Christingles | St Marys |
7:30pm | Carols by Candlelight | All Saints |
11:30pm | Midnight Mass | St Marys |
Sunday 25th December – Christmas Day
8am | Holy Communion (said) | All Saints |
10am | All Age Family Commuinon | St Marys |
10:30am | All Age Family Communion | All Saints |
THE WEEK AHEAD Wednesday 28th 09.00am – Celtic Morning Prayer at All Saints Church Thursday 29th 10.00am – Holy Communion at St Mary’s Church Sunday 1st 10.00am – Creative / Open Church at St Mary’s Church 10.30am – Holy Communion with Baptism at All Saints Church
Please find attached the weekly sheets and Roots materials.
Revd Lizzie
Revd Lizzie Kesteven
Vicar of All Saints Church and St Marys Church, Fishponds
Interim Co Area Dean of Bristol City Deanery
Advisor for Spirituality for Bristol Diocese
0117 9650856
07973917720