Resisting the Rush

Dear Friends in Christ,

Supermarkets are a constant pointer to what time of year it is. The cycle from season to season seems to get swifter and also increasingly blurred.

We’ve had Halloween, with every possible opportunity taken to shove witches and skeletons onto anything. Some of the items are creative and entertaining, but its created a massive selling opportunity completely out of proportion to the event itself. And of course, the moment its done there’s Christmas merchandise in all its forms, only punctuated by the massive hype around the recent growth of Black Friday (and I’m no more immune to this particular hype than anyone else - the temptation to score that bargain that I don’t actually need is very alluring).

But what of Christmas? What are we actually encouraged to engage with over the next 4 weeks is the season of Advent? Most people’s only contact with Advent is via the plethora of, admittedly lush, Advent calendars. There’s nothing wrong with this, but surely the season of Advent is more than this.

Advent’s a period of reflection. It’s a thoughtful, positive anticipation, the excitement of Christmas set alongside the invitation to see beyond the busyness and prepare us to meet with God and truly rejoice with arrival of Christmas as we celebrate the birth of Jesus.

This Sunday the 1^st Sunday of Advent 30^th November

08:00am	Holy Communion	BCP All Saints
10:00am	Sung Holy Communion	St Marys
4:30pm	Christingle Service	All Saints

THE WEEK AHEAD

Mon 1st	10:30am	Tiny Tots	All Saints
Tue 2nd	10:30am	Music for Toddlers	St Marys Parish Rooms
Wed 3rd	9:00am	Celtic Morning Prayer	All Saints
Thurs 4th	10:00am	Holy Communion	St Marys
Fri 5th	11:00am	Living After Loss	St. Mary’s
Sat 6th	10:00am	Coffee Morning with Books and Repair Cafe,	All Saints
	11:00am - 2:00pm	Christmas Fayre	St Marys

Next Sunday Second of Advent 7^th Dec

10:00am	Toy Service with Guides and Brownies	St Marys
10:30am	Holy Communion with Junior Church	All Saints
6:30pm	Advent Carol Procession	St Marys

May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,

the love of God

and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit

be with us all,

evermore.

Amen.

Blessings,

Fr Kester de Oliveira