Dear Friends
We are currently in what I shall describe as the ‘season of hard slog’ in the lead up to Christmas! Our church Christmas Fairs are now all over but services are coming thick and fast, there are Christmas lunches to prepare for at the Oaks, chocolate coins to distribute at Sankey Station and local Sankey primary schools, and Christmas floats have been taking out the message of good news to those in Westbrook and Hood Manor. And, of course, there’s our own personal Christmas preparations too – presents to buy, gifts to wrap, cards to write, Christmas puddings and cakes to make. Is it any wonder that we end up heaving a sigh of relief when Christmas Day afternoon comes!
But whereas for most in our society, Christmas ends on Christmas Day, let’s remember that in the church calendar that’s when the season of Christmas begins! The twelve days of the Christmas season (made famous by the carol of the same name) run from Christmas Day to 5th January, or Twelfth Night, when we traditionally take down our Christmas decorations. I love the Christmas season, not just because it normally provides the opportunity to catch up with family and friends, but also because the quieter pace allows me to reflect on what it is really all about, God coming to earth in the person of the baby Jesus. There’s an amazing beauty and simplicity in that. If we have rushed through Advent without taking the time to reflect upon the nature of God’s coming to us, do take the time to ponder this Christmas season. As the bible tells us in Luke chapter two, verse 19, ‘Mary (following the birth of Jesus and the visit of the shepherds) treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart’.
After the Christmas season is over, we turn our thoughts to the Epiphany and the showing forth of God’s glory to the world. The Epiphany season, which begins on 6th January and the visit of the wise men to the child Jesus, is celebrated in most churches on the nearest Sunday which this year is January 5th. You may be wondering, haven’t we just celebrated their arrival at Christmas, and often we do. But let’s remember that the wise men embarked on a long journey to find Jesus and to bring him their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. That’s why we celebrate this symbolically later in the church calendar. Which leaves me with the question, how are you, how am I, going to show something of the glory of God to others in 2020? The Alpha course which has been running at St.Mary’s this autumn has been one very good way of doing that. A new Alpha course begins at St.Paul’s on January 10th. I commend this to you.
Which just leaves me to wish you and your loved ones a very happy Christmas and a peaceful new year.
Jeremy Tear, Pioneer Team Rector
P.S. Don’t forget that Bishop Bev, the Bishop of Warrington will be with us for our Team Celebration on Saturday 1st February, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. at St.James’ Church. Please put the date in your diaries now. Further details to come in early January.
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