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Notes from Canon John Fletcher

ADVENT

A generation ago most folk in Britain would call themselves Christians. They might not have attended church but nevertheless held to a basic belief in God. Today, times have changed and Christian living in a secular society is a challenge we have to face. Based on the Old Testament prophet, Ezekiel, we follow this theme during the first three Sundays of Advent at 10:30 am.

December 2nd ‘At such a time as this’.

Dec 9th ‘A vision of God’.

Dec 16th ‘A message from God’

CHRISTMAS

Amid all the hype of getting ready for Christmas, I often wonder if we have turned Christmas into something it isn’t. A well-known carol which begins ‘Love came down at Christmas’ seems to capture the essence of the event. But where and how did it all begin? Not among the rich and powerful, or among celebrities! Not in the cool, clean serenity of a church or cathedral and not in the glitzy surroundings of a shopping mall.

It began in the filth of a Bethlehem stable and among some very ordinary people. Mary and Joseph had little or no power or status and the first folk who came to worship the Christ were not the religious elite but a bunch of poor and ragged shepherds. It is an image of what the Christmas event is really all about.

After the birth of Christ at Bethlehem, no-one (not even you or I), can make the excuse that they are not religious enough, or not good enough, or not clean enough, to receive the gift of God’s eternal love in Jesus Christ!

John Fletcher