with All Saints Saxtead
A Letter from our Rector Mark: Don’t forget Advent! December is the month when we have the shortest day, St Nicholas’ Day, Shopping expeditions … And Christmas. The lights on the Christmas tree on Market Hill go on and we have late night shopping in November. The Christmas Tree Festival begins in December. Our focus is on Christmas approaching and if we are not careful we forget the message of Advent. The Advent Calendars I remember were exciting and told the Christmas story door by door. That was one of the original purposes of Advent – to get us ready for the celebration of the Christmas message- that God is truly with us in the presence of Jesus – as the Creative Word and as a tiny child. Amazingly Jesus is present with us as both. The other message of Advent is that it was the first coming of Jesus, there is another one too. This has been hinted at since Harvest when some of the traditional hymns remind us that there will be a harvest of souls at the second coming. In Advent we focus on the promises of the coming Kingdom. That what we see in this world with its suffering and death will be scrutinised by the one who is known as the Prince of Peace. We can expect that scrutiny to look at how we and those in authority have looked to the good of others, especially the poor and marginalised. Jesus was born in a stable and his first visitors were shepherds whose names were never known, unlike important visitors, the Wise Men. In this Advent we may feel neither rich nor important – but the message of the first coming is that in God’s eyes we are so important, so beloved that he sent His Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. Wishing you a thoughtful Advent and a Blessed Christmas. Mark
St Michael’s Church News:.
Weddings in December: Laura Wright and Harry Rowland on Dec 22nd at 12 noon.
Christmas tree Festival opening fair: On Sat 1st Dec at 10am. Cakes, tea/coffee; Christmas stalls and festive music from the Holy Horrors, the Brownies and The Pop Chorus. 12 noon - Soup, roll & cheese from the Girl Guides. Open daily 9.30am - 4pm until Sat Dec 30th. Free entry but donations welcome to the Friends of St Michael’s.
Churches Together Carol Service:
Sun 23rd Dec in St Michael’s Church at 6pm.
FOSM Christmas Lunch: Thurs 13th Dec at 12.30 in the Conservative Club. All welcome to this delicious Christmas lunch - £13 for two courses.
Rabble Chorus: Thurs 20th Dec, 7.30pm in St Michael’s. This is a free concert with a retiring collection for Rural Coffee Caravan. Come and enjoy mulled wine, mince pies and Suffolk’s largest Community Choir.
Be an Angel and join our annual Breakfast Feast at Framlingham College, Paul’s Court Café, Fri 7th Dec8.30-10.30am. In aid of Crisis at Christmas and the Ipswich Night Shelter. RSVP Amanda Taylor: ajt@framcollege.co.uk if you can as it will help with numbers but please feel free to simply come on the morning. Please remember to sign in at Reception.
