December 2008
VICAR: The Revd. Martin Fredriksen Tel: 694109
PARISH OFFICE (Mondays to Fridays 9.30am - Noon) Tel: 697641
FROM THE VICAR: For many people this year, the run up to Christmas and the Day itself will be something that they are dreading.
Those who live alone, those whose houses have been repossessed, those who have been made redundant, those whose finances are in a complete mess – how do they tell the children that there is no money to spend on lavish (or for some, even modest) presents? It is the same every year, with people going into deep debt, but far more pronounced in this time of recession.
Past generations were told to wait until Christmas for that something which was a little special, but now with 24/7 shopping, mail order and on-line shopping, we tend to get what we want right away – whether we can afford it or not.
The ethics of commercialism are something that we can discuss until the proverbial cows come home, but perhaps this year, many more of us need to turn our thoughts towards the proper meaning of the coming Season – that greatest free gift to mankind of our Lord Jesus. He came to a world which was in just as much of a mess then, with the message of love, peace, joy, forgiveness and eternal life – those essentials of lasting worth that will not be put back into the box and forgotten the following day.
Main services are listed on the front cover, but the details of the whole week are given below – you are always welcome to join with us at any or all of these.
Every Blessing for the Advent Season, for Christmas and the New Year.
Martin Fredriksen.
Archived sermons :
2010 - January, February, March, April, May, June, July
2009 - January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
2008 - January, February, March, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
2007 - January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December