|
Beloved friends in Christ,
December comes softly. Light deepens. Shadows lengthen. Advent gathers us into its ancient hush. We stand on the threshold of mystery once more, held by the promise of Isaiah 9:2, that the people who walked in darkness have seen a great light. Christmas draws near, and with it the tenderness of God made flesh, the quiet splendour of Emmanuel, the Holy One dwelling among us in humility and joy. This sacred month carries us through the feasts of beloved saints whose witness enriches our waiting. On 6 December we honour St Nicholas, the model of hidden generosity, a saint whose compassion shaped centuries of Christian kindness. On 13 December we remember St Lucy, luminous in courage and faith, a bearer of light in winter’s deepening night. On 14 December we give thanks for St John of the Cross, whose contemplative fire and mystical poetry lead us into the depths of God’s transforming love. On 26 December we mark St Stephen, the Church’s first martyr, whose steadfast faith and radiant forgiveness illuminate the heart of the Christmas season. Our parish rhythm this month is rich and full. Across St John’s and The Holy Innocents, prayer continues morning by morning. Preparations for Advent and Christmas unfold with thoughtful devotion. Candle Nights returns on the first Sunday of the month, 7 December from 5:30 to 7:30 pm, when the church opens its doors to all. A sacred space awaits. A gentle invitation. Come for five minutes or for the full two hours. Light a candle. Be in stillness. Bring your faith, perhaps a book to sit with, your hopes, or simply your quiet presence. Peace will hold you in this open church. Our Carol Service with the Paulinus Singers on 16 December will be free for all, a radiant evening of music and devotion. On 20 December we gather for carol singing and mulled wine at Copt Hewick, a moment of brightness and fellowship with a minced pie. Celtic worship continues each Friday in December, including a peaceful Boxing Day gathering for the feast of St Stephen, offering quiet prayer, gentle musical interludes, and stillness for weary spirits. There is more. Our Nativity Service on 24 December welcomes everyone, whether you come alone or with friends, with family or in joyful fancy dress. Christmas Day services stand at the centre of our celebrations. All are welcome. All are cherished. This month’s parish blog is overflowing with beauty. Deborah offers a humble and poignant autumn poem. The bell tower team shares the unfolding story of their work, a delight to read. The Magdalen Fellowship invites all to Christmas peace, including the evening meditation on 21 December. Denise gifts us a thoughtful article on the Advent wreath, rich in symbolism and hope. Caroline’s Monet studiesbring colour, light, and wonder into the season. Carol-Ann’s exploration of Italian Presepi reveals the artistry and devotion woven into the nativity tradition. And with joyful contrast, our annual parish pantomime in January promises laughter, warmth, and communal delight. We hold in prayer, those among us who carry illness, fragility, or heavy burdens this season. They are wrapped in the quiet support and care of our community, sustained by love, hope, and grace. We remember too all for whom this season brings loneliness, yearning, or grief. Those who hunger, those who weep, those whose spirits feel heavy. In our fellowship, we witness the light of Christ reflected in the gentleness of care, the listening heart, and the shared joy that threads through our parish. A prayer for December: O radiant God of Advent and Christmas, kindle in us the light that never dims. Let joy leap in our hearts, hope rise in our spirits, and peace rest upon our homes. Bless our community with generosity that astonishes, love that endures, and gratitude that deepens. Gather us in sacred stillness, as we await the cradle of Bethlehem, and lead us into the wonder of Christ’s birth, now and forever. Amen. As we move through this sacred season, we are invited to dwell in the quiet mystery of Emmanuel, God-with-us, present in the ordinary and the unnoticed. Christmas carries a theology of wonder; the Word enfleshed, the infinite drawn into the fragile cradle of human life. In every candle flame, every shared song, and every gathered face, there is a reflection of that divine nearness. “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given” (Isaiah 9:6), a reminder that even the darkest nights are touched by light, and that God’s presence threads through the rhythms of everyday life. This December, the beauty of Christ’s outstretched hand is offered to all. Those who are new to church, unsure of faith, or navigating life with additional needs are met with the same gentle invitation. Those coming on their own are embraced within the shared fellowship of the community. Christmas can be overwhelming, loud, or bright with expectation, yet here there is space to be, space to pause, space to encounter the mystery of Emmanuel quietly, safely, and with welcome. Every moment of stillness, every shared song, every gathering in the warmth of church is a thread in a tapestry of belonging, offering the assurance that Christ’s love and our community hold space for all. With all good wishes and warmest thoughts for this Advent and Christmas, may the unfolding days hold moments of quiet marvel, deep reflection, and the shared delight of community. Let the ordinary glow with God-with-us, and the sacredness of each encounter; whether in prayer, reflection, music, or fellowship, remind every heart, whether young, hesitant, or seeking, that they are part of the story of Emmanuel. December becomes a season not just of celebration, but of shared presence, of community woven together in wonder, care, and gentle hope. Join us tis season †
0 Comments
 December carries its own intensity. The days compress, the light fades early, and the world around us grows loud. Celtic worship offers another rhythm. A quieter rhythm. A rhythm shaped by prayer, attentiveness, and peace. Each Friday at six, we gather for a simple half hour, not of performance but of presence. No songs to carry, no spectacle to hold. Only stillness, Scripture, and gentle musical moments that help the soul settle. The Celtic Christian tradition has always honoured this simplicity. It emerged from communities who prayed with the land, who listened to the wind and the water, who believed that the holiness of God was woven into the fabric of creation. Nature became a teacher. Silence became a companion. Hospitality became a discipline. These early Christians carried a deep reverence for the beauty of ordinary things, and an unwavering respect for every person they encountered. Their spirituality was rooted, embodied, and profoundly compassionate. There is history here too. The monastic settlements of Iona and Lindisfarne shaped the imagination of the early church in these islands. They nurtured scholars, poets, and missionaries whose legacy still speaks. Their prayers were lyrical and their theology was spacious. They held learning and devotion side by side with an elegance that continues to inspire. Throughout December we step into that inheritance. Week by week, we rest in stillness and allow the quiet light of Advent to deepen. This year we also keep Saint Stephen’s Day. On Boxing Day we will gather again at six for a special Celtic service, honouring the first martyr and praying for courage, mercy, and hope. Everyone is welcome. Come if you long for a gentler space. Come if you need silence. Come if you seek a moment of rest in the turning of the year. Celtic worship in December is a soft doorway to peace, and the invitation is always open. May the quiet glory of winter draw us into the deep heart of God, where light shimmers on ancient paths. Come to Celtic worship this December, and let Christ kindle wonder within us, as the Spirit folds us into peace and holy stillness.Our talented poet, Deborah, from St John's shares a reflection from Autumn I beleaves
It is delightful observing through the window this invisible veil seeing the wind play itself out it and I delighting the Autumn light and the abun-dance of leaves Deborah Sheppard December gathers pace quickly. The lights brighten, the streets fill, and every moment seems to ask something of us. In the midst of this swirl, the soul begins to ache for quiet. Stillness becomes a rare gift. At the Magdalen Fellowship of Healing and Prayer, that gift is offered with care. Here, December is not only busy, it is sacred. Here, the heart is invited to rest. We will gather each week for prayer and fellowship, seeking peace rather than pressure. Simple moments. Deep attention. Space to breathe again. Our highlight will be a candlelit evening meditation, shaped by the tenderness and mystery of Christmas. Soft light, long shadows, and silence that speaks. It is a setting where the mind clears, the spirit lifts, and the presence of God becomes almost tangible. Contemplative prayer holds its own quiet intelligence. It teaches us to listen, not react. It draws us into wisdom rather than urgency. As Thomas Merton wrote, “Silence is the language of God, and all else is poor translation.” In stillness, the truth of that settles beautifully. We begin to perceive grace not as an idea but as a living atmosphere. Whether you are seasoned in contemplation or simply curious, the Magdalen Fellowship welcomes you. Come with joy. Come with fatigue. Come with longing. Let this December be more than busy. Let it be luminous. Join us, and discover the peace that waits beneath the noise, patient and profound. Your Magdalen Fellowship Christmas peace :  |
NewsBlog Submissions are always very welcome. Share anything you like ! Please send news, articles of interest and events to CommsStJohn'[email protected] Events DiaryCategories
All
Archives
December 2025
|
RSS Feed
Come as you are. You'll find a welcome face.
Typically, the church is open 10am-4pm, seven days per week. Our Facebook Page is never left unattended for long, so please don't hesitate to pop in, join a service or just message 'hello'.
|
