St Mary the Virgin, Maulden

       The Rector's Letter

Each month the Rector writes an article for the Parish Magazine

One of the things that I dislike about this time of year, is   that it gets dark so early. Even though I realise that I am fortunate to have a lovely warm home and a television for company, nevertheless the evenings can feel rather long before it is eventually time for bed.

Maybe this is why so many people decorate not only the inside but also the outside of their homes with lights. It cheers us and helps us to look forward to Christmas.

                Light is also an important theme in the Bible and especially at Christmas. At the beginning of Creation, we read that God created light and it was good. At the beginning of John’s Gospel, the birth of Jesus is described as “The true light which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world”

Light represents the goodness of God’s love among us which is seen especially at this time of year. Christmas brings out the best in each of us. We give and receive presents as a token of our love. We send cards to friends we do not see too often to say that we have not forgotten them. We give to charities that support the poor and homeless.

We are grateful for all that we have and especially for the people who love us and with whom we will spend Christmas.

Yet we look with sadness at our world where there is so much darkness and pain. There is little Christmas joy in those places torn apart by war, and where loved ones have been killed and people’s homes and livelihoods destroyed.  We long for a peaceful world where money is spent on tractors not on bombs and weapons of mass destruction.

                As Christians we are people of hope, as we sing in the words of a familiar carol “the hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight”. Jesus came into the world that first Christmas as the light that shines in the darkness and the darkness can never overcome it. This is what we celebrate at Christmas.

With all good wishes

Lynda Klimas

                                Christmas at St Mary’s

Sunday 3rd December                  9.30am Christingle service

Sat 9th/ Sun 10th December        12noon - 4pm Christmas tree festival

Thursday 21st December              7pm Carols by candlelight with the choir

Christmas Eve 24th December    4pm Nativity service (Church)

                                                                11.30pm Midnight Communion

Christmas Day 25th December    8am Holy Communion

                                                                9.30am Holy Communion (Clophill)

With all good wishes

Lynda Klimas