My dear friends,
Advent Sunday falls this year on 30th November. The season of Advent is rather overlooked in contemporary Britain, which is a shame, because the message of Advent is a challenging but also beautiful one. Just as Our Lord Jesus Christ was born a tiny baby in a stable at Bethlehem, so one day he will return in glory, his divine identity unmistakeable, to judge the world, all the men and women who have ever lived in it, their societies, cultures, achievements and failures, values and beliefs. The yardstick against which they will be measured will be the Christian Gospel.
Our judge will be Jesus Christ himself: we shall see the marks of the nails in his hands and feet, to remind us that he died on the cross for all of us. It is fitting, therefore, that he who bore the weight of our sins on the cross should be our judge.
Advent is a ‘solemn’ season in the Church’s year. Our services and churches are plainer: the liturgical colour is purple for penitence, there are no flowers, the Gloria is omitted from the Eucharist. The aim is to get us to think about the direction our lives are taking and to try to become more Christ-centred.
Advent is also exciting, because it reminds us that when Christ comes again, he will deal with evil, sin and death, wipe away all tears, heal wounds, correct injustice, make us whole in body, mind and spirit, to fit us for eternal life in heaven, where we shall see God face to face.
And the whole purpose of Christ’s second coming? It is, quite simply, that we may enjoy God’s love in all its fullness, nevermore to be parted from Him. That is exciting!
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We have some beautiful services and events planned for Advent and Christmas.
Advent Sunday, 4.00pm Advent Carol Service St George’s Church, Crowhurst
Advent Sunday, 30th November
4.00pm Advent Carol Service
St George’s Church, Crowhurst
Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th December
1.00pm – 4pm each day
Christmas Tree Festival
St George’s Church, Crowhurst
Sunday 7th December
6.00pm A Miscellany of Christmas Readings and Carols
St George’s Church, Crowhurst
Thursday 18th December
6.00pm – 8.00pm Drop-in Christmas Carols
Catsfield Village Hall
Sunday 21st December
4.00pm Service of Nine Lessons and Carols
St Laurence’s Church, Catsfield
Tuesday 23rd December
2.00pm Children’s Crib Service
St George’s Church, Crowhurst
3.30pm Children’s Crib Service
St Laurence’s Church, Catsfield
Wednesday 24TH December, Christmas Eve
11.00pm Midnight Mass
St Laurence’s Church, Catsfield
Thursday 25TtDecember, Christmas Day
10.00am Christmas Family Eucharist
St George’s Church, Crowhurst
Sunday 28th December
One service for both our parishes – this year at Catsfield
10.00am Holy Eucharist
St Laurence’s Church, Catsfield
With my love and prayers,
Father Robert.