Monthly News from the Rectory

Literally two days after Remembrance Sunday and here I am sitting down to write an article for the December magazine with thoughts about Christmas uppermost in my mind. The Henley lights ‘switch-on’ just 10 days away; the Christmas Tree Festival in St.John’s the same; The Court Leet annual service on the same weekend; carol singing at Memory Lane Café on 12th December; a special Nine Lessons and Carols Service at St. John’s on the 17th and carol singing round Ullenhall Village on the 21st December too. All of this building up to the Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services in various churches and The Community Christmas Day Lunch in the parish hall.

Couple all of this with Christmas food and Christmas present shopping, local community and family parties and celebrations and we begin to realise that things are moving so fast we are in danger missing something very important. It begins on 3rd December – can you guess what it is? Well the answer is a three-week period called Advent which ends on 24th December. To many this represents no more than a day-by-day count-down to Christmas accompanied by a daily reward from a dated window on our Advent Calendar. But is there any more to it than that?

The answer is yes of course! All of the very enjoyable events above are building up a feeling of excitement in anticipation of Christmas Day arriving. Advent runs alongside all of this but potentially adds a new dimension to the build-up. Advent suggests that we slow down our expectations and appreciate them in a much greater depth and think about both long term and short term together. Setting aside some time to reflect upon the blessing and real values and relationships in life that belong in the life of every Christian believer. Values that were God given to created mankind but somehow as good as disappeared until the birth of Jesus Christ.

The birth of our Saviour marked a major turning point in the lives of mankind as a whole and his teachings and ultimate sacrifice on our behalf set the scene as to how we should live out our lives and the astonishing hope of eternal life when we ultimately pass on. We all have an equal opportunity for God’s blessing and grace and it is never too later to take time and find out just how much our lives can be improved and the lives of all those around us too. Why not drop in and see us at any of our services in Henley and Ullenhall churches (details on website henleyullenhall.church) or simply Google ‘Jesus Christ’ to find out more.

Have a lovely Christmas but make the most of Advent too!

Malcolm Aldridge

Reader

November 2023