St Mary's Church, Mudford
December 2023
This month’s message comes from our dear friend and Lay-Reader, Richard Gardner
Dear Friends,
Once again we are looking forward to Christmas and the prospect for some of us for family get togethers and an opportunity for relaxation. It is a time in the Christian calendar when we celebrate the birth of Jesus and a season of peace, hope and joy.
The coming of Jesus, the Prince of Peace, has never been more welcome as, at the time of writing, we face up to wars raging in Ukraine and Israel and Palestine and sadly other parts of the world. Peace will be in all our hearts as we remember the coming of the Christ child on Christmas day.
Hope for the future is something we all need and which Jesus brings us with the amazing prospect of life everlasting. Following Penny’s message last month, we have been given the timetable for the appointment of a new vicar for the Benefice in May/June next year. Your prayers would be appreciated that a suitable candidate will emerge.
There are a number of events this month in which we can find joy together. If you like carol singing there there will be carols on Marston village green around the Christmas tree on Friday 15th and a carol service in Rimpton church on Sunday 17th December. Christingle services, in which the children will be presented with a Christingle with a lighted candle on top, will be held on Sunday 10th at Rimpton church and Sunday 24th December at Mudford church, as we remember the work of the Children’s Society. The Crib service at Marston and Mudford’s combined Christingle and Crib Service on Christmas Eve are both a wonderful way to prepare for Christmas Day as we recall the true meaning of Christmas. Please consult the calendar in the magazines or on our website, to find the precise times and details.
However you are going to spend your Christmas, I would like to wish you a peaceful, joyous and hopeful Christmas when it comes!
Richard