St Mary's Church, Mudford

                                         December 2024

This month's message comes from Jo Dalton-Leggett

Dear Friends,

Christmas is coming and I guess many of us are expecting family and friends to pay us a

visit. I am not keen on housework but, a couple of hours before a guest is due to arrive,

you would likely find me rushing around with a duster in hand or vacuuming furiously.

When someone is coming, we like to get ready!

Sunday, 1st December is Advent Sunday, and advent means coming or arrival. The

season of Advent is when we look forward to and prepare for the coming of Jesus Christ.

We do not actually know the date of Jesus’ birth but, by long tradition, we celebrate it on

25th December. Jesus, the Son of God Almighty, who came into the world as a helpless

infant, was destined to be the Messiah, the Saviour of the World. However, during

Advent we not just getting ready for Christmas, when the focus is on the baby Jesus, we

are also looking forward to Jesus’ second coming, when he returns at the end of time, as

Christ the King. The beautiful East window in St Mary’s, Mudford, has at its centre a

wonderful depiction of the glory of Jesus, adorned in regal splendour. If you have never

seen it, it is well worth a visit.

This puts me in mind of another image of Christ in the very famous painting, ‘The Light

of the World’ by William Holman Hunt. It is a particular favourite of mine, as it was the

only illustration in a little prayer book I was given as a child, and I have always loved it!

You can see a poor reproduction inside this leaflet. It shows Jesus in another sort of

Advent, where he really is a visitor; he stands, holding a lantern and bathed in light,

knocking at a door, quite overgrown with weeds. It has clearly not been opened in a

long, long time. The caption is a quote from Revelation 3:20: "Behold, I stand at the door

and knock; if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will

sup with him, and he with Me". The door has no handle; it can only be opened from the

inside. The door represents the closed hearts and minds of those who will not let Jesus in.

The message is clear; each and every one of us can have a relationship with Christ who,

as both king and saviour, stands ready and willing to fill our dark world with light, but he

can only do so if we decide to open the door to him.

On a final note, we are looking forward to another advent in the New Year, when our

new Rector, Richard Horner, comes to join us. He will be moving into Marston Magna in

early January and there will be a special service to welcome him to the benefice on

Wednesday, 8th at 7.00 pm, in Mudford, as well as four services and a party on 12th

January. Look out for details...

In the meantime, I wish you all a peaceful and happy Christmas that is filled with joy,

laughter and light.

Jo