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The Story is still the same! From the Vicar Christmas can’t come too early Hope amid uncertainty Journeys or lockdown this Christmas? What Mary taught me Reflected Faith Series: Grace for all Christmas: Celebrating the Incarnation ** Editor: by Canon Paul Hardingham. The Story is still the same! ‘Christmas may look different, but the story...

It is the Moravians whom we have to thank for bringing us the Christingle.  Especially one Moravian clergyman: John de Watteville. On 20th December, 1747, John de Watteville was taking a children’s service in his Moravian church in Marienborn, Germany.   He led the children in some hymns, and read out verses which the children themselves...

For nearly four weeks leading up to Christmas Christians recognise a period called Advent.  It means ‘coming’.  It is a time of spiritual preparation.  ‘Coming’ refers to Jesus’ first coming as a baby, but it also looks forward to a day when Jesus is expected to return in triumph at his ‘second coming’ to establish...

The word ‘Christingle’ actually means ‘Christ Light’, and celebrates the light of Jesus coming into the world.   Stories of how the Christingle began look back to the Moravian Church, which is found in the Czech Republic.  The Moravians have held Christingle services for more than 200 years, and according to them, this is how the...

‘Christmas may look different, but the story is still the same!’ That’s the message for Christmas in 2020. Coronavirus will make our celebrations this year look very different from usual. However, the message of the baby born in Bethlehem is still relevant! In one nativity play, the highlight was to illuminate Jesus, with a light...

                Editor:  This month we have included a number of books for children, to help them understand the real meaning of Christmas. ** Comfort and Joy – Nine Lessons and Carols for Christmas By John Kiddie, CHP (80p single copy; pack of 10, £7; pack of 50, £30)...

The Bible does not give a date for the birth of Jesus. In the third century it was suggested that Jesus was conceived at the Spring equinox, 25th March, popularising the belief that He was born nine months later on 25th December.  John Chrysostom, the Archbishop of Constantinople, encouraged Christians worldwide to make Christmas a holy...

Luke’s story of the birth of Jesus is brilliantly told – the angel’s visit to Mary to tell her she would be mother of the long-promised Messiah, the old priest in the Temple told by another angel that his wife would have a son to be called ‘John’, who would prepare the people of Israel...

‘Christmas may look different, but the story is still the same!’ Coronavirus will make our celebrations this year look very different from usual. However, the message of the baby born in Bethlehem is still relevant! In one nativity play, the highlight was to illuminate Jesus, with a light in the manger, when all the other...

Ever wonder why Jesus was born when He was?  The Bible tells us that “when the time had fully come, God sent forth His Son…” The Jewish people had been waiting for their Messiah for centuries.  Why did God send Him precisely when He did? Many biblical scholars believe that the ‘time had fully come’...

The hour was first chosen at Rome in the fifth century to symbolise the idea that Christ was born at midnight – a mystical idea in no way hindered by historical evidence!  No one knows the hour of His birth. Certainly in recent times, Holy Communion at midnight on Christmas morning has proved popular with...

All in the month of December BEETHOVEN: ‘from the heart to the heart’ The Arab Spring of 2010 John Lennon – 40 years since his death Remembering Bonnie Prince Charlie Mistletoe ** Editor:  We continue our column that looks at memorable dates in the month (this time, DECEMBER) down the years. Here is a range...