“Rector’s letter December 2011

Christmas: a new member of the family

“You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus…” (Luke 1:31)

Christmas is a time of wonder and awe at a deep level, and rightly so. For we celebrate the coming of God himself into the world in the person of Jesus Christ. The true meaning of Christmas goes far beyond Christmas trees, turkey, and tinsel. The incarnation (as we call Christ’s birth) was the start of a new human race. Jesus, through Joseph, was born into the tribe of Judah in the line of David which made him a potential candidate for the kingship of Israel. This is a fact the Bible often reminds us of, but nothing is mentioned of his offspring. He didn’t have children, despite the spurious claims of novels like Dan Brown’s Da Vinci Code! So even if we wanted to, we could never trace our family tree back to Jesus…by birth. But by faith, we’re told, we can become members of God’s family, members of the same spiritual family as Jesus. Now that is something to think about. In the famous hymn Praise to the Holiest in the height, Newman wrote these words; O loving wisdom of our God! When all was sin and shame, a second Adam to the fight and to the rescue came. Jesus, the Second Adam, came to rescue us from the first Adam’s sin. That’s why Mary calls her baby ‘Jesus’ because the name Jesus means ‘Saviour’. And regardless of background or past life the promise of salvation is for all people everywhere. So may this Christmas be a time of great joyfulness and new beginnings for each and every one of us.

Christmas Services We would love to see you at some (or all!) of the services and events coming up over the Christmas period:

6th Dec Eaton Carol Concert 7.30pm Eaton Chapel (7.30pm) tickets from Peter Williams

15th Dec ‘Christmas drinks’ Social 7pm onwards Black Dog

18th Dec Traditional Carols 6.30pm St Peter’s

19th Dec Carol Singing 6.30pm Meet at 2 Common Lane

24th Dec Crib Service 4pm St Peter’s

24th Dec Midnight Holy Communion 11.30pm St Peter’s

25th Dec Holy Communion 10.15am St Peter’s

Into the New Year, a Safari Supper is being organised! What is a Safari Supper? It is a ‘moveable feast’ (literally!) where people (in groups of 2) travel to different homes for 3 different courses. It is a great way of getting to know other people in church, and always goes down very well. I hope you will join us whether travelling, hosting or a bit of both! Contact Gilly on 332224 (or 07523 116043) or Julia on 336668.

HAPPY CHRISTMAS!!

Jules Beauchamp (Rector)