Posts from December 2021

As a youngster I always used to feel a sense of excitement and anticipation as the last few days before Christmas arrived. Even though I soon discovered that Christmas is only one day, and it’s soon over, the celebrations and traditions associated with Christmas are always planned, prepared for, and looked forward to. For me, growing up in England, it was always all about Christmas puddings and mince pies, and turkey stuffings…and going carol singing around the village with torches…

(Pastor Peter 16 Dec)Do you ever have the experience of constantly “tripping over’ the same thing again and again? I’ve had that experience this Advent season, where – in random contexts – I have found myself coming across the old Advent Hymn, Come thou long expected Jesus. It’s not a hymn that I can recall singing much in the past – but it seems to have become my song for the season. I’ve discovered that it was written in 1744…

 “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!”I realised this week that I was in danger of letting the Advent season pass me by! This year is not like our normal Advent, is it? There are no weekly gatherings of the whole church in the school hall, with the lighting of Advent candles with a liturgy of prayers and readings, with the band leading us in…