Weekly Newsletter
Sunday Devember 9th we continue our journey into the Advent season. We expore and unpack the ancient Advenrt themes in our worship.
At All Saints Church in Fosdyke this Sunday we offer a Sung Parish Eucharist at 9:30am.
At SS Peter & Paul in Kirton, we have a Parish Eucharist sung at 11:00am followed by coffee.
At first glance, we may be tempted to skip the details of the “Who was Who” that introduces our Gospel today! We have heard of many of the people mentioned but can be left wondering why Luke thought it to be so important to list them… especially, as there are doubts about whether all the various “reigns” coincided quite as neatly as Luke suggests.
He is, in fact, setting a scene – laying before us an image of a country governed by the Roman Empire – by kings – and by high priests. These are the people with power – political – regal – and religious – these are the people whose names carried influence. These are the people who – for those of us who know the end of the story – will feature large in a major confrontation which will lead to the death of a man on a cross.
For today, though, it is not that confrontation we address – but the contrast between such people of power and a man wandering in the wilderness who hears the Word of God and begins to preach it. From other accounts of John the Baptist, we know that he did not have any of the earthly signs of power – but his words carry the power of history and prophecy. He senses that the day of the Lord is close at hand and sees a people lax in their religious practice – a people far from God. He does not go to the city – but speaks in the wilderness, the place where the people found themselves closest to God. This is the place where earthly power gives way to the power of nature – where humanity is forced to confront its frailty and dependence on God. John exhorts people to repentance – to change their ways and to turn back to God.
The challenge is being laid down – the confrontation between temporal authority (as symbolised by the people listed at the start of the Gospel) and spiritual power has begun. Those who, in earthly terms, had all the power were to be faced with something far greater. A way was being prepared for the one who was to come to fulfil God’s promise to deliver his people.
The prophecy of Isaiah echoed down the centuries – and Luke sees John as that voice crying in the wilderness preparing the way of the Lord – preparing people to receive their saving God.
December 9th – tonight in Algarkirk Village Hall we hold our annual St Nicholas Festival and Boy Bishop Ceremony at 5pm with Children’s crafts and activities. All are welcome.
December 16th Why not join is at All Saints Church in Fosdyke for a traditional Festival of Lessons and Carols at 6pm followed by light refreshments.
December 18th Kirton Village Carol Sing. Join the Churches for a Village Carol sing – meet at the Methodist Church for 6-30pm. Also on this day we welcome Thomas Middlecott Academy for their Christmas Carols Services at 2:15pm and at 6:30pm.
On Thursday 20th December we welcome Kirton Junior School for their Carol Service at 2:15pm.
December 21st at 7:00pm “The Longest Night” – a very simple but special time of worship and fellowship for all those people who find this festive time of the year stressful and difficult. Why not join us for a time of simple reflection and prayer and fellowship on the longest night of the year.
CHRISTMAS SERVICES 2018
Christmas Eve December 24th
A Special Family Crib Service at 4:00pm. The Christmas Story told in Chocolate!
The First Mass of Christmas Midnight.
Service begins at 11:30pm.
Christmas Day December 25th
Christmas Day Eucharist for all the family at 10:00am
Weekly Newsletter
Sunday Devember 9th we continue our journey into the Advent season. We expore and unpack the ancient Advenrt themes in our worship.
At All Saints Church in Fosdyke this Sunday we offer a Sung Parish Eucharist at 9:30am.
At SS Peter & Paul in Kirton, we have a Parish Eucharist sung at 11:00am followed by coffee.
At first glance, we may be tempted to skip the details of the “Who was Who” that introduces our Gospel today! We have heard of many of the people mentioned but can be left wondering why Luke thought it to be so important to list them… especially, as there are doubts about whether all the various “reigns” coincided quite as neatly as Luke suggests.
He is, in fact, setting a scene – laying before us an image of a country governed by the Roman Empire – by kings – and by high priests. These are the people with power – political – regal – and religious – these are the people whose names carried influence. These are the people who – for those of us who know the end of the story – will feature large in a major confrontation which will lead to the death of a man on a cross.
For today, though, it is not that confrontation we address – but the contrast between such people of power and a man wandering in the wilderness who hears the Word of God and begins to preach it. From other accounts of John the Baptist, we know that he did not have any of the earthly signs of power – but his words carry the power of history and prophecy. He senses that the day of the Lord is close at hand and sees a people lax in their religious practice – a people far from God. He does not go to the city – but speaks in the wilderness, the place where the people found themselves closest to God. This is the place where earthly power gives way to the power of nature – where humanity is forced to confront its frailty and dependence on God. John exhorts people to repentance – to change their ways and to turn back to God.
The challenge is being laid down – the confrontation between temporal authority (as symbolised by the people listed at the start of the Gospel) and spiritual power has begun. Those who, in earthly terms, had all the power were to be faced with something far greater. A way was being prepared for the one who was to come to fulfil God’s promise to deliver his people.
The prophecy of Isaiah echoed down the centuries – and Luke sees John as that voice crying in the wilderness preparing the way of the Lord – preparing people to receive their saving God.
December 9th – tonight in Algarkirk Village Hall we hold our annual St Nicholas Festival and Boy Bishop Ceremony at 5pm with Children’s crafts and activities. All are welcome.
December 16th Why not join is at All Saints Church in Fosdyke for a traditional Festival of Lessons and Carols at 6pm followed by light refreshments.
December 18th Kirton Village Carol Sing. Join the Churches for a Village Carol sing – meet at the Methodist Church for 6-30pm. Also on this day we welcome Thomas Middlecott Academy for their Christmas Carols Services at 2:15pm and at 6:30pm.
On Thursday 20th December we welcome Kirton Junior School for their Carol Service at 2:15pm.
December 21st at 7:00pm “The Longest Night” – a very simple but special time of worship and fellowship for all those people who find this festive time of the year stressful and difficult. Why not join us for a time of simple reflection and prayer and fellowship on the longest night of the year.
CHRISTMAS SERVICES 2018
Christmas Eve December 24th
A Special Family Crib Service at 4:00pm. The Christmas Story told in Chocolate!
The First Mass of Christmas Midnight.
Service begins at 11:30pm.
Christmas Day December 25th
Christmas Day Eucharist for all the family at 10:00am
Posted on: Tuesday, the 4th of December, 2018