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Parish Magazine St. James’ 30p December 2007 Christleton www.christleton.org.uk Rector’s Letter - Countdown to Christmas - Christleton Pit Project People in the News - A Day with a Difference - Nature Notes Cathedral News - Our Page - Holy Days in December - Parish Registers Coundown to Christmas Sun 2 Advent Sunday 8.00 am Holy Communion (Order 2) 10.45 am Sunday School (Parish Hall) 10.45 am Parish Communion (Order 1) 6.30 pm Evensong with offertory of CMS Boxes followed by refreshments Prayer Link Road: Toll Bar Road Neighbourhood Link: Valmai Griffiths Mon 3 10.45 am Holy Communion at Tarvin Court Nursing Home 11.20 am Holy Communion at Oaklands Nursing Home 6.30 pm First meeting for Junior Confirmation candidates - Lady Chapel Wed 5 10.45 am United Communion - followed by refreshments Thur 6 7.45 pm Night Prayers and Advent Meditation Fri 7 NB: Last date for contribution to January Parish Magazine to The Rector (335663). Earlier if possible please. You can attach your Word. Document and e-mail to: [email protected] 6.30 pm Choir Practice Sun 9 The Second Sunday in Advent 8.00 am Holy Communion (Order 1) 10.45am Family ‘Toy Service’ - followed by refreshments You are invited to bring wrapped Christmas gifts of toys (labelled with the appropriate age and sex) to be given to less fortunate children in theChester area. 6.30 pm Evensong Prayer Link Road: Village Road Neighbourhood Link: Jean Cresswell Mon 10 2.00 pm Advent Meditation 7.00 pm High School Carol Service - St James Tues 11 9.00 am Church Walking Group and Christmas Lunch. Contact David Cummings (332410) Wed 12 10.45 am Holy Communion - followed by refreshments 11.30 am Holy Communion at Birch Heath Lodge Nursing Home Thur 13 7.30 pm Night Prayers and Advent Meditation Fri 14 6.30 pm Choir Practice page St. James’ Christleton Parish Magazine Sun 16 The Third Sunday in Advent 8.00 am Holy Communion (Order 1) 10.45 am Sunday School (Parish Hall) 10.45 am Parish Communion (Order 1) 12 noon Holy Baptism 6.30 pm Evensong Prayer Link: Whitchurch Road, Roadside, White Lane Neighbourhood Link: Janet Milton, Neville Meredith, Norman Goodwin Mon 17 6.30 pm Confirmation Group - Lady Chapel Tues 18 Bellringers Dinner Wed 19 10.45 am Holy Communion - followed by refreshments Thur 20 7.45 pm Night Prayers and Meditation Fri 21 6.30 pm Choir Practice Sun 23 The Fourth Sunday in Advent 8.00 am Holy Communion (Order 1) 10.45 am Matins - followed by refreshments 6.30 pm FESTIVAL OF CAROLS AND CEREMONY OF LIGHT Prayer Link Road: Woodfields Neighbourhood Link: Joyce Rydings Mon 24 CHRISTMAS EVE 7.00 pm Carols round the Tree 11.30 pm Midnight Communion (Order 1) Tues 25 CHRISTMAS DAY 8.00 am Holy Communion (Order 2) 10.45 am Christmas Family Service 11.45 am Holy Communion (Order 1) Tues 26 10.45 am Holy Communion for ST STEPHEN Wed 27 9.00 am Holy Communion for ST JOHN Sun 30 The First Sunday of Christmas 8.00 am Holy Communion (Order 1) 10.45 am Matins 6.30 pm Evening Communion (Order 1) Prayer Link: Those worshipping at St James from outside the Parish Neighbourhood Link: Janet Milton December page THE RECTOR’S LETTER Dear Friends Crossing the Border This summer Fiona and I enjoyed a walking holiday in Slovenia. It is a beautiful country, and we had some wonderful walks. It is predominantly forested so you usually have a long climb up through trees to reach the higher slopes. The holiday included four guided walks and it made so much difference to have someone show us the way, and help us to understand and appreciate the country. On one walk we were high up on a ridge with spectacular views either side. As we looked across our guide told us to take a step forward, which we did. “Now you are in Austria” he said, “You have crossed the border.” No fence: no customs: no passport control – just a single stone marker, which he pointed out to us. On another walk, on another ridge, we did the same thing, but this time we crossed the border from Slovenia to Italy. It is as though Christmas is Jesus crossing the border from heaven to earth. As the shepherds kept watch over their flocks by night, high up in the hills, all of a sudden they were surrounded by the glory of God as the heavens opened and the angels sang: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace, goodwill to all people.” It was as though somehow the shepherds had crossed the border and they could see the hinterland of heaven. So it was that Jesus ‘came down to earth from heaven’. Jesus came to bring God to the heart of our life. He also came to be our guide and to show us how close the border is. This is no geographical border, but the border between the physical and spiritual; between God and humanity; between heaven and earth. It is to be found right at the heart of our life, close to hand. Throughout his life Jesus ‘crossed over’ to the other side. He crossed over to give comfort to the widow at Nain; he crossed over to give confidence to Matthew and Zacchaeus; he crossed over to Mary to give acceptance and he told a story about a Samaritan who crossed over to give healing and rescue. So, because he has crossed over from heaven to earth Jesus can be our guide to help us climb above the tree line; to see the wider view; to help us keep to the right paths and explain things along the way. Often, as we walked in Slovenia, we would come across wayside shrines to Partisans, who had been killed in the war. It helped me to see a different perspective on history – to see what life was like from another point of view. Part of the message of Christmas is that we, like Jesus, should try to cross page St. James’ Christleton Parish Magazine over; to see our neighbour as a person like ourself. Unless we can ‘cross over’ to meet our neighbour, and see how close we are, we cannot expect to find the border between heaven and earth, for that is a place of no barriers or borders. Jesus told us to find him in our neighbour in need, and as a person like ourself. Perhaps we can use Advent as a time to climb up through the trees to get a wider view. It is so easy to be surrounded by so many preoccupations that we cannot see beyond them. At the same time they ‘crowd in‘ on us, and threaten to overwhelm us. Advent is a time to hear God’s voice through the message of the Prophets and John the Baptist, guiding us and showing us the way. Then, perhaps, we can rise above the tree line and come to a wider view, and as we come to Christmas we may find ourselves on the border, and know that God is very close, at the heart of our life. And, like the shepherds, we may see heaven opened, the glory of God revealed and hear the message of the angels: “a Saviour has been born to you, he is Christ the Lord.” A very happy Christmas to you all. Yours sincerely Prayer of the Month: O holy child of Bethlehem, descend to us, we pray; cast out our sin, and enter in: be born in us today. We hear the Christmas angels – the great glad tidings tell: O come to us, abide with us, our Lord Emmanuel. ur thanks to Phil Hodges for his pen and ink drawing for this years Christmas card and illustrationO on the front of this magazine. It is based on a 14th Century misericord in Chester Cathedral December page People in the News Alf Croston’s ” Oscar”. Alf’s service to the Flour Milling Industry has been recognised with a Judith Butt. Lifetime Achievement Award. Congratulations to Judith for His “Oscar” was presented to him her part in an excellent display recently at the 75th Anniversary of contemporary textiles” SEW Reunion Dinner of the Young EXCITING” Millers’ Section held at BAFTA Headquarters in Piccadilly London. Congratulations from all his friends in the Parish. page St. James’ Christleton Parish Magazine Commemorative Tree in memory Anna was confirmed there 7 years of Chizuru Uchida ago. Anna is now training as a doctor A planting ceremony was held in the at University of Birmingham and new village meadow on November Lara will be commencing a BTEC in 9th to commemorate the life of Art & Design in September 2008 in Chizuru Uchida a former pupil of Bournville, near to where we will be both Christleton Primary and High living. Schools who died shortly before graduating for an Honours degree I am sure that the Rector will notify in Ancient History at Birmingham you in due course of my successor(s) University. A Japanese cherry tree as Magazine Distributor and Electoral which will flower with a double Roll Officer, from which I have white blossom in springtime was now retired. I have enjoyed being a planted by friends from the village part of the Church and surrounding to commemorate her life. Chizuru community and wish every success was a delightful student who gave so to all future ventures. much to those around her. She was a talented singer, and was due later Please accept my best wishes for a that year to further her studies by Happy and Peaceful Christmas and a taking a degree course studying the Prosperous New Year.