A very warm welcome to all
Refrain for Psalm 148: “Praise, O praise the name of the Lord.”
First Sunday after Christmas
Readings: 1 Samuel 2: 18-20, 26; Colossians 3: 12-17
Gospel: Luke 2: 41-52
In our Gospel today
On Wednesday we marked the birth of Jesus, the Messiah and our Saviour and today’s Gospel, we meet him aged 12 years old. In today’s Gospel, Jesus and his family have been to the temple and Jesus has stayed behind. Despite being told by angels, visiting Shepherds, Kings and family friends that Jesus will be the saviour and Messiah the revelations come as a surprise, even a shock to his parents in this reading from Luke. We see in this account of this part of Jesus’ life that Jesus has divine wisdom way beyond that of his peers and elders. So, in this reading we see both the divine and human parts of Jesus – fully human and fully God – truly God with Us, Emmanuel, even before his earthly ministry as an adult begins.
There are clear parallels between our reading from Samuel and the Gospel – two boys in the temple, fulfilling their mission and continuing to grow in faith. Our Psalm is full of praise for the awesomeness of God, whilst in Colossians we are reminded that ‘the word of Christ now dwells within us’.
Advent to Candlemas Course
If you are looking for spiritual focus during Advent, Christmas and Epiphany you might like to try the Diocesan ‘Advent to Candlemas’ course that has been prepared by our friend Revd Canon Dr Jenny Holden the Diocesan Advisor for Christian Life. There is a little something to stimulate thought and prayer each day. The link to this from the Diocesan website is below. I warmly commend this to you. Revd Roger Dyer (Assistant Priest).
https://aoepiscopal.scot/diocesan-advent-to-candlemas-course-2025/
Christmas Services
Please note the following date for your diaries:
- Crossover Service: 11:15pm Tuesday 31st December, St James
Christmas Selection Box Collection
A very big thank you to all who donated Christmas Selection Boxes. These were donated to Barnardo’s this week and were very much appreciated.
Tin Christmas Tree
This year we are hoping to build a Tin Christmas Tree from donated tins of soup and other food stuffs. Our building efforts will go on throughout December (1st to 31st). Please note we’re looking for standard tins, like a Heinz tomato soup tin – not little ones or oddly shaped ones, for the integrity of construction! Please think about donating any form of tinned food and have fun building a Tin Christmas Tree. The tins will be distributed to local charities or foodbanks. Thank you in advance for your donations!
Church Calendar 2025
Still looking for a Hogmanay gift? Our 2025 Calendar could be the perfect new year present. Calendars are £10 each. All donations go to church funds.
East Garden Project
Good news! We have received formal approvals for Planning Permission and Listed Building Consent for the formation of the new East Garden Project at St Mary’s. We can now concentrate on funding applications in the new year.
Services and events commencing this Sunday and for the coming week
Sunday 29th December No 8am Service
Sunday 29th December 10am Sung Eucharist (1982 Liturgy): Revd Canon Dr Jenny Holden
Wednesday 1st January No Service
Friday 3rd January 6pm Compline: Revd Roger Dyer
Sunday 5th January 8am Holy Communion (1970 Liturgy): Revd Ferdinand von Prondzynski Sunday 5th January 10am Sung Eucharist (1982 Liturgy): Revd Ferdinand von Prondzynski
Next Sunday’s readings: Isaiah 60: 1-6; Psalm 72: 1-7, 10-14; Ephesians 3: 1-12
Gospel: Matthew 2: 1-12
“God simply told us to think of Jesus as Immanuel, which means ‘God with us.’ How amazing that one of the main ways God wants us to think about the person of Jesus is as ‘a sharing, an embrace of life by Life, a total identification of God with the object of his love.”
(Holly Sprink)
For any pastoral matters please contact our Assistant Priest Revd Roger Dyer on 07719 458571 or revrogdyer@btinternet.com