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CHURCH NEWS
Weekly Prayer Roster
Each week during the year the Churches in their prayers, the residents of particular streets in the village, those
who work in the parish and village organizations. Those to be remembered this month are:
7th December
Manor Gardens, Manor Close, Glebe Lane, The Grove
14th December
Park Road, Falcon Way; The Marinas, and those who live and work there
21st December
Field Close, Lincoln Close, Silver Street, Beaufort Drive, St Hugh’s Road
28th December
School Lane, Buckden Primary School (pupils, teachers and teaching assistants,
governors, volunteers, midday supervisors, lollipop lady, all support staff)
STUDY LUNCHES
The final Study Lunch of the year will be on Monday 8th December
12.30 to 2.00 pm in the Methodist School Room
Everyone welcome.
Contact:
Ann Brittain
on
812012
Thought for the month
Dear All
In the middle of some of the darkest days of winter we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, the Light of the World.
No-one knows for certain the exact time of year Jesus was born, and it maybe that we celebrate Christmas in late
December partly to fit in with a pre-Christian winter festival. But whatever the reason, the timing of Christmas fits
the message of Christmas, and as we light our first Advent candle, or think of putting lights on our Christmas tree
or outside our houses we can still say with St John - 'The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not
overcome it'.
The message of Christmas is that God is with us still in and through Jesus, the child born in Bethlehem, the
preacher and healer in the towns and villages of Galilee, the man hanging in pain upon the cross, God who was
with us then in a very visible and human way. And he is indeed still with us, through the Holy Spirit, sharing our
joys and pains, ready to hear our prayers, ready now to bring light wherever there is darkness.
Hardly anyone knew Jesus when he was born, Mary and Joseph of course, but then only some startled shep-
herds, three foreign dignitaries and star gazers, and maybe a few of the folk at the inn who had crowded into
Bethlehem that night for the Roman census. The birth of Jesus was not a big public event, there were no celebra-
tions. Today God still works quietly and without fuss in ordinary people like you and me, he works to bring that
'Light that shines in the darkness', hope in place of despair, love instead of indifference.
I hope your Christmas is packed with fun for everyone. But please make sure that in all the excitement of this spe-
cial time you do not lose sight of Jesus, the child in the manger, for his presence, and his light, can make all the
difference in our lives.
Have a happy Christmas and may God bless you all.
Miles Falla
Honorary Minister. St Mary's Church, Buckden