Weekly letter from St Luke's - 22 December 2023

Dear Parish Friends

It seems like waiting for buses. Nothing comes for ages, then two with the same route number turn up together. Our readings on Sundays through Advent have seemed to be pointing us more towards the ultimate promises of God than towards the coming celebration of the Christmas narrative. But then this Sunday, we get a double! The morning is the fourth Sunday of Advent, with the focus on Mary, the message she received from the angel, and her response (in the lovely, but challenging words of the Magnificat). Then in the evening it is Christmas Eve and we hear again the message of the angels proclaiming the incarnation of our Saviour. Perhaps we did need to wait through Advent, as it is only in the context of the wider mission of God that the incarnation makes sense.

There will just be one service in the morning for the 4th Sunday of Advent at 9am (with Zoom streaming). The notice paper and service sheet are available via the links below.

Then in the evening Sunday becomes Christmas Eve, and there will be a family service (with communion) at 5pm, and a service of Holy Communion with candles at 11pm (come from 10.30pm to sing carols). On Christmas morning (Monday) there will be a family communion service (with Zoom streaming) at 9am.

We are still short of help with the Christmas services, specifically one more reader is needed for the 5pm Christmas Eve service, and PowerPoint operators for bit the 5pm and 11pm Christmas Eve services.

Yours in Christ

Rev'd Timothy