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Events, Talks, News Sheets and more
Events, Talks, News Sheets and more
Live from St Mary’s Church on Sunday 12 December, 4pm. And then available to stream.
Sunday Service, live from St Mary’s Church, starting at 10.30am (and available to stream afterwards).
You can join in with the words which will show live during the service.
The last two years have exacerbated our sense of being uprooted. The latest “Pause for Advent” traces the roots of this human condition and how Jesus came to meet us in our ‘homelessness’.
As these Pauses for Advent trace the whole Christmas story you might want to watch them in the right order.
We shouldn’t be taken aback that Christ is being airbrished out of Christmas, says James Mildred. But the future of Christianity is God’s business. Ours is to share the good news and show the love of Jesus.
Here is a short excerpt from the article. Read the full article here…
A few years ago, a survey showed that less than one per cent of Christmas cards had religious themes. While stores displayed hundreds of different options, only a handful featured the traditional Christian nativity. Morrisons was the worst offender. Second worst was Tesco.
This year, Marks and Spencer have caused anger with their Percy Pig-themed charity Christmas cards and money wallets, which replaced the world ‘Christmas’ with ‘Pigmas’. Author Laura Jansson took to Twitter to complain, asking whether M&S would replace the name of another religion’s prophet with ‘pig’ for a laugh.
If you were to ask me whether I think Christmas is being airbrushed of any actual Christian content, I’d say yes! But why should we be surprised by that? It’s simply a reflection of where we are as a society. We’re now swimming in very dark waters. God’s word tells us that when a society gives up on God, as an act of judgement, God gives it over “to do what should not be done” (Romans 1:28).
Thankfully, the future of Christianity does not rest on inaccurate portrayals of ‘traditional’ nativity scenes on Christmas cards that are often more the product of human imagination than fact. The future of Christianity is, ultimately, God’s business. It is far better that we get on with proclaiming the good news, being salt and light and demonstrating the love of Christ in a whole variety of ways – and do so with profound thankfulness that for all the pressures, we are still remarkably free to preach Christ.
These reflections will be posted a couple of times per week – an opportunity to slow down for 5-7 minutes.
You can find all previous videos by clicking here…
Our first advent reflection – with an unplanned interruption!
This Advent, let’s pause for Advent a couple of times a week.
Based on Jo Swinney’s book “The Whole Christmas Story”.
Subscribe to our YouTube channel and allow notifications to get a message when a new Pause for Advent is ready.
Sunday Service, live from St Mary’s Church, starting at 10.30am (and available to stream afterwards).
Please download the service sheet in advance (attached below), which contains all the words for the service.
Sunday Service, live from St Mary’s Church, starting at 10.30am (and available to stream afterwards).
Please download the service sheet in advance (attached below), which contains all the words for the service.
Our bumper Christmas edition (Dec-Feb) is out. Please download the free digital edition by clicking on the cover image on the left or the link at the bottom and spread the word!
This issue includes…
… The programme of Carol and Christmas services in Denham
… Christmas with Sir Stephen and Lady Barrett
… Reflections on Lament & Laughter
… The Bells of St Mary’s
… A Christmas Treasure Hunt for children
… A reflection by our Rector on a stained glass window at St Mary’s
… and much more!
Download the PDF version here for free…
Would you like to receive a paper copy of this magazine or subscribe to it? Email our editor by clicking here…
If you’d like to explore the Christian faith, we’d love to be part of your journey of faith. There are also some helpful websites as a starting point:
St Mary’s Church Office
Village Road
Denham UB9 5BH
Tel: 01895 832771
Monday 10.00am – 12.30pm
Tuesday 10.00am – 12.30pm
Wednesday 10.00am – 12.30pm
Thursday 12.30pm – 3.00pm
Friday 10.00am – 12.30pm