St. Michael’s Vicarage
Alnwick
Dear People of Alnwick,
I am writing this letter the day after our very successful Winter Market which was, once again, held in our own Parish Hall. And what a splendid occasion it was!
So many people worked happily and willingly together; not only on the day itself but for weeks and months beforehand producing crafts and jams, wrapping up ‘mystery parcels’ and sorting through books and jigsaws as well as persuading family and friends to buy raffle tickets as we prepared for the ‘Great Day’. Lots of people came to hear the children from our own Church School open the occasion with their lovely singing as well as snapping up some bargains for Christmas and enjoying each other’s company.
New curtains in the Parish Hall
Many folk commented on how lovely our Parish Hall is now looking following a protracted period of improvements which have just culminated in beautiful new curtains in the main hall. Together with all the work recently finished in the kitchen, the entrance hall and the ladies’ toilets, we only have to attend to the small hall and all will be finished. Then we can say, after much planning and hard work: “Come, for all is ready!”
As we enter December and all the busy-ness leading up to Christmas, we really do need to have the same approach to our hearts and minds. Advent is the perfect time to ‘refurbish’ – just like we’ve done in the Parish Hall. A time to get in to the dusty corners of our souls, to, metaphorically, apply a coat of new paint and do everything else necessary – from a spiritual point of view – to be able to say, when Christmas arrives: “Come, for all is ready!”
On Tuesday afternoons and Thursday evenings in Advent Gerard will be leading four sessions in church entitled: “Prophets and Prayer”. You might like to consider coming along. Treat it as your own personal ‘refurbishing’. Take time, once a week, to spend some quality time with God as your main focus. Imagine your own soul newly prepared for the coming of the Christ-child at Christmas. Even imagine people commenting on how you have been transformed – for they will be able to tell by your actions, your demeanour, your outlook on life – once the cobwebs have been cleared away.
In a hymn, rarely sung these days, can be found these words:
Happy all who hear the message of Christ’s coming from above;
happier still who hail his coming and with praises greet his love.
Blessed Saviour, Christ most holy, in a manger thou didst rest;
canst thou stoop again, yet lower, and abide within my breast?Evil things there are before thee; in the heart where they have fed,
wilt thou pitifully enter, Son of Man, and lay thy head?
Enter, then, O Christ most holy; make a Christmas in my heart;
make a heaven of my manger: it is heaven where thou art.And to those who never listened to the message of thy birth,
who have winter, but no Christmas bringing them thy peace on earth.
Send to these the joyful tidings; by all people in each home,
be there heard the Christmas anthem: ‘Praise to God, the Christ hath come!’
With every blessing, as you ‘refurbish’ this Advent,
Paul.
