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My friend of 48 years, Canon Jeremy Davies, has been refused permission to officiate in the Winchester Diocese because he is married to Simon McEnery. I’ve known Jeremy since we were at Westcott House together and his ministry has been admirable and exemplary in all sorts of ways. He was very gracious about the Church of England and the Bishop of Winchester on the Today Programme, but there’s no hiding the fact that he’s been treated despicably. If Bishop Tim Dakin thinks he’s promoting the Christian message, he needs to understand that this comes across as negative evangelism and one of the reasons people say the Church is out of touch. Add this to the perception that church services are boring, to be a Christian you are expected to believe impossible things, and that Christians are often intolerant and morally hypocritical, and you see why churches are emptying.
A salvaged rubber dinghy which brought 62 refugees to Greek shores will be suspended above the central nave of St James's Church, Piccadilly, by conflict artist Arabella Dorman. Floating alongside the boat will be two adult sized lifejackets and a baby lifejacket, reminding Christmas churchgoers of the flight of the Holy Family to Egypt, who were themselves refugees from the Middle East seeking safety.
At first I thought this potentially a self-indulgent, conscience-salving gesture, unless it led to very concrete action to help the refugees. But on reflection I see it as an imaginative, innovative message that challenges the indulgence and over-easily proclaimed message of peace and goodwill to all people. SMV could learn a lesson here.
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| | | Services in December
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Tuesdays & Thursdays
12.15 pm Lunchtime Eucharist
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Sunday 20th December 2015
Third Sunday of Advent
10.30am- Sung Eucharist, Advent IV
6.00pm- Christmas Carol Service with the University Church Choir
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Thursday 24th December 2015
Christmas Eve
4.30pm- Children’s Christmas Service
11.30pm – Midnight Mass with Carols
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Friday 25th December 2015
Christmas Day
10.30am- Christmas Day Eucharist
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Sunday 27th December 2015
Christmas I/ St John
10.30am- Sung Eucharist
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Sunday 3rd January 2015
Epiphany
10.30am- Sung Eucharist
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| | | | Forthcoming Concerts
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Saturday 19th December 7.30pm Instruments of Time & Truth - Handel's Messiah
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| | | Poetry corner — Image: Eric Gill - Madonna and Child with Angel: Madonna knitting
A Hymn to the Virgin
Of one who is so fair and bright
Brighter than the day is light,
I cry to thee, thou see to me,
Lady, pray thy Son for me,
That I may come to thee.
All this world was forlorn,
Till our Lord was yborn,
With ave it went away,
Darkest night, and comes the day.
The well springeth out of thee.
Lady, flower of everything,
Thou bare Jesu, heaven's king,
Of all thou bearest the prize,
Lady, queen of paradise.
- Anonymous (c. 1300)
This poem was, again, set by Benjamin Britten – this time in 1930, Britten aged 16, in a single day spent in the sick bay at his school. The text is an anonymous Middle English poem; it honours Mary in hagiographic terms. The central verse is particularly lovely, the image of light flooding out the darkness; and the poet’s gratitude to Mary is touching (‘the well springeth out of thee’). It is a beautiful text to consider on our approach to Christmas.
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— Bluthner Rosewood full grand Piano:- Available for indefinite Loan.
Current house not able to accommodate but would prefer not to have to sell so looking for this to go on indefinite loan (for free) to a good home!
Only stipulation is to keep it tuned and well looked after.
If interested please call Clare Scott-Dempster 07917 871670
clarescottyd@hotmail.com
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