Stewards Scribblings - December
The crossover period from one year to the next is always a time for reflection on what we have singularly failed to do in the past and optimism for all we might achieve in the future.
December reminds us that another twelve months have elapsed in the life of Christchurch and the onset of January gives us the opportunity to think about new beginnings in our personal and church life.
Overall I believe we are a traditional congregation at Christchurch and it is right and proper that we hold onto the best of the past in our worship and church activities. At the same time life does move on and we must remember an old Chinese proverb “The only constant thing in life is change”.
As a congregation we have shown our willingness to embrace new technology, using PowerPoint and the electronic Hymnal in our services. We are also open to experiencing different types of worship and communion when they are interspersed among our more conventional Methodist services. It is a difficult balancing act for Ministers and Stewards to manage conventional worship that appeals to our established members with newer forms of praise and prayer which are more appealing to the next generation.
There is a good and varied selection of Christmas services during December, as well as the Christchurch Singers concert. Thanks to everyone who participates in any way with the preparation and decoration of the church and assists in so many ways with the services themselves. I must make a special mention of Bill Cole who supplies our tree in the church each year and thank the team of members who put on the lights and decorations.
Christmas at Christchurch is always a very special time!
An exciting new initiative this year is the huge number of knitted angels that are to be placed around Bexhill in December, wishing the recipients a Happy Christmas from Christchurch. Many thanks to all the natty knitters who have been hard at work producing the angels and they will be blessed by Rev Cynthia Park at our Advent Service on 1 December.
Finally, just a reminder about the joint Christmas Day service being held this year at Sackville Road Church, please come if you can. If the weather is favourable then you could follow it with a bracing walk along the seafront to build up your appetite for lunch.
Have an enjoyable Christmas everyone, but pray for the recent flood victims and remember all the sad, lonely and homeless people at this time. God bless them.
Peter
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