The bells of waiting Advent ring [‘Christmas’ by John Betjeman]: Advent is a season of waiting and preparation. As we light the Advent candle each Sunday or open the windows on our Advent calendars we measure the time till our Saviour comes. This year we have a new Advent Candle holder – donated in memory of Wilfrid Hill, verger [though he would spell it virger in the cathedral tradition] of this parish from 1969 – 1988. He would have approved, I think, it is both liturgical and practical.
For children, eager for Christmas the waiting is interminable, for adults, perhaps the calm before the storm. Jesus encouraged us to be as children and to see with the eyes of a child is to enjoy the here and now, the glitter, the mess, the excitement, the carols and not to see beyond to the dark days to come. In his poem Christmas is really for the Children [see page 16], Steve Turner looks ahead to the crucifixion, hidden within the Christmas gift and of course it is there but not yet, not yet. Now we are approaching the stable, it is midwinter and spring and all it brings is far ahead. Stay here awhile, draw near to the animals, rest in the sweet smelling hay, let the warmth of the stable enfold you and enjoy, with the children, the present, the presents, and the presence.
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We have lots to offer this month in the way of carols – a glance at the diary will reveal a welter of carol services as all the local schools come hither to celebrate – none of them will mind if you pop in to hear them. The Royal Free Cancer Research Trust along with Camden Choir, will be entertaining us with Community Carols on 9th and the London Oratory School Christmas Concert on 17th is always worth catching. Our own Service of Nine Lessons and Carols is the next day, the 18th, at 6.30pm [and spare a thought for Lee and some of his choir who are involved in both events that weekend – how do they do it?]
As in previous years the Sunday school children will be preparing for Christmas in their own way – read about it on page 13.
Designers are dreaming of a black and white Christmas and very sharp and clear the contrasts seem, frost and the darkest night, stars and deepest midnight. You may laugh at these ‘designer’ Christmases made to fit into our decor but in a way this one only emphasises the contrasts of that first Christmas. The poverty which compelled a couple to sleep in a stable, the affluence of the kings, the simplicity of the shepherds, the extravagant brightness of the angels, the final devastating outcome on a hill outside Jerusalem. Unconsciously perhaps, designers may have said more than they intended with their black and white Christmas.
No love that in a family dwells
No carolling in frosty air,
Not all the steeple-shaking bells
Can with this simple truth compare
That God was Man in Palestine
And lives today in Bread and Wine.
From Christmas by John Betjeman
If you really don’t want to think about Christmas we have a sermon Handley preached a few weeks ago and a response from one of the congregation, followed by an invitation from the Vicar to join the debate so you could spend Christmas reading up on the subject and composing an article for a future magazine!
Judy East
December
Judy East