Churches December 2024

PCC Meeting

The next meeting of the PCC is on 22nd January 2025.

St Helen's Contact Details

During the Interregnum the Area Dean will be responsible for the Parish.

Rev. Chris Groocock  01670 813358      www.achurchnearyou.com

Thought for the Month - A Christmas Message for Everyone

As the year winds down and winter deepens, Christmas arrives, bringing with it a sense of wonder and reflection. Whether you approach this season as a person of faith or someone who values its cultural and communal aspects, Christmas offers us all an opportunity to pause, connect, and rediscover what matters most. 

Yet even for those who don’t hold to this religious perspective, the essence of Christmas resonates. It’s a time that draws us together, reminding us of our shared humanity. The traditions we’ve built around this holiday - sharing meals, exchanging gifts, decorating trees, and gathering with loved ones - are rooted in a desire for connection, generosity, and belonging. 

Christmas invites us to reflect on light shining in the darkness. The Christmas story unfolded amid a troubled world, some things don’t change, yet it offered and does offer a vision of hope and renewal. The simple acts of kindness and goodwill that often emerge at Christmas - donations to charities, cards sent, meals prepared for the homeless - demonstrate how light can pierce the darkness. It is a time to celebrate what unites us, and to remember that even small gestures can create ripples of change.

For our village community, Christmas is also about togetherness. In bustling cities, it’s easy to feel anonymous, but in a village like ours, Christmas serves as a reminder of the strength of close-knit ties. Whether it’s singing carols, attending school nativities, decorating our homes, or simply greeting neighbours. It is in these small, everyday interactions that the true spirit of Christmas comes alive.

For some, however, Christmas can also be a difficult time - a reminder of loss, loneliness, or struggle. It’s worth remembering that the original Christmas story is one of vulnerability and humility, where Mary and Joseph, far from home, found shelter among strangers. This narrative reminds us of the importance of reaching out to those who may feel on the margins. A kind word, an invitation, or even just a smile can mean so much to someone feeling alone.

So, as we celebrate Christmas, may its message of hope and light guide us. May this Christmas bring peace to our hearts, warmth to our homes, and a renewed sense of connection with those around us. And as the new year approaches, let us carry the best of this season forward living with compassion, sharing joy, and seeking to make our community, and the world, a better place.

Diane Armstrong, St Helen’s

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Other Sunday services by arrangement, information thereof being available from our Contact below.

For our other group meetings, please see the Group Activities sections.

Visitors are always very welcome to all our events.

Contact Ian Pagan 788263 idpagan@btinternet.com

Website: www.longhorsleymission.org.uk

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