Dear Friends,

'In this season of remembering….', these were words I used in the prayers in church last week. As we think about all that leads us to Christmas, the season is all about remembering.

Memories are powerful things. They can be so powerful as to affect our present and our future. The way we deal with memories from the past has a bearing upon our mental health and our ability to cope with life.

Music can be powerful too, when linked with memories. This is why the traditional carols still remain the favourites of the Christmas season. More generally, hymns ancient and modern can be significant to us. For me, some of the older hymns I grew up with are special, but some of the modern worship songs have particular significance to my spiritual life as well. Respecting that this is also true for others leads me week by week to try to mix older and newer music in worship. It reminds me that we should never 'rubbish' the hymns and songs others like – we may be treading on their memories.

Memories, for good or ill, remain with us. Yet the coming of the New Year points us to the future. Instead of pondering on memories our thoughts turn to resolutions, promises for the future.

For a child, a new year is an exciting time; a time full of the unknown and as yet unfulfilled promises. As a mother, I hope my children will not be too disappointed – that the New Year will give them good memories to help them in all their future years.

As a minister and part of the Christian family, I hope that our younger people are given the kind of Christian nurturing that will build their faith in a wonderful, faithful, loving God. A God, who has, and always will, fulfil his promise to stand by those who put their trust in Him.

As we re-commit ourselves to each other in the covenant service, let us call to mind the fruits of the spirit that Paul told us should be at the core of our life together - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.  If we truly and humbly commit ourselves to the level of service that the words of the covenant describe, these fruits will continue to grow strong amongst us.

I wish you all a blessed, peaceful Christmas, and a joyful New Year, from all at the Manse.

Yours in Christ,

Mary

Readings for December and January with some introductory notes.

December

7^th  Isaiah 40.1-11            Psalm 85.1-2, 8-13
2 Peter 3.8-15a  Mark 1.1-8         

14^th   Isaiah 61.1-4, 8-11  Psalm 126 or Luke 1.47-55
1 Thessalonians 5.16-24  John 1.6-8, 19-28         

 

21^st  2 Samuel 7.1-11, 16  Luke 1.47-55
Romans 16.25-27  Luke 1.26-38         

28^th Isaiah 61.10 - 62.3  Psalm 148
Galatians 4.4-7  Luke 2.22-40 

Isaiah
Isaiah provides three of our Old Testament readings. 'Isaiah' represents a whole school of prophets active over two hundred years whose prophecies were preserved on a single scroll in the synagogue. The first part of the book (chapters1-39) comes from the original Isaiah, an adviser to the king, in Jerusalem at the close of the eighth-century BC when Judah was threatened by the Assyrians. The second part (40-55) comes from an anonymous prophet in Babylon anticipating liberation shortly before the end of the exile (538 BC). The prophecies from the third part (56-66), which provide three of our readings, are not so clearly fixed but probably come from the period shortly after the exile when the Temple was being rebuilt (around 520 BC).

Here we have a prophetic tradition built on a common vision and values. 'Isaiah' believed God would judge and punish Israel for her sins, but a remnant of the nation would survive. God would bring salvation, restore Zion/Jerusalem with a Davidic messiah/king. Second-Isaiah speaks of the role of God's 'servant' in this. Our readings from Isaiah are generally about forgiveness, waiting patiently and restoration.

Geoffrey Turner

January 2009

4^th    Isaiah 60.1-6   Psalm 72.1-7, 10-14
Ephesians 3.1-12           Matthew 2.1-12         

11^th  Genesis 1.1-5   Psalm 29
Acts 19.1-7        Mark 1.4-11         

18^th   1 Samuel 3.1-10, (11-20) Psalm 139.1-6, 13-18
1 Corinthians 6.12-20          John 1.43-51         

25^th  Jonah 3.1-5, 10  Psalm 62.5-12
1 Corinthians 7.29-31           Mark 1.14-20   

Linking the Old Testament and Gospel readings
On 4 January we read from the book of the prophet Isaiah, which was written in three parts. Chapters 1 to 39 are mainly from the eighth century; 40 to 55, from the period when the People of God were in exile in Babylon (Second Isaiah) and 56 to 66 (Third Isaiah) from the period when they had returned to Jerusalem. Life was still pretty poor under Persian rule, and they longed for the time when they would be freed. Isaiah 60 expresses this longing.

The Sunday after Epiphany recalls the baptism of Jesus and we also read from the opening chapter of Genesis (two beginnings). This 'creation story' is probably from the sixth century BC when the doctrine of the Creator God became all-important to show that God was in control of all that happens in the world. The following week recalls how Jesus was recognised by Nathanael and is echoed by the story of the call of a child from 1 Samuel. The books of Samuel and Kings tell the story of the Kingdom of Israel, and here, Eli recognises that God is calling Samuel to be his prophet and kingdom builder. On 25 January Mark recounts the call of the early disciples, those who would make Jesus known in the wider world and we read also from Jonah, an Old Testament book written in post-exilic times (say around 400 BC) to challenge the growing exclusivism and nationalism of the People of God. 

The Epistles
For most of this period we read from 1 and 2 Corinthians. Among Paul's letters to the young churches, the Corinthian letters are significant for their insight into his character, sense of vocation and responsibility, and his deep understanding of the gospel he was called to live and proclaim. In this compilation of letters, he expresses his joy at the way of life of the Corinthian Christians, but also deals with several problems affecting the church, problems not unknown to the Church today.

Tony Barnard

These resources are taken from www.rootsontheweb.com and is copyright © Roots for Churches Ltd 2008

TOY SERVICE

Our Toy Service is on Sunday 7th December.  Whilst shopping for presents, please look for toys for children and gifts for teenagers too.  As you know, it is not necessary to wrap your gift, but if you prefer to, PLEASE put a label on the outside to indicate what age your gift would be suitable for (e.g. small boy/girl, teenage boy/girl).  This will save the sorters having to open up to check!  If you cannot bring a toy, then a monetary gift in an envelope would be much appreciated.  Please mark the envelope "TOY SERVICE".

CHURCHES TOGETHER ON HAYLING ISLAND

Carol Singing

Sunday 14th December  4.00 – 6.00pm on the Plaza

   (including mulled wine and mince pies

   at St. Andrew's Church)

Carol singing in the Homes

Thursday 11th December and   Thursday 18th December

Week of Prayer

The Week of Prayer (3 a day) has been changed from October and will now take place during the

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity – 18th to 25th January 2009

Dates for your 2009 diary

Lent Lunches:   

 Week 1 URC Friday 27th February

 Week 2 St Peter's Friday 6th March

 Week 3 St Andrew's Friday 13th March

 Week 4 St. Mary's Friday 20th March

 Week 5 St. Patrick's Friday 27th March

 Week 6 Elim Friday 3rd April

Starting time:  12 noon

TODDLER GROUP

CAN YOU HELP?

As you may know, we are starting a toddler group on Tuesday mornings in the main hall.  This will be from January 2009 and we are now stocking up on suitable toys. 

Please take this opportunity to turn out those cupboards and let us have any of the following:-  Sit on and push along toys, large toys suitable for lively toddlers, shape sorters, toy cars, dolls and prams.  Drawing equipment such as pencils, wax crayons and colouring pencils.

Also first toys for babies, especially playcentres which hang over the baby and they can stretch up to reach mirrors, animals etc. and playmats.

ABLE TO HELP OUT?

We are aiming to support parents and carers by providing a happy, welcoming and comfortable atmosphere.  If you feel you would like to be part of this and could offer some time on a Tuesday morning from January, please call any of the numbers below.

Heidi Bailey  -  9246 1302

Rosemary Piper  -  9246 1392

Mary Thomas  -  9246 3521

Jill Adams  -  9246 0742