January

Welcome to the Website of
St Thomas' Church
Newhey

January 2012

Dear friends,

Candlemas

After the 12 days of Christmas, the Christian church celebrates the feast of the Epiphany. It marks the visit of the Magi to the baby Jesus.
There is not much known of the Magi, except that they were from the east of Bethlehem. We assume that there were three magi, only because there were three gifts mentioned in the gospels.
Far more important though, is that the magi were gentiles, not jews. The Epiphany is about Jesus being revealed to the nations of the world – all peoples in all places.
God led the magi to Jesus – and in doing so – fulfilled the promise that was made to Abraham and Sarah that their descendents would be a light and a blessing to all peoples.
On February 2^nd( but celebrated on a Sunday – this year it is 29th January ) the Christmas/Epiphany season comes to its completion. The Feast of Candlemas is a fitting end to the season and is an important turning point in the Christian year.
However, the strongest attraction of Candlemas is the ’bitter-sweet’ nature of what it celebrates. It is a feast day, and the revelation of the child Jesus in the Temple, greeted by Simeon and Anna, calls for rejoicing.
Nevertheless, the prophetic words of Simeon, which speak of the falling and rising of many and the sword that will pierce, lead us on to the passion and to Easter.
Those words, coming as they do at the very end of the Christmas celebrations and with Lent nearly always very close, make Candlemas a kind of pivot in the Christian year.
It is as if we say, ‘One last look back at Christmas, and now, turn towards the cross!’
Almighty and ever-living God, clothed in majesty,
whose beloved Son was this day presented in the Temple, in substance of our flesh:
grant that we may be presented to you with pure and clean hearts, by your Son Jesus Christ our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Services for January 2012

Sunday 1st January Sunday after Christmas 9.15am Holy Communion

Thursday 5th 10.00am Holy Communion

Sunday 8th January Epiphany 9.15am Holy Communion

Thursday 12th 10.00am Holy Communion

Sunday 15th January 2nd Sunday of Epiphany 9.15am Holy Communion & PARADE

Thursday 19th 10.00am Holy Communion

Sunday 22nd January 3rd Sunday of Epiphany 9.15am Holy Communion

Thursday 26th 10.00am Holy Communion

Sunday 29th January Candlemas 9.15am Holy Communion

Thursday 2nd Feb 10.00am Holy Communion

Sunday 5th February 3rd Sunday before Lent 9.15am Holy Communion

Readings:

1st January Sunday after Christmas Galatians 4.4-7 Luke 2.15-21

8th January Epiphany Ephesians 3:1-12 Matthew 2:1-12

15th January 2nd Sunday of Epiphany Revelations. 5 :1-10 John 1:43-51

22nd January 3rd Sunday of Epiphany Revelations 19:6-10 John 2:1-11

29th January Candlemas Hebrews 2:14-end Luke 2:22-40

5th February 3rd Sunday before Lent 1 Corinthians 9:16-23 Mark 1:29-39

A Prayer by Thomas, one of the children in our Sunday School

Thank you God for our friends and family,

Thank you for the chance to see family that we don’t see often,

Thank you for the presents we give and receive,

We ask God to take care of people who don’t have homes at Christmas,

We ask God to make those who may not receive presents at Christmas feel happy and warm,

May God send strength to those who need it most,

We remember those who have no home or, who may not have nice presents like you and me.

God bless all at St Thomas’ at Christmastime.

Amen

Christmas at St Thomas

The Christingle Service in support of the Childrens’ Society took place on Sunday 11th December. The church was packed and a record sum was raised for the Society - thank you to those who made the Christingles and to those who attended.

Despite the unexpected snowfall that greeted us on the morning of the 18th December the cast of the Sunday School’s ‘Virtual Nativity Play’ all somehow managed to get to church. In case you didn’t make it - here was what happened....

The date was zero AD and we were told that the technology at that time was more advanced than we realised. King Herod’s Scribe was busily downloading the emails sent to mightyherod@infamous.com telling of the coming of a new Messiah. Herod was rather cross and instructed the scribe to search the world wide web for further information. He picked up a ‘You Tube’ clip of Zechariah praying to God and being told by the angel Gabriel that Elizabeth was to have a son to be called John. He would prepare people’s hearts for the coming of the Lord. "Maybe we can use Zechariah to lead us to the Messiah?"

Our three wise men have just arrived in Judea to check their emails and recharge thier mobile batteries at the local Internet Cafe. Their names are Microsoft, Dotcom and Applemac. They received an email from King Herod asking them to keep him informed when the find the whereabouts of the Messiah.

Herod’s scribe then spotted a news item - ‘Reports are coming in of shepherds abandoning their sheep in the fields around Bethlehem’ "That can’t be right" said Herod "there are no palaces around there - check on Google Earth but just in case get on line and book me a hotel with lastminute.com.

The shepherds were in the fields when they were visited by the Angel Gabriel - "the singing of the angelic hosts was out of this world" one remarked. "It’s a good thing we rang ahead on the iphone and booked a room for us - we don’t want to end up sleeping in a stable."

The shepherds and the wise men arrive at the stable and present their gifts. Suddenly Dotcom who had been checking his phone said the ‘BBC regional news page’ was reporting that Herod was heading towards them so they left by a different way. Herod arrives but does not enter the stable or find the wise men - "They have tricked me - see if you can Google them".

It was left to the Narrator to finish the performance with: "And just as that story was true then, so it is now for those who know Jesus Christ as their Saviour.

The Sunday School children then led the Prayers - " hands together and eyes closed...." what a wonderful end to a superbly performed play.

Parish Prayers

I am the light of the world; whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. John 8:12

May we meet this new year bravely, sure in the faith that while people and situations come and go, and life changes around us, you are ever the same, guiding us with wisdom and protecting us with your love.
May we not squander our days on the passing things of the world, but dedicate them to the service of your kingdom and the doing of your will.
In this coming year, increase in all the people of St Thomas Church, the will to serve, the grace to give, and the strength to grow in joyful fulfillment of our calling.

Parish Concerns

* May we learn to serve you and each other more faithfully in the coming year.

* Remove any burdened memories of past events which hinder our lives or the lives of others.

* We pray for a peaceful year with relief from unrest and natural disasters

Wider Concerns

* For those who face the New Year in poor health, are homeless, unemployed or have financial difficulties

* Accept our thanks for all the blessings of past years and renew our strength and courage for the future.

We Need Your Help!!

The PCC at their last meeting were wondering if there was anyone or maybe a a group of people with needlework skills who might be prepared to have a go at tidying up the stitching on the small Sunday School and Mothers Union banners??

If you feel you can help in any way, want to see the condition of them or just want further details on what is involved - please have a word with Graham or Pam.