Dear Friends
I am sitting down to write this Christmas message on 2nd December, just after coming out of the second national Lockdown. To say that this year has been challenging, is an understatement. However, it has also been a year in which hopefully, we have become profoundly aware of the things in life that really matter.
It has been a year in which we have been most grateful to those amongst us who have good IT skills, which they are using to assist others as we adapt to more communication “online”. However, it has also been a year in which we have been grateful to those who take the time to connect with those who are not on a computer. Thanks, are also due to those who have provided reflections and undertaken shopping, the collection of prescriptions and other tasks for others. In lockdown and at other times of life, people can feel very disconnected and the Ipswich Circuit as a whole has really worked hard to address these issues in a variety of creative and imaginative ways.
The two lockdowns have, in many ways, provoked a deeper understanding of those in our local community and beyond who are in great need. Who would have thought that food poverty would be such an issue in this current time? Across the Circuit, food parcels are being delivered to homes, daily. Here in Felixstowe, we offered Food Hampers during the summer holidays and are working closely with the Salvation Army to ensure that Christmas Meals can be delivered to those in need. If you know of anyone who requires a Christmas Meal please do let me know.
During December, preparations have been made for us to either worship online or in public. Many thanks to all those who have worked so hard in preparing our buildings to be Covid-secure once more.
One of the great challenges of this year has been the whole question of how we use physical space and how we can protect each other from the virus. Framed theologically, we might like to consider this question in the light of a number of characters we find in Scripture and what they can teach us.
John the Baptist.
John the Baptist, who rightly features heavily in Advent, was never one to be tied to a building or institution. Much of his ministry takes place outside and working outside of our buildings gives us more opportunity to engage with others in a way that is deemed currently much safer. With this in mind we have offered a number of outside activities; for instance, on 3rd December free Advent Calendars were distributed outside both Seaton Road and Trinity Churches. Each of the four Mission Area Churches has an outside display this year and on 22nd December in the Car Park of Seaton Methodist Church from 10.30-11.30, we hope to hold a Christmas Treasure Trail whilst adhering to social distancing requirements.
Many thanks to all involved in these activities.
The Inn Keeper
The Inn Keeper makes full use of the property he has. Mary and Joseph and their unborn child Jesus, need the protection of a structure. Hopefully, now returning to the use of some of buildings we may offer an inn keeper type of approach, offering space that is a safe as it can be with warmth of welcome and hospitality. We have returned to Morning Prayer at Seaton Road each Thursday at 10.30am. On Christmas Eve at 10.30am Holy Communion will be offered.
Christmas Holy Communion will also be offered 3pm at Kirton on 20th December and a drop in style Holy Communion will be offered on Christmas Eve at Trinity from 2pm-4pm.
Both Seaton Road and Trimley would like their special Christmas Celebration Service on 20th December; Seaton Road at 9.45am and Trimley at 11am.
At Trinity, Stephen Wyatt and team are offering a Christmas Carol Style Service on 20th December at 11am and repeated at 3pm. Throughout the rest of December there will be an act of Worship at Trinity each Sunday at 11am and at Kirton at 3pm with exception of 27th December, when a service will not be held at Kirton.
Mary and Joseph
Each in their own way, Mary and Joseph respond to Gods call upon their lives. Joseph may be slower to realise the true implications, but this inheritably good man stands by a woman who has been rejected in so many ways. In his own pain and hurt, he is able to see the bigger picture and reach out. All through the year, so many of you in a whole host of ways have been reaching out to your neighbours. Through your contributions via daily messages and shopping, as a community we were awarded one of the Suffolk Carers awards via Suffolk Radio, this was very much a work of collaboration.
Finally, Mary says yes to the overwhelming nature of what was asked of her.
This year has perhaps been overwhelming for you and me in many and unexpected ways. Are we still able to say yes to God in the midst of sometimes feeling out of control? There is so much we can learn from these giants of the faith. But we learn most from Jesus who gives up all the glories of heaven to come to earth and be born amongst us. He is Immanuel, God is with us.
God himself in Christ gives up all things in order to come, Jesus must learn to live in an alien world.
Because God in Christ is always with us, whether life is running smoothly or full of pain, challenge and events for which we have no script. We have the greatest hope, for God knows himself like no other what it is to dwell in a strange land, in an alien place and still give and give of self.
As Wesley beautifully expresses this concept in the hymn And Can it Be, “Emptied himself of all but love and bleed for Adams helpless race.” The Baby will grow to be Jesu the Adult, who has laid down his life to reconcile the alienation between humanity and God.
This is the best news; this is the Good news.
Nigel and I wish you all a Happy and Blessed Christmas and a brighter New Year.
Stay Safe