Advertisement
Published: December 23rd 2014
Edit Blog Post
IF WE KEEP CHRIST IN OUR HEART CHRISTMAS HAS NO END This will be our last Blog entry for 2014 as the Albrighton library will be closed between the 24 December and 2nd January inclusive. Although we now have an Internet connection at the flat, we have an O2 WiFi Dongle, the connection in Albrighton is 4G but switches between 3G and 2G and ours seems to stays mainly on 2G ???????
The past three weeks have allowed us to settle into village life and turn our flat into a home. We have continued to re connect with the people of Boningale and Albrighton and have attended the Wednesday 9.30am Holy Communion/Bible Study services at St Marys as well as the Tuesday Tea Cosies sessions at St Marys hall.
At one of the 9.30am services, where we have some great and thought provoking discussions, we discussed the report from a UK organisation 'Shelter' that 90,000 children in Britain - the equivalent of three in every school - will spend this Christmas homeless. This is something that has shocked us both and something we are both deep in thought and prayer about.
THERE MUST BE SOMETHING THAT WE CAN DO ABOUT THIS - Remember what Bob Pierce the founder of World Vision said
"I can't do everything for everybody, but I can do something for somebody". This is something we will pursue now and after Christmas because these children will still need help after Christmas.
Sunday 30th November was the first Sunday in Advent and also St Chads 'Gifting Sunday' an opportunity for those who have a connection with St Chads to donate to a fund that will be used to update the interior of the Church so it can be used for a wide range of activities and by a wider range of the community.
Now we are living in the village we are able to attend some of the evening services. One such service was the 6.30pm Advent service at St Marys which featured the St Marys choir, what great singing, a truly amazing choir. While 6.30pm may not seem late here in the UK its getting dark at 4.00pm.
On
Sunday 7th December we attended the St Chads family service which was followed by tea and cake in the hall.
Friday 12th December we spent the day in Birmingham
because Jess needed a NiNo number (National Insurance Number) which you need if you want to work, vote or participate in other things? We took the opportunity to walk around Birmingham and came across the 'German Market' with its many Christmas stalls that sold everything with a Christmas flavour including food and drink. It was a great sight and festive atmosphere.
Friday evening was the St Chads Christmas meal at the Summer House. A great meal of salad, carvery with beef, pork & turkey and all the vegies you could want or eat and of course great deserts with Christmas pudding and custard. The night was completed with the electric organ and Christmas carols where all the patrons joined in.
On
Sunday 14th December we attended Holy Communion at St Chads and on a clear but very cold morning it was great to walk along the country lanes to get to the church. In the evening we attended the Civic Carol Service at St. Marys. This service was organised by the Albrighton Parish Council & Donington with Boscobel Parish Council. The service was a special service with the address being provided by The Rt. Revd. Mark Rylands, Bishop
of Shrewsbury. As well as traditional Christmas readings and carols, special musical items were performed by children from Albrighton Primary & St Mary's schools. The service remembered locals killed in active service during WW1 plus some of the school children re-enacted the Christmas day football match that took place in 1914 on the battle fields of the Western Front. The service also included the dedication of the recently refurbished church organ. The service was followed by Mince Pies & Mulled wine served in the Church centre.
Monday 15th December Today a very dear friend of ours from our Australian Church family of Holy Trinity passed away. We are sad that we were not with him and will not be able to say our Goodbyes to him at his funeral; such are the difficulties of living so far away. But because our Christian Church Family has such a strong bond, miles play no part, they can't weaken that most precious bond that we share together, "The Love of Our Lord"
To Jess and I, our dear friend became a Father figure to us, he helped and encouraged our spiritual growth, not just with his advice to us
St Chads Carol Service
Mulled wine & Mince Pies after the service but in the wonderful Christian way that he lived his own life. He and his wife, welcomed us into their home, with a friendship and Love that quickly turned into many family like "Special Times", mostly around the dining table, enjoying delicious meals but more important, wonderful, meaningful conversation. Yes, we will miss our Friend but we Thank God for leading us to him and we know that he is now free from all pain and discomfort and is resting and being cared for in the arms of " Our Lord ". God Bless You Our Dear Friend, we love you very much and "Thank You” for being you XXX
We believe that God will bring with Jesus, those who have fallen asleep in him. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the
voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.
1 Thessalonians
Village Carols
Outside the Methodist Church, picture taken from our dinning room window 4 : 14 -18
Tuesday 16th December saw us attend the Tea Cosies Christmas Party at St Mary's Church hall. It was a great afternoon with great food especially the trifles, great funs with prizes awarded for the best Christmas dress and for pass the parcel plus a sing-along to traditional Christmas carols. It was good to see everyone enjoying themselves.
Friday 19th December was the St Chads Carol Service and it was great to see the little Church with the big welcome full to capacity. We started with the chiming of the church bells and the service consisted of Christmas readings, we read a piece introducing the nativity as well as Luke 2 : 1-7, and Christmas carols plus Christmas carols sung by 'The Boningales', St Chads congregation choir which we are part of. One Christmas carol that was sung by 'The Boningales' was a special carol composed by David Murray who is the organist at the Albrighton Methodist Church. David played the organ for the St Chads carol service and this was the 'World Premier' of his carol 'A Wondrous thing', a great honour.
On
Saturday 20th December the Albrighton Methodist Church, which is 2 doors from our flat, had carol singing in the High street outside the Church and everyone was welcome to participate including any passers-by. Members of all the local churches turned up to help out including us. Carols were sung, money collected for needy children and mince pies handed out. A great way to spend a morning and share the village Christmas spirit.
Sunday 21st December was St Chads 11.15am Christmas Praise Service where the story of the Christmas carol was told including the origin of some of the well-known carols. Evelyn presented the origins of 'Silent Night'.
Sunday evening had us attending the St Marys Christmas candlelight Carol Service which included the excellent St Mary choir. Once again it was good to see a full church and of course the service was followed by mulled wine and mice pies.
As we head towards Christmas day we will be attending the St Marys Christmas Eve Midnight Mass and the St Chads Christmas Day Holy Communion Service.
Once again we wish everyone a Holy and safe Christmas
Advertisement
Tot: 0.159s; Tpl: 0.011s; cc: 10; qc: 49; dbt: 0.0692s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.2mb
Bob and Phyllis Collie
non-member comment
Christmas greetings
Love to you both. We were not able to be at Ken Fairbank's funeral. There were 200 people there. I have an order of service and will post it to you if you agree. Wishing you both God's richest blessings as you trust in his Son Jesus Christ.