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Nativity Scene Ampney Crucis.jpeg

December 2024

see lower down for services!                                   

 

Dear Friend

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Christmas advertisements on the television often invite us into the fantasy of the ‘happy family’ - un-wrapping presents or sitting around a groaning table laden with festive food with people being of good cheer on Christmas Day; and often there will be a log fire blazing cheerfully in the background.

 

Expectations of what Christmas Day should be like, and how members of our family should behave, can be a bit of a challenge. 

 

It can also be a difficult time when we remember those whom we love and see no more who are not sharing Christmas with us.  It can feel a particularly lonely time when – so it seems – ‘everyone else’ is having fun and company.

 

The one thing that Mary and Joseph knew that first Christmas was that Mary was expecting was a baby.  I’m pretty sure they didn’t expect Mary to give birth in a stable, or be visited by a host of angels, a crowd of shepherds, and a number of wisemen – with some impractical presents! 

 

The life of Jesus – God Incarnate – was not without its family ups and downs either.  Joseph died, leaving Mary with Jesus and his brothers and sisters.  When Jesus started his ministry, his family thought he was mad (Mark 3:20) and Jesus seemed to reject them.  And yet at some point they seem to ‘get’ Jesus’ mission and joined with him on his journey of life, death and eternal life.  Not many ‘happy Christmas’s’ in that family I suspect, but they worked through the trials of life.

 

I can’t promise anyone a ‘Happy Christmas’ but I hope we might spend this festive time with our loved ones accepting them for who they are – with their faults and foibles and idiosyncrasies.  The Victorian poet Walter Alexander Raleigh wrote:

 

I wish I loved the Human Race;
I wish I loved its silly face;
I wish I liked the way it walks;
I wished I liked the way it talks;
And when I’m introduced to one
I wish I thought What Jolly Fun!

 

I hope these wishes might be true for us this Christmas. 

 

And if you need to have a break from your family and friends gathered in your house on Christmas Day – come and sing some carols at 10am at Down Ampney or Poulton Churches – or even bring (or send) them along!

 

May your Christmas be Merry and Bright!

 

As ever -  John

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The Rev'd Canon John Swanton

Rector of the South Cotswolds​

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Services and Events
December 2024 and into the New Year!

​Thursday 12th December

11am                               WI Carol Service                        Ampney Crucis

                                        All Welcome!

 

Friday 13th December

6pm                                Driffield Christmas Gathering        Driffield Church

 

Sunday 15th December  3rd Sunday of Advent

8am                                   Holy Communion                         Ampney St Peter

10am                                 Parish Communion                       Ampney Crucis

                                           with Baptism

10am                                 Word and Worship                       Harnhill

5pm                                   Carol Service                                 Down Ampney

7pm                                   Carol Concert                               Ampney Crucis

                                           with the Cantores Choir

 

Wednesday 18th December

9.30am                              School Christmas Service             Ampney Crucis

 

Thursday 19th December

5.30pm                              The Harnhill Nativity                      Harnhill

                                           for children of all ages!

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Sunday 22nd December  4th Sunday of Advent

  8am                                  Holy Communion                           Harnhill

10am                                  Parish Communion                         Poulton

5pm                                    Carol Service                                   Poulton

 

Tuesday 24th December  Christmas Eve

3pm                                    Crib Service                                     Down Ampney

5pm                                    Carol Service                                   Driffield

8pm                                    Midnight at Bethlehem                  Ampney St Peter

                                           an evening service of Holy Communion with Carols

11.15pm                             Midnight Communion                    Ampney Crucis

 

Wednesday 25th December  CHRISTMAS DAY

10am                                        Christmas Communion             Down Ampney

10am                                         Family Carols                            Poulton

 

Sunday 29th December          5th Day of Christmas

10am                                         Parish Communion                    Harnhill

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Happy New Year!

 

A prayer for the New Year

 

For all possibilities ahead in this new year make us thankful, O Lord.

Give us wisdom, courage and discernment in the face of so much chaos, despair and fear. 

Help us to see how, in our circumstances, we can contribute towards peace, faith and love. 

And give us the will translate our desires into actions.  Amen.                                    Brother John Charles Vockler

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Sunday 5th January               Epiphany Sunday and 2nd Sunday of Christmas

10am                                       Parish Communion                Down Ampney

10am                                       Word and Worship                Harnhill

 

Sunday 12th January             The Baptism of Christ

10am                                       Parish Communion                Driffield

10am                                       Word and Worship                Harnhill

 

Sunday 19th January             The Second Sunday of Epiphany

10am                                       Parish Communion                Ampney Crucis

10am                                       Word and Worship                Harnhill

 

Sunday 26th January             The Third Sunday of Epiphany

10am                                       Parish Communion                Poulton

10am                                       Word and Worship                Harnhill

 

Sunday 2nd February            The Presentation of Christ in the Temple

                                                Candlemas

10am                                       Parish Communion                Down Ampney

10am                                       Word and Worship                Harnhill

 

Sunday 9th February             The Fourth Sunday before Lent

10am                                       Parish Communion                Driffield

10am                                       Word and Worship                Harnhill

 

Sunday 16th February           The Third Sunday before Lent

10am                                       Parish Communion                Ampney Crucis

10am                                       Word and Worship                Harnhill

 

Sunday 23rd February           The Fourth Sunday before Lent

10am                                       Parish Communion                Poulton

10am                                       Word and Worship                Harnhill

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19th – 21st April            BibLit – The Bibury Literature Festival

                                    St Mary’s Church, Bibury, GL7 5NR

                                    Hear and meet authors talk about their books –

                                    Andrew Gimson, Caroline Montague, Sally Page, 

                                    Robert Hardman and more….

                                    www.biburyfestivals.com

Contact

Please do get in touch with the Rector - John Swanton - for more information.

01285 851309

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