Activities | History | Nurture

December 2019 & January 2020 magazine

stjohnstmarkchurchburyFriday, November 29, 2019

Please follow this link to download a PDF copy of our jam-packed Walmersley Road Benefice December 2019 & January 2020 magazine.

Better still, we’d love to see you in either of our churches where you can pick up a hard copy version!

In this bumper Christmas issue we have details of all the many services and events that we have going on. There’s a letter from Dave, our Vicar, about God “mucking in” with us. There are also appeals to help those who are homeless and some reflections on Advent, Christmas and Epiphany.

In addition, we have this special Christmas take on 1 Corinthians 13 …

1 Corinthians 13

If I decorate my house with beautiful twinkling lights and shiny balls, but do not show love to my family, I’m just another decorator.

If I bake dozens of mince pies and roast the perfect turkey, but have no love for my guests, I’m just another cook.

If I work at the soup kitchen, and give all that I have to charity, but do not have compassion for those in need, I am just another social service.

If I wrap, decorate and attend a myriad of parties, but don’t focus on Christ, I have missed the point.

Love stops the cooking to hug the child.

Love doesn’t envy another’s perfectly co-ordinated Christmas decor.

Love puts the present shopping on hold to run the elderly neighbour to the doctor.

Love is kind though harassed and tired.

Love bears all things, even irritating relatives. It believes all things, including a teenager’s potential for development. It hopes all things and endures all things, even a spouse who is constantly depressed about job prospects.

Love never fails other people.

Food gets eaten, computer games will crash and even cashmere jumpers wear out, but the gift of love will endure forever.

Happy Christmas from us and a blessed, peaceful New Year!

[For our November Remembrance magazine please press here.]