St Mary REdcliffe Parish Magazine Dec 2019 Jan 2020

Prayers • Advent & Christmas
The greatness of God
Great are you, O God, although we know you only as in
an obscure saying and as in a mirror, yet in wonder we
worship your greatness — how much more we shall praise it
at some time when we come to know it more fully! When
under the arch of heaven I stand surrounded by the wonders
of creation, I rapturously and adoringly praise your greatness,
you who lightly hold the stars in the infinite and concern
yourself fatherly with the sparrow.
— Søren Kierkegaard
1815–1855
Peace and calm?
The sermon annoyed me. Which was doubly frustrating,
since I had deliberatly gone to Mass on my own to have
a quiet hour without the usual distractions. ... He was talking
about preparing for Christmas. All our rushing about, our
shopping and planning of special meals, our worries over
choosing presents, our paper chains and tinsel, our frantic last
minute sending of cards—all this was worldly and contrary to
the spirit of Christmas. Christmas, he said, is about the quiet
coming of Christ into the world. We can only recognise it in
peace and stillness.
At this point I wanted to stand up and shout, ‘Objection!’ God
only present in peace and calm? Surely the whole Christmas
story is about God being present everywhere, especially in the
most ordinary events of life. Certainly the ordinary event of
the birth of a baby is not a calm and still experience. Ask the
women who have been through it.
— Claire Richards
b.1938
permissions — prayer reflection from the works of søren kierkegaard in the complete
kierkegaard; eds h & e hong 2001; princeton press; p.276 [“fair use” permission] | peace and calm?
from an anthology for the church year; ed h j richards; kevin mayhew publishing © 1998
groups within the church
The regular congregation is large, active and involved
— if you would like to join one of the many groups
connected with the Church, please contact the group
leader concerned from the list below.
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Mildred Ford
Christine Bush
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Pat Terry
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Eleanor Vousden
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us know — contact the Clergy or Vergers as soon as possible.
Please consult the Parish Office before making any arrangements for
baptisms, weddings or funerals.
MAGAZINE SMALL PRINT: Please note that the views expressed in the body
magazine of the magazine small print are not — please necessarily note those that the of the views Editor. expressed Please in also the note body
of that the every magazine effort are has not been necessarily made to credit those copyrighted of the editor. material please in line also with note
that UK every copyright effort law has but been in the made event to of credit any unintended copyrighted oversight material please in line email with
legislation, the editor at but editor.mag@stmaryredcliffe.co.uk in the event of any unintended or contact oversight the Parish Office. please — email Ed
the editor at editor.mag@stmaryredcliffe.co.uk or contact the parish office
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