The Parish Magazine December 2024

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34 The Parish Magazine — December 2024 FASHION BY harriet nelson Style + warmth = a comfortable Christmas! As the fashion season is already beginning to sparkle with festive decorations, I am looking forward to our house being filled with the lovely aroma of cinnamon and pine and festive baking, and listening to the corny Christmas hits once again. With gatherings, parties and family events on the horizon, Christmas fashion is a prominent topic of discussion online and in fashion magazines. So let's explore the vibrant trends and styles that can help you shine bright during the festive season. No conversation about winter fashion is complete without mentioning the iconic Christmas jumper that offers warmth and personality, whether it's a festive reindeer and snowflakes sweater or a more classic, comfy knit with subtle festive patterns. Pair your Christmas sweater with black jeans or tailored trousers for a comfortable chic look. This year consider opting for oversized styles or those featuring eco-friendly materials, aligning comfort with sustainabilty. The Christmas sweater is a perfect fashion stable to help you feel warm and comfy while participating in your family's Christmas traditions. A gorgeous dress can elevate your festive spirit for those special Christmas parties and gatherings. Think luxurious fabrics such as velvet or satin in rich jewel tones, such as emerald greens, deep reds, and royal blues, to get you in the Christmas mood. Midi and maxi lengths are trending, providing movement and style. Don't shy away from incorporating bold prints or sequins that are perfect for evening affairs. Any dress can be accessorised with gorgeous sparkling jewellery. A pair of knee-high boots, or elegant heels to complete the look. RELAXED CODE Go bold this winter season and dress to impress this autumn. Many holiday events are moving towards a more relaxed dress code, making elevated casual wear the ideal choice — I'm one of those people who want to be comfy during my Christmas meal! Whether it's jeans and a jumper, lounge wear or tailored trousers paired with a festive blouse, all these options of comfort and style for gatherings at home or casual outings. Any casual outfit can be transformed to make you look more festive. Start with statement pieces such as chunky knit scarves or beanies adorned with the classic pom-pom. A pair of sparkly earings or a festive clutch bag can add just the right amount of flair to your attire. And we need to remember shoes! I love good fluffy boots such as a pair of Uggs, to keep you nice an toasty during the day, or a pair of classic Doc Martens to keep the cold away while looking bold and stylish. The comfort of being at home during the holidays is just as important as looking festive. This year, matching holiday pyjamas are trending again. They are perfect for family photo shoots or cosy movie nights by the fire. Choose from soft cotton or flannel sets decorated with cheerful patterns, or consider luxurious lounge wear options in cashmere or silk blends to make your Christmas evenings as comfy as possible. Christmas fashion is all about expressing joy, warmth, and style while celebrating your personal Christmas day. Whether you opt for classic Christmas sweaters, elegant dresses, or cosy lounge wear, choosing pieces that make you happy and comfortable is vital. As you prepare and decorate for the festivities, let your wardrobe reflect the happy holiday season ahead. Happy Christmas! 135 DECEMBER 2O24.indd 34 13/11/2024 10:15:54
THE ARTS — 1 Rev Michael Burgess continues looking at great works of music Capturing the heart of the Incarnation In the Middle Ages, at the end of the Christmas Midnight Mass, the clergy would often tell the animals’ version of the Nativity story and imitate the sound of each animal. The cock would crow ‘Christus natus est.’ (Christ is born). The cows would moo ‘Ubi?’ (Where?). The sheep would bleat ‘In Bethlehem.’ And the donkey would cry ‘Eamus’ (Let us go there). It was a way of expressing something of the joy and fun of the Christmas celebration. Commercialism, with all its trappings, has sadly made that fun and festivity the be all and end all of Christmas. We need to capture again the heart of the Incarnation, which is a mystery rooted in silence and wonder. The book of Wisdom reads: ‘For while gentle silence enveloped all things, and night in its swift course was now half gone, the all powerful Word leapt from heaven, from the royal throne.’ These words remind us that at Bethlehem there is that silence and wonder. The animals may rejoice to tell the good news of the Incarnation at the midnight mass, but at the crib they gather with the holy family and the shepherds. We are given no words of Mary and Joseph and the shepherds around the crib. WONDERING WORSHIP The mystery of what was happening seems to have intensified their silence. They did not know what the future held for this new-born child, but they did know that God was acting in a special way. They were like people standing in the faint light of the dawn, and their response was an expectant and wondering worship. It is at the heart of this month’s beautiful and moving setting of some words from the matins of Christmas morning, ‘O magnum mysterium.’ ‘O great mystery and wondrous sacrament, that animals should see the new-born Lord, lying in the manger. Blessed Virgin, whose womb was found worthy to bear Christ the Lord. Alleluia.’ The words were set by the American composer, Morten Lauridsen in 1994 and first performed a few days before Christmas in Los Angeles. Since then, it has been sung by choirs, both professional and amateur, around the world. After the opening chord, the altos introduce us to a motif that pervades the work. It is like the movement of the heart, rising in praise and resting in hope at the mystery of the Incarnation. The joy is inner and reaches a climax with Alleluia. The final words are that all this glory lies in a manger, where the animals gather. While the world will call us to a frenzy of doing and buying amid a clamour of noise and muzak. ‘O magnum mysterium’ invites us to step into the stable again and join the animals, the Holy Family and the shepherds to find a joy and a wonder that can nourish the soul. At the crib we can know ‘the silence of eternity interpreted by Love’ and with the choir we can respond: 'Alleluia!' The Parish Magazine — December 2024 35 Book Reviews — 1 The Moment of Truth – Reflections on Incarnation and Resurrection By Samuel Wells, Canterbury Press, £11.69 Christmas, Easter, Advent and Lent, each focus on the central beliefs of Christian faith — that in the Incarnation, God comes among us, and that in the resurrection, death is defeated and creation is renewed. In this collection of seasonal reflections, Samuel Wells unpacks the substance of these key Christian doctrines, and explores their practical implications for living as Christians. Whose Promised Land? – The Continuing Conflict over Israel and Palestine By Colin Chapman, SPCK, £16.99 (revised and expanded edition) The conflict between Israel and the Palestinians has profoundly affected the Middle East for almost 80 years, and shows no sign of ending. With two peoples claiming the same piece of land for different reasons, it remains a huge political and humanitarian problem. Can it ever be resolved? If so, how? These are the basic questions addressed in this revised and expanded sixth edition of Colin Chapman’s highly acclaimed book. Having lived and worked in the Middle East at various times since 1968, the author explains the roots of the problem and outlines the arguments of the main parties involved. He also explores the theme of land in the Old and New Testaments, discussing legitimate and illegitimate ways of using the Bible in relation to the conflict. This new and fully updated edition covers developments over the past 10 years, including the war that broke out between Israel and Hamas in October 2023. MORE CHRISTMAS BOOK REVIEWS ON PAGE 37 Poetry Corner Forgiveness If our greatest need had been information, God would have sent us an educator. If our greatest need had been money, God would have sent us an economist. If our greatest need had been technology, God would have sent us a scientist. If our greatest need had been pleasure, God would have sent us an entertainer. But our greatest need was forgiveness, So God sent us a Saviour. (Anon) Very punny . . . What is a dentist’s favourite hymn? Crown him with many crowns What is a dentist’s second favourite hymn? Holy, Holy, Holy! How does Moses make his coffee? Hebrews it! 135 DECEMBER 2O24.indd 35 13/11/2024 10:15:55
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