Introduction 

In the Methodist Church preachers rotate around their circuit, preaching at many different churches each year.

Click here to download the Circuit Preaching Plan for December, January and February

Pastoral Letter

Friends,

This year, the first day of Advent falls on 1st December, the date most people think it starts because Advent calendars work that way. As Christians, we know it actually begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas.  Increasingly, people are putting up their Christmas decorations for 1st December, or even sooner, and more likely as not taking them down Boxing Day because they’re fed up with them.  Christmas has become conflated with Advent, literally having your chocolate and eating it for those who put up an Advent calendar with a chocolate behind each door, at the same time as they put up the rest of the decorations.  Whilst I don’t wait until Christmas Eve to put up my Christmas tree, as my Mum recalls when she was a child, and perhaps that was your tradition too, I work roughly on a 12-12 rule – it’s up for the 12 days of Christmas, which begins on Christmas Day, and goes up around 12 days before Christmas.

Advent is about the waiting time, and what are we supposed to do in that waiting time?  Well, in the midst of writing and sending cards, buying and wrapping presents, shopping, pre-Christmas baking, carol singing and Christmas parties, we’re supposed to be taking time to think about the meaning of Christmas.  That will mean different things for different people.  That might mean looking forwards to being with family, and seeing that as more important than presents.

For some, it’s about the birth of a baby boy.  Even the first Christmas, people knew that he was a very special baby; special enough for workers to walk off their night shift watching sheep to go and see for themselves; special enough for a group of foreign academics to trek for miles to seek him out.  Amidst all the hubbub of Christmas preparations, take time to think about what Christmas really means to you.

Whilst it seems very early to be saying this, I do wish you all a joyful Christmas.  In the meantime, happy Advent waiting!

Every blessing

Deacon Angie Allport

Get in Touch

You can contact a member of the circuit team, including the Superintendents, by visiting our Contact Us page here.