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Christmas 2020

1218Advent1

Dear Friends

At Christmas we essentially remember a very simple event, and the Gospel writers are at great pains to show just how simple it is.

A young woman gave birth to a baby boy. That's all no more no less. He was God's present of love to the world

We do not give each other presents as one small boy once told me because we are copying the three wise men who came to see this baby. NO we give each other presents because to give each other something should be an expression of love, and every time that is done it reminds us of the great gift of love that God gave to the human race - and I stress that not just to Christians but to the whole human race.

God made us a gift of himself to show that the human race's long separation and isolation from God was over. You will find those very words in many carols.

God took the initiative if you like to put the universe right. No, he did not come to put an end to the suffering found in our lives, his own life bears witness to that. He came to enter in to this world of suffering and pain that we know and share it with us. And as the Easter story will show he gave us a guarantee that even pain and suffering and our worst experiences will be given a meaning and a purpose in the divine plan although we cannot know what that meaning will be.

This is God's gift to us. It is the greatest gift there could be. It means that life is not an aimless waste in the mysteries of time and the universe. We are all loved and each one of us has a place. When you open your presents (if you haven't already done so) remember they are symbolic of our value as human individuals.

Yours

Tony Gilbert

Rector Three Valleys Benefice

Comet above church

We are indebted to Josie Sturgess-Mills, professional photographer, for sending us this magnificent photograph of St Nicholas, Hilfield with the comet.

Photo taken on June 20th

Advent Collect from the Bisop of Salisbury

Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness and put on the armour of light, now in the time of this mortal life, in which your Son Jesus Christ came to us in great humility; that, on the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who is alive and reigns with you In the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

Three Valleys Team Ministry

For details of future services, please go to the Services page; for reports on what has happened, please go to the Recent Events page and we hope that there will soon be items on the Forthcoming Events page.]

"....Despite the announcements about re-starting our services in church, it is still far from clear what we will be able to do. Communions are likely to prove problematic for some time to come. The clergy team has met and discussed what we think will be possible and have the following suggestions. As you may know we propose to start gradually with only three services for each Sunday in the first month, one in each of the three components of the benefice. We propose to hold our first services on Sunday 12th July by which time I expect we will have received full guidance from the diocese. We would like to hold these first services in Folke for the WHV, Yetminster for the Wriggle Valley and Thornford for the Gifle Valley. These services will start at 10:00am. There will also be an electronic service for those who prefer not to expose themselves to any possible risk of a social gathering."

Some churches are now open for Private Prayer.

For up-to-date arrangements, as we receive them, please go to the Arrangements for opening churches page.

The Reverend George Moody is now writing a new blog called The Rectory Window (therectorywindow.blogspot.com) based on Mark's gospel. It will appear on an occasional basis.

If you would like to subscribe please click here for instructions.

See the Three Valleys Team facebook page as well for more information and to watch live-streamed services.

Three Valleys Facebook

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A PRAYER FOR ALL THOSE AFFECTED BY CORONAVIRUS

Keep us, good Lord,

under the shadow of your mercy.

Sustain and support the anxious,

be with those who care for the sick,

and lift up all who are brought low;

that we may find comfort

knowing that nothing can separate us from your love