Rector’s Letter

Weekend of 5th /6th December 2020
2nd Sunday of Advent

Dear Friends,

The star is back on top of the church tower, and I have been very cheered and extremely amused this week, by the extravagant displays of Christmas lights that are springing up in our community. How lovely it is to see our communities celebrating in spite of the uncertainties of this season. The schools continue to work hard and Lottie tells me she will play the part of Mary in her school Nativity Play, whilst at St Vigor & St John School, Aarum Class will be recording theirs in St John’s Church next week.

This weekend will see the arrival of the Christmas Trees and the large Nativity Scene outside St John’s Church, and the Chilcompton Village Hall. Thank you so much to the team of generous people who have given their time and effort to bring these moments of celebration together. As people of faith, we celebrate the eternal joy of Christmas and hope that these installations will lift the hearts and spirits of those who see them. I hope to have photos next week!

Several hundred Jesus Pebbles have been scattered around Chilcompton. Have you found one yet? I invite you to pray for Baby Frank, who emailed me within half an hour to say he had found Jesus, and had said a prayer for the other families in the village! He was the very
first person to post a photo on the website. Perhaps you would like to do the same: this activity is not just for small people.

Following updated guidance from the Church of England and I am delighted now to be able to advertise our proposed schedule of Services of Worship for Christmas 2020. Click here to view.

We are still subject to strict Covid regulations which limit numbers in our buildings order to keep everyone safe. I would ask you initially to choose one of the four services if you wish to attend in person and to book places by ringing the appropriate number. In this way we hope that as many people as wish to will be able to receive communion this Christmas.

The 10.30am service from St John’s will be streamed via Zoom on Christmas Day. Government guidelines recommend that whilst it is safe to attend Church with your household or support bubble this Christmas, we must not interact with people from other ‘Christmas Bubbles.’ Booking a seat will allow us time to make the appropriate arrangements to keep everyone safe. Thank you for your co-operation and grateful thanks to those who are working hard to make our Christmas Services of Worship safe.

We return to meeting in person at 9am at St Vigor’s this weekend, with a service of Holy Communion. To book a seat, please visit our Services page. Zoom Services of Morning Prayer will continue on line at 10.30am.

Both services will continue our journey through Advent in the company of Isaiah.

I look forward to seeing you all.

Every blessing,

Esther

Find Jesus in
Chilcompton

Chilcompton 2021 Calendars

Advent Services
from
St. Martin-in-the-Fields

St Martin-in-the-Fields church in central London is to broadcast a national online service to mark the start of Advent this weekend as the nation prepares for a Christmas ‘like no other’ amid the coronavirus pandemic. Services will continue throughout the season. You can follow the services by clicking the link below.

Pray for the Nation at 6pm

For more information…