Family Communion

for 1 hour, 15 mins
Kidbrooke, St Nicholas
Whetstone Road Kidbrooke London, SE3 8PX, United Kingdom

Family Communion for the first Sunday of Christmas: celebrant Revd Tola Badejo.

First reading: Colossians 3. 12 - 17
Gospel: Luke 2. 41 – 52

Although we are still in the season of Christmas, the readings today shift forward in time. The Gospel provides the only canonical example there is of an event in Christ's earthly life between infancy and the start of his ministry, while the first reading from Colossians outlines way believers should respond to that ministry, by that time fulfilled in Christ's death and resurrection.

In the Catholic world, Christmas 1 is observed as the Feast of the Holy Family, and, although the Church of England does not follow this practice, our own readings usually reflect some aspect of Jesus's life with Joseph and Mary. Luke's account of Christ's Passover visit to Jerusalem effectively works as two (or more) stories in one: there is an everyday story of 'losing' a child, which brings home the responsibility borne by his earthly parents and the sacrifices they had to make, and a parallel religious story which places Jesus firmly in the Jewish tradition (because his family make the long journey to Jerusalem for the Passover every year), reflects his awareness of his divinity (because he contrasts the Father whose business he must perform with his earthly father Joseph) and foreshadows his death and resurrection (because he is 'lost' for three days).

Paintings of this episode often misrepresent the Gospel narrative, which describes Christ's behaviour towards the older scholars at the Temple as respectful and humble (he was 'listening to them and asking them questions'). The anonymous painting above is an example: nothing in the Gospel suggests that Jesus acted otherwise than as a responsive and intelligent pupil. The picture attached separately below is perhaps more perceptive: it is by the fourteenth century Sienese artist Simone Martini, and it captures the main characters' emotions in subtle detail. Joseph and Mary are clearly distressed and angry; Jesus, quietly dignified yet also determined. The human situation is one any of us can understand, but that very recognition underlines the truth the artist and onlooker already know, that Christ's redemptive purpose requires his earthly family to let him go.

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Kidbrooke, St Nicholas

All are welcome at St Nicholas's, whether at services, our other events, or through this A Church Near You page, which we intend to use in future as our main website. If you are viewing the page on a phone or tablet, please click on the three bars top right to access the menu; on a desktop or laptop, the menu will be found on the left.

For pastoral and confidential matters, please call our Priest-in-Charge,  Revd Tola Badejo, on 07864 309988, requesting  a call back if necessary.  For non-urgent general enquiries, a messaging form is available under 'Get in Touch' in the panel on the left. To ask about hall hire, please contact Linda Peppiatt on 07905 609944 or [email protected]


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Get in touch

Revd Tola Badejo (Priest-in-Charge)

66A Whetstone Road, London

SE3 8PZ
Revd Tola Badejo
07864 309988
Linda Peppiatt (hall bookings)
07905 609944
What's on

Family Communion

for 1 hour, 15 mins
Kidbrooke, St Nicholas
Whetstone Road Kidbrooke London, SE3 8PX, United Kingdom

Family Communion for the first Sunday of Christmas: celebrant Revd Tola Badejo.

First reading: Colossians 3. 12 - 17
Gospel: Luke 2. 41 – 52

Although we are still in the season of Christmas, the readings today shift forward in time. The Gospel provides the only canonical example there is of an event in Christ's earthly life between infancy and the start of his ministry, while the first reading from Colossians outlines way believers should respond to that ministry, by that time fulfilled in Christ's death and resurrection.

In the Catholic world, Christmas 1 is observed as the Feast of the Holy Family, and, although the Church of England does not follow this practice, our own readings usually reflect some aspect of Jesus's life with Joseph and Mary. Luke's account of Christ's Passover visit to Jerusalem effectively works as two (or more) stories in one: there is an everyday story of 'losing' a child, which brings home the responsibility borne by his earthly parents and the sacrifices they had to make, and a parallel religious story which places Jesus firmly in the Jewish tradition (because his family make the long journey to Jerusalem for the Passover every year), reflects his awareness of his divinity (because he contrasts the Father whose business he must perform with his earthly father Joseph) and foreshadows his death and resurrection (because he is 'lost' for three days).

Paintings of this episode often misrepresent the Gospel narrative, which describes Christ's behaviour towards the older scholars at the Temple as respectful and humble (he was 'listening to them and asking them questions'). The anonymous painting above is an example: nothing in the Gospel suggests that Jesus acted otherwise than as a responsive and intelligent pupil. The picture attached separately below is perhaps more perceptive: it is by the fourteenth century Sienese artist Simone Martini, and it captures the main characters' emotions in subtle detail. Joseph and Mary are clearly distressed and angry; Jesus, quietly dignified yet also determined. The human situation is one any of us can understand, but that very recognition underlines the truth the artist and onlooker already know, that Christ's redemptive purpose requires his earthly family to let him go.

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Safeguarding

Our parish of Kidbrooke, St Nicholas is committed to safeguarding children, young people and adults from harm. For further details, please refer to the separate Safeguarding page on this site and the link to the Diocesan page below.

Southwark Diocese safeguarding page