December can feel like chaos – lots of social events, services, Christmas presents to buy, never-ending to-do lists and the pressure to create the perfect Christmas. But in the midst of this chaos, our churches can offer an opportunity to find peace during this busy time.The Church of England's theme for Advent and Christmas 2024, Follow the Star: Calm and Bright, draws on the world-famous carol, Silent Night:“Silent Night! Holy Night!All is calm, all is bright...”One of the reasons that this carol is so universally loved is the way it invites us into the still centre of the Christmas story, to contemplate Mary holding the new-born Jesus, the Light of the World.The angelic messages we encounter in the biblical story of Jesus’ birth typically hold together the need for calm in the present (“Do not be afraid” … “Fear not”) with the hope of a bright future (“for you have found favour with God” … “for behold I bring you tidings of great joy”).Throughout Advent, we will focus primarily on how to find Calm during this busy period, with reflections offering people a chance to pause during the busy season and tips on how to prepare for a calm Christmas.Then through Christmas, we will focus particularly on Bright, with a series of daily reflections from Christmas Day to the Eve of Epiphany (5 January) by Sammi Tooze, Discipleship Adviser for the Diocese of York, both in digital form and as a booklet. The weblink will appear here nearer the time, but in the meantime if you wish you can download the 'Everyday Faith' APP onto your phone.
Revd. Dr Claire Maxim (New Priest in Charge of North Tyne and Redesdale) and The Rt Revd. Mark Wroe Bishop of Berwick and Acting Bishop of Newcastle outside St Cuthbert’s Church, Elsdon after Claire’s Licensing on Thursday 19th May 2022
Keep us, good Lord,under the shadow of your mercyin this time of uncertainty and distress.Sustain and support the anxious and fearful,and lift up all who are brought low;that we may rejoice in your comfortknowing that nothing can separate us from your lovein Christ Jesus our Lord.Amen.Lord Jesus Christ,you taught us to love our neighbour,and to care for those in needas if we were caring for you.In this time of anxiety, give us strengthto comfort the fearful, to tend the sick,and to assure the isolatedof our love, and your love,for your name’s sake.Amen.God of compassion,be close to those who are ill, afraid or in isolation.In their loneliness, be their consolation;in their anxiety, be their hope;in their darkness, be their light;through him who suffered alone on the cross,but reigns with you in glory,Jesus Christ our Lord.Amen.For those who are illMerciful God,we entrust to your tender carethose who are ill or in pain,knowing that whenever danger threatensyour everlasting arms are there to hold them safe.Comfort and heal them,and restore them to health and strength;through Jesus Christ our Lord.Amen.
