A note from our Rector, Revd Stephen Yates:This coming week will bring mixed emotions for us as a community. We rejoice that the vaccine will soon be rolled out across the UK but are conscious that many are still suffering from COVID or the effects of lockdown and that, for many, especially those working in the NHS and school, working conditions remain extremely stressful. As an extended Brixham community we continue to mourn the loss of the Joanna C as the funeral of Adam approaches. We are in a time of mixed emotions, joy, expectation, mourning, fatigue. This mixture of emotions might not feel appropriate for Christmas as it approaches but they are entirely appropriate for the season that we journey through to get there – Advent. Advent is a time of rejoicing at the coming of Jesus, of Emmanuel – God with us, and the hope and joy this brings. But it is also a time when we look forward to the coming return of King Jesus, a time when he will judge us all and put all things right. All of us should remember that 'it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.' (Hebrews 13:31, ESV). One commentator I read recently pointed out that during Advent season we rightly remember that the world is currently living between the times of Jesus first coming as a baby and his second as a victorious King. We are like Europe in the time between D-Day and VE-Day. Victory is assured but not yet here. As a community we rejoice in vaccines and church re-openings but lament loneliness, stress and death too young. We pray for all who are keeping us safe and working so hard. But we do all this confident that a better time is coming, not just with a vaccine, but at the end of time when our King will return and put all things right.
For the first time, this week's online Sunday service will include some singing as we begin Advent!It will be on Youtube (link further below) or you can join in live on Zoom at 10am if you email our Rector on Revsryates@outlook.com for the link.With our wider Brixham Mission Community we continue to mourn the loss of the Joanna C fishing boat last week. Please remember the work of the Fishermen's mission in your prayers as they support the families and in particular Sarah and Helen, the port missioner and officer in Brixham.Youtube Service: https://brixhammissioncommunity.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=e873466fb1e35d6bcbadfa858&id=7f8b3f8430&e=18bdbb5f49Service Sheet: https://tinyurl.com/y5r6vaerGrapevine: https://tinyurl.<wbr></wbr>com/y3gnjktaListening Ear continues, even as lockdown ends. If anyone would like to have a chat; to talk in confidence; to share something of how you are feeling; and/or to request prayer for yourself or someone else, then please feel free to ring any of these numbers:Rev. John Gay – 01803 845692Rev. Pam Wheeler – 01803 782466Hilary Hyde – 01803 852323If the person is out, please do leave a message and we will ring you back.COVID Update and Christmas:With the end of lockdown we will be resuming services from the 6th December with the same pattern as before lockdown. We are working hard on Christmas and will have full details of our events soon. Do be aware that we will be operating a booking system for our Christmas services, full details soon.Torbay Council is looking to train people throughout the community as 'COVID Champions'. Anyone can sign up for the on-line training where you will be told how to signpost people to reliable information about COVID and to sources of help if people are in difficulty. It is completely free to sign up, check out http://www.torbay.gov.uk/covid-champions for more information and to sign up.
