Dear Friends,

I hope that you have been able to keep safe and warm through the extended cold and aftermath of last week's snow. I know the icy conditions in high and remote areas mean that there are a number of you who have not been able to get out. I've been keeping you in my thoughts and prayers and I hope neighbours have been supportive.

As a result of the weather there are changes to the published services tomorrow:

Cancelled Services:

9am Lynmouth - there will be no 9am Holy Communion

3pm Trentishoe- the planned Carol Service will not take place due to icy conditions around the church and in routes towards it.

Provisional:

6pm Parracombe- currently we are hoping for the planned Parracombe Carol Service to go ahead but it is dependent on a continued thaw of the ice around the church. A final decision will be made tomorrow morning.

As usual:

11am Lynton: the Holy Communion for 4th Sunday in Advent will take place as usual

The message of this week's readings is that the child that Mary brings into the world is "Emmanuel" - God with is. We come to the final week of waiting and preparing to celebrate the birth of Jesus who comes to reveal God's presence in all conditions of human life. Around us there are lots of reasons why life doesn't feel smooth - there are multiple disruptions around us locally, nationally and internationally and yet remarkably the Christmas story we tell connects with so much of that uncertainty and displacement. "God with us" travelled to make sure his family were registered and had nowhere to stay when they got there, were dependent on the kindness of strangers and then hustled away as refugees. God with us in all the places of disruption and displacement - all the places which are messy and imperfect. As we travel through whatever this week might bring let's pray to recognise God with us in all of it.

God bless

Samantha

The Current Plan for Christmas Services

December 24th

12noon - 1pm St Mary's Lynton: informal time for visiting church to light candles in remembrance of all we love and see no longer.

3pm St Mary's Lynton: Candles at the Crib: a family friendly Crib Service

11.30pm St John's Lynmouth: Midnight Mass

December 25th

9am Christchurch Parracombe Christmas Day Communion

11am St Mary's Lynton Christmas Day Communion