St Andrew's Church

Your Community, Your Church

Silent Night

Silent night, holy night
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon Virgin Mother and Child
Holy Infant so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace
Sleep in heavenly peace.

In the midst of mud and bloodshed, of the western front, a hush fell in many places as an unofficial truce established between the German and British lines on the evening of 24th December 1914. In that hush were heard the words of “Stille Nacht” or “Silent Night” as we translate from the originally Austrian poem. Many other carols were shared, even gifts of cigarettes and cheese exchanged, football was played – not everywhere, in fact the shelling and gunfire continued in many places – but for a few brief hours peace descended in the midst of war 100 years ago.

I cannot imagine what those days were like, but I draw hope from glimpses of human love and peace in the midst of such violence that was inflicted by opposing armies, in that glimpse I see something of the divine nature which dwells inside all of us (yes for some it seems to be buried very deep – but I believe it to be there nonetheless). I also glimpse how God can bring peace and even Joy in the midst of troubling times. Whether its war, argument, grief, relationship breakdown, despair and depression – I believe that God can bring that stillness and peace if we are prepared to lay down the guns of out emotion, anger and despair for a moment and call out to him, as the soldiers in opposing trenches called out to one another.

If this sort of peace can exist in places like no man’s land, it can exist for us in the long dark night of the soul which we all travel through.  We’d love to help you find that peace this Christmas time and to know the gift which God gives to the world, being born in Jesus, the Christ Child.

In addition to simply being available on Friday Mornings, Sunday Mornings and each weekday morning between 9 and half past, the ministry team at St Andrews can be available to come and visit you at home – Just give us a call. Likewise if you’d like to come to church but have no transport we can often arrange lifts for folk. – Just give us a call. Maybe you’d not like a visit but just to ask for us to pray for you – Just give us a call.

I pray, that this Christmas, even if just for that one night, you may know the peace which God seeks to bring to us through the offering of Himself to the world in the precious, fragile gift of Jesus, who came to live, die and rise again for us.

Blessings this Christmas time,

Revd. Chris Ramsey
Tel:  01787 376293
Email: vicar@standrews-gc.org.uk

Dates and Times Christmas Services and Events:

Sunday 30th November 3 and 6pm           Christmas Panto – “Snow White and the Seven Talls
Friday   5th December    6pm                       First Friday Film
Sunday 7th December    3pm                       Messy Church Christmas Celebration
Sunday 21st December  4 & 6.30pm         Christmas Carol Services
Christmas Eve                   3pm                       Crib Service
11pm                     Midnight Mass

Christmas Day                   10am                     Christmas Morning Celebration service with Holy Communion

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Contact

Rev’d Chris Ramsey
Tel: 01787 376 293
Email: vicar@standrews-gc.org.uk.
Further contact details can be found under the “About us” menu

 

Address: St Andrews Church
Church Road,
Great Cornard,
CO10 0EL

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