ST MARY'S CHURCH IS OPEN
The church is open every day for private prayer and reflection. Join us online for the Advent Sunday Service HERE.
Services will resume in the church from 6 December - normally weekly at 10. The online services will also continue to be available. See below for the special Services during Advent and the Christmas season - booking will be required for some.
SPECIAL SERVICES IN DECEMBER
CHRISTINGLE* 6 December 10.00am and 4.00pm
CAROLS BY CANDLELIGHT* 19 December 6.00pm
MIDNIGHT MASS Christmas Eve 11.30pm
FAMILY WORSHIP Christmas Day 10.30am
* Booking required: please email Becky on: ChurchAdmin_Becky@HolmburyStMary.org.uk, giving her the number in your group.
Archie and Lucinda Leaver, two young people from the Benefice, have made a video explaining the meaning of Christingle and showing you how to make one. Thank you, Archie and Lucinda!
REFLECTION
by Tony
Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.
Romans 12 v 12
I was reminded of this verse as I looked at a Bible Society calendar for next year. And what a timely reminder it was.
Advent, the season we are just beginning, is all about a future hope. Hope gives us a reason to rejoice. We could do with a reason to rejoice at the moment. God’s faithfulness is placed soundly in front of us as we remember the promises Christ made concerning His return, a reminder that we are not left bereft, but we can look forward to fulfilling our eternal destiny.
The pandemic has brought us a great deal of tribulation, and many have suffered much more than us, however the issue this verse addresses is not the degree to which we have faced tribulation, so much as how we have faced and dealt with such tribulation as has come our way. Patience is never easy, it goes against our nature even when it would be to our advantage to wait. But if we are able to cultivate it, it is a virtue that will give perspective in difficult times. This week as we move from national lockdown, to the tiered system and all its local implications may we discover the benefits of patience in times of tribulation.
The thing that will cement our hope and enable patience is prayer, and St Paul advises constancy in that. If we are tempted to wonder about why we might feel without hope, or are frustrated at our circumstances, maybe we need to look at our prayer life. That might give us an indicator, and also point the way forward.
Heavenly Father, thank you that you promise us a future and a hope, give us patience in all circumstances; may we learn to seek you in prayer day by day.
Amen
A message from Revd David Grundy, Associate Minister
Dear Friends,
I am so pleased you are visiting our website. As we enter a second lockdown, having spiritual content online becomes ever more important. As always, we will be publishing full services for each Sunday - with recordings of people from the congregation and village. You'll find the current service page in the menu. I really hope that you will enjoy taking part in them and feel close to people in the community here, as well as to God.
This second lockdown is in some ways harder than the first, partly because a lot of people are now just feeling a bit 'weary' of it all, but also because the days are shorter and colder, so we'll inevitably spend more time indoors. Our contact with one another is going to be crucial in the next few weeks, whether it's via walks together, meeting in our bubble, phoning each other or having some kind of online contact. Please do not hesitate to get in touch if you yourself are really struggling, by emailing me at davidgrundy19@gmail.com
This simple, but heartfelt prayer has been written recently - you may like to read or say it daily.
Best wishes,
David
“God is light; In him there is no darkness...”
[1 John 1:5]
St Mary's, the parish church of Holmbury St Mary, is a beautiful place to seek & know God.
Holmbury church is not, though, just a building; it is a community of worshippers who are here to serve each other, the Holmbury parish and the world beyond in witness to the Christian faith.
St Mary's offers friendship, fellowship and support throughout the village and further afield, not just for those who come to services but for everyone, regardless of age, race, gender, sexual orientation and belief.
If you would like to find out more or speak to someone in confidence, please contact
Revd. David Grundy on 01306 731142 or at
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“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find;
knock, and it will be opened to you.”
[Matthew 7:7]
