December 2025

The Sunday after Christmas Day has long been dedicated to the ‘Holy Family’, shifting the attention off the infant Jesus alone and on to his extended human family. In fact this year’s Gospel reading is a record of one of the very few references to anything in Jesus’ life before the beginning of his ministry at about age 30. The time when he remained behind in Jerusalem after his parents and others had travelled there to celebrate the Passover. There is significance in his remaining behind at the Passover but that’s for later in the year but also we are...

Some years ago, a celebrity was asked this fatuous question by a TV interviewer:

“Have you always been a comedian?”

To which he made the instant and withering reply:

“No. I used to be a baby.”

Today’s Gospel has, at its heart, the truth that we are celebrating today. The truth that God in Jesus Christ used to be a baby. The Council of Nicaea expressed it in these words, 1700 years ago this year:

“For us and for our salvation

he came down from heaven;

by the power of the Holy Spirit

he became incarnate of the Virgin Mary...”...

  The Rehearsal 

One of the kings has stage fright,

An angel has broken her wing,

And Mary has just dropped the baby,

Thank heavens it’s not the real thing!

Two of the shepherds are fighting,

The innkeeper’s never on cue,

And Joseph keeps disappearing,

They say he’s gone to the loo!

Tomorrow it should be better

Or it could be worse than today!

Still everyone’s going to love it

The Nursery Nativity Play!

                                  Anonymous

What if it hadn’t been a...

7 Be patient, therefore, beloved, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious crop from the earth, being patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains. ⁸You also must be patient. Strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near. ⁹Beloved, do not grumble against one another, so that you may not be judged. See, the Judge is standing at the doors! ¹⁰As an example of suffering and patience, beloved, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.        James 5:7-10

Gardeners, like...

In the sermon last week, we were reminded that in the early Christian centuries, Advent had four themes – Death, Judgement, Hell and Heaven. Nowadays other themes are emphasised, including Hope, Peace, Joy and Love. So today, the Second Sunday in Advent, can be thought of as about Judgement but also as about Peace. Our readings reflect those themes – Isaiah speaks of judgement and of the peaceable kingdom it will make possible. In our Gospel, John the Baptist comes across as a very judgemental person. He doesn’t mince his words. The Pharisees and Sadducees who have come to be...

Advent 1 - Year A – GS 2025    The Four Last Things

Advent is a time of loitering – well that’s what the Rector told me a few weeks ago when I asked his thoughts about Advent. A time of loitering. But loitering is hanging about with no real purpose or aim – unless that is, it’s loitering with intent. And loitering with intent used to be a criminal offence connected with vagrancy.

I’m sure Dean wasn’t encouraging either aimlessness or criminality during Advent. But he certainly got me thinking. 

We begin Advent, and the first day of the...