The Christmas Season began with the Christmas Vigil Mass (24 th Dec. 18.00) and lasts until the 11.00 Mass on the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord (11th Jan.). Between these two dates it is customary for parishioners (particularly families) to pay visits to the Crib to pray for their own families and also for those throughout the world who do not have the advantages of a family life like our own

Many, many thanks for all the Christmas wishes, thoughts, and cards received over the past couple of weeks - they are very much appreciated. Every good gift comes from the Father of light. May he grant you all his grace and every blessing, and keep you safe throughout the coming year. May he grant you all unwavering faith, constant hope, and love that endures to the end. May he order your days and works in his peace, hear your every prayer, and lead you to everlasting life and joy. Fr Daryl

Mary’s motherhood broadens our Christmas spotlight. Mary has an important role to play in the Incarnation of the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity. She consents to the invitation conveyed by the angel. Elizabeth proclaims: “Most blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” Mary’s role as mother of God places her in a unique position in God’s redemptive plan. Without naming Mary, St Paul asserts that “God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law.” Paul further states that “God sent the spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying out ‘Abba, Father!’” helps us realise that Mary is mother to all the brothers and sisters of Jesus. Some theologians also insist that her motherhood of Jesus is an important element in God’s creative plan. God’s “first” thought in creating was Jesus. Jesus, the incarnate Word, is the one who could give God perfect love and worship on behalf of creation. As Jesus was “first” in God’s mind, Our Lady was “second” insofar as she was chosen from all eternity to be his mother.  The Council of Ephesus in 431 insisted that the holy Fathers were right in calling the holy virgin Theotokos. In its chapter on Mary’s role in the Church, Vatican II’s Dogmatic Constitution on the Church calls her “Mother of God” twelve times.

The musings of one of God’s smallest creatures on events in and around the Parish over the past seven days . . . . A hectic week, given all the preparations for and celebration of the Nativity of the Lord . . . . . Sunday afternoon and evening was quite full-on: our last Advent Evening Prayer and Benediction, the annual Parish Advent Carol Service, followed by a Parish Social with mince pies and mulled wine. The Carol Service was really very, very good (Fr D met people from outside the Parish who come along because they find it so good!). Afterwards at the Parish Social there were a lot of people who stayed around enjoying the event and chatting with others for some while. This was a great start to our immediate Christmas celebrations. On Monday morning Fr D finalised the Vigil and Midnight Mass homilies and prepared the Intercessions for the Christmas Season. He was also able to get to the supermarket to get the fresh veg for the next few days (though he was less enthused about the numbers of people who obviously thought that the shops were not going to be open again for the next six months!). In the evening he went out to supper with the new Parish Priest of Weybridge - a very enjoyable evening, and very restful. The Christmas tree was erected and decorated in the church in the evening and the basic crib structure put in place (it was due to be decorated with the various statues during the Children’s Crib Service on Wednesday afternoon). Tuesday morning after Mass Fr D was pleased that the heating engineer for the church boiler came to find out why it had been working well throughout November and up to Sunday midday before it cut out before Evening Prayer & Benediction? In the event it appears that something was not reset at the service in October and the system thought that it had done it’s allotted hours! In the afternoon Fr D was trying to finish the newsletter for next week (so that Sarah didn’t feel that she had to find time to come in and print it before starting again next week). He also got started on looking at his diary to see what dates he could put aside in the new year to look at Confirmation with our four younger parishioners who have expressed an interest in exploring being confirmed in May. In the early afternoon the ladies came and prepared the flowers used to decorate the church over Christmas - wonderful!!! Having celebrated the last Mass before the Christmas season began in the morning. Fr D got the statues out and hid them behind the altar ready for the Children’s Crib Service in the afternoon. He then had time to say some prayers . . .

On Christmas Eve (Wednesday) there will be a special short service for our younger parishioners (0 > 8 years) in which we will sing three children’s carols as we talk about and prepare the Crib for our Christmas Season. This is not a Mass but is perhaps a chance to ‘calm things down’ before tea time.

St Stephen was a man filled with grace and power, working great wonders among the people. Certain Jews persuaded others to make the charge of blasphemy against him. He was seized and placed in front of the Sanhedrin. In his speech, Stephen recalled God’s guidance over Israel’s history, as well as Israel’s idolatry and disobedience.  His words brought anger from the crowd. “But filled with the holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, saying, ‘Behold, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.’ As they were stoning Stephen, he called out, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.’ …‘Lord, do not hold this sin against them.’”

The musings of one of God’s smallest creatures on events in and around the Parish over the past seven days . . . . Busy times around The Presbytery as things get into full swing ready for the coming feasts and celebrations . . . . . On Sunday afternoon the third of our celebrations of Advent Evening Prayer and Benediction took place; a chance for participants to step out from the secular rush of preparations in order to spend some quiet time with the Lord in prayer. Monday evening and Fr D was at St Peter’s School, Leatherhead meeting with the ‘shadow’ Parish Leadership Team for the new, ‘bigger’ Parish. At this the team were able to look at some of the responses from the recent consultation. They were also able to begin finalising the running order of the meetings that will be taking place in each community between mid-January and mid-February. Following on from Morning Prayer, Mass, and Exposition on Tuesday morning Fr D was able to complete the preparations for the Advent Adult Reconciliation Service planned for Friday evening along with the community from Effingham and Fetcham. In the evening our singers and musicians were practicing for the Parish Advent Carol Service on Sunday (21 st ), whilst Fr D was off over to Epsom to help them with their Adult Advent Reconciliation Service. On Wednesday, after Morning Prayer and Mass, Fr D moved items of furniture (long stools, votive stands, Dona machines, side tables etc.) from the church floor ready for the arrival of the workman who was to apply a new protective coat to the church floor. This meant that the church was locked in order to allow the floor to dry out afterwards. Once the workman had finished Fr D completed most of the common parts of the newsletter for this week and next (trying to steal a march as time is likely to be sparse!). Thursday morning, after Morning Prayer and Mass, Fr D did not go down to the diocesan offices in Crawley as he would normally as his secretary had said that there were several off with flu at present and he did not want to run the risk of catching it before/over Christmas. This meant that he could continue the work he was doing on the newsletters and start work on the Prayers of Intercession as well.  After Morning Prayer and Mass on Friday Fr D was able to get the church ready for the Reconciliation Service in the Evening . . . . . . .

24th January, 11.00-16.00 at St Michael’s Church, Worthing, BN13 3AL. Led by Bishop Richard and Catherine Christmas (diocesan Liturgy & Music Adviser) this day will include talks on the Scriptures, the Lectionary and its use in the Liturgy, the Liturgy of the Word, and preparing to minister as a reader. Register your free place: https://abdiocese.churchsuite.com/events/

This was formed last Sunday (7th December) at an Inauguration Mass celebrated by Bishop Richard at Christ the Prince of Peace. The Mass, which was attended by people and clergy from across the community of communities,’ ten churches and Mass centres, marked an important milestone in the development of mission in the Diocese, with Weybridge the third new parish to be formed this year. Speaking during the Mass, Bishop Richard remarked: “There have been many conversations and a lot of wonderful meetings to bring us to today’s celebration. Let us pray for one another, and continue to pray together, delving more deeply into the wonder of the Faith and working ever more closely in this great mission that the Lord has given to us, journeying with one another towards the Kingdom of Heaven.” Weybridge is the second deanery in Surrey to become a parish in the care of a group of priests working together ‘in solidum,’ with the priests as a whole - and each priest individually - responsible for the pastoral care of the new Parish.