Author: Georgina South

The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen… And all those who heard it marvelled at what the shepherds told them. Luke 2

Today starts the season of Advent, a time of waiting in hope and expectation. We wait for that glorious day when Jesus will return in power and majesty and will right all that is wrong.
And we wait in expectation of Christmas when we celebrate Immanuel, God with us.
It also starts all the busyness in the run up to Christmas, and for many this can be a very hectic and stressful time.

As I was thinking about what to write I thought of those shepherds busy in the fields looking after the sheep. What if they had decided they were too busy to go and find the Saviour of the world? What about the innkeepers too busy, too full to find a room for the Saviour to be born?
Yes, the run up to Christmas can be manic, but what of you and me? Will we be too busy to wonder with Mary, to rejoice with the Shepherds, to praise God for his wonderful promise to be with us always?

As we continue to journey together through this Advent, let us, like the shepherds, make time to spend in the presence of God, then we too might find our Saviour in the most unexpected places and the most surprising ways.

Lord Jesus, in this ‘waiting’ time help us to live every day to the full and yet to live every day as though it were our last, so that, whenever you come, we may be ready to greet you with gladness, joy and welcoming love. Amen (Joyce Huggett)

Love, Sandra

This month at Messy Church we considered Matthew 9 v 9- 13 where Jesus calls Matthew and eats with Tax Collectors.

We were thinking about the qualities of leadership and how Jesus was the perfect example. We heard how Matthew the tax collector was ready to follow Jesus straight away and how Matthew changed when he did this. We thought about how we could follow Jesus and he could be the light in our lives.

You are warmly invited to our Nativity Festival being held in St Martin’s Church, Trimley over the weekend of 8th to 10th December.

Our Mission Statement is “to grow in faith together through the love of God, be empowered to make Jesus known and inspired by the Holy Spirit to be His light in our communities” and this underpins all our activities within our benefice.

Our team of volunteers at our Drop In on Thursdays 10am to 1.30pm at St Philip’s Community Hub, Wadgate Road.

We have mid-week services available on three days:

On Mondays: Morning Prayer will be at 9.15am in St Mary’s Walton followed by Coffee, Cake & Chat (3Cs) from 10am to 12pm

On Wednesdays: Holy Communion will be at 9.15am in St Martins, Trimley followed by Café 10 from 10am to-12pm

On Thursdays: Morning Prayer will be at 9.15am in St Philip’s Community Hub, then the Hub is open from 10am to 1.30pm