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Dear Parishoners,

This coming weekend we celebrate King Charles III Coronation. Some may remain at home watching events unfold on their television, others will gather in small social groups or journey out to celebrate in larger organised events such as community street parties. Most people in the United Kingdom (and many across the world) will share in the experience.

King Charles said on the death of his beloved mother: “The role and the duties of Monarchy remain, as does the Sovereign’s particular relationship and responsibility towards the Church of England – the Church in which my own faith is so deeply rooted.” The King has a role of Supreme Governor of the Church of England, a title dating back to the 16th century and has responsibilities for supervising those who run the church, both in terms of its administration and its pastoral care.

Thus, the Coronation is an opportunity to highlight Christian values that underpin that faith, thankfulness, compassion. endurance, creativity, justice, peace, and wisdom, and to remind ourselves of our calling to reflect those values in the way we live our lives. Our late Queen Elizabeth demonstrated these throughout her reign; we hope and trust that Charles will continue to live into that legacy.

But there is more to the occasion. Whenever I preside over pastoral gatherings baptisms, weddings, or funerals, I am conscious of how important memories are, and that within the event itself sacred memories are being created. Memories are so important in helping us to maintain a bond with our loved ones, reminding us of the impact they’ve had and are having on our lives, and bringing to light what is truly important in life.

The Coronation can help us to come together as a community and as the United Kingdom. Those bonds can be strengthened by positive memories. I pray that we will work to create some very special memories this weekend that will unite us as families, as a community and as the UK and that we will all share joy and peace as we celebrate the Coronation of our new King!

Thank you to all whose hard work and generosity are making our community celebrations possible.

Join us in a special Coronation service, Celebrating King Charles III 

I have such lovely memories of Christmas past; my father patiently unscrewing every coloured fairy light to find the broken one followed by the family cheer when he was successful; a special table cloth placed on the sideboard ready for fizzy drinks that were only permitted at Christmas; the cupboard of tasty treats added piecemeal over the preceding months bought out of the weekly budget; enthusiastically decorating the tree before colour coordination or minimalism were embraced, writing letters to Father Christmas to throw into the fire so they would float up to him in the sky; ‘helping’ mum decorate the Christmas cake with plastic ornaments; making sticky peppermint creams and marzipan stuffed dates.  All precious moments filled with the season sentiments of love, wonder and joy.

 It was only in my adulthood that I experienced the awe and anticipation of attending midnight Communion on Christmas Eve and appreciated the depth of the Christian message in the birth of Jesus.

My childhood Christmas was filled mainly with excitement, but I did appreciate that everyone seemed a bit kinder and more caring through the season.  Now as an adult the emotions attached to this special time have grown to include a tangible mixture of faith, hope and love.    

Every time I celebrate the Eucharist at midnight on Christmas Eve I have an overwhelming sense of new beginnings, a time of renewal of faith not only in a sense of religious traditions but also deep within my soul. I am left with a powerful sense of God’s love and a renewed desire to share that love.  

Christmas is enchanting but the potential held within our hearts is even more magical. Our ability to love one another, to renew our faith and bring hope into our lives and the lives of others, are the greatest of gifts to bestow and receive at Christmas. The greatest presents are not those wrapped in expensive paper or dressed in colourful tags and bows they are the gift of generosity of time and unconditional love that we give to each other.  

This time of year, as we come together to celebrate the birth of our saviour, the one who makes all things new, let us turn the page, sing a new song, hold our hands up high and shine a light… together. We can be the light; we can be the song and we can be the sanctuary. And when we gather together in faith, we become a church.  

May you have a magical Christmas.