MERRY CHRISTMAS!
For the majority of society, Christmas will be over after the 25th. Oh sure, there will be leftovers in the fridge and a mess of paper and boxes and stockings still to clean up, but the festivities will be done.
For those of us with faith, however, the festivities are just beginning. Christmas is a season, not a day—and it begins with the Eve of Christmas, sunset on the 24th. And while we celebrate the first day of Christmas on the 25th, the journey continues until the Epiphany on 06 January. These are the true 12 days of Christmas, having nothing to do with that rather annoyingly long song! These are the 12 days of spiritually traveling—as the shepherds did—to follow a great a growing light in our lives.
So this year I invite us all to maintain the celebration of Christmas throughout the entire season—may we hold in our hearts the joy and felicity due to the birth of the Christ child. May we show the world that the great light promised to the world is alive within us—and emanating from us—into the world, long beyond the confines of December 25th.
I wish you a truly joy-filled and happy Christmas.
BIBLE STUDY
Bible study has been a huge success across our wider parish. And so, due to popular demand, we will be increasing our frequency!
All are welcome to join us—at any time—as we journey through an hour of our Anglican history, followed by an hour of scriptural study. There’s no homework or presumed knowledge, and you can start at any point. We read together, and allow (encourage!) the Spirit to guide our discussions.
We will recommence 10/11 January and meet weekly:
Binscarth:
Tuesdays, 1.30pm
Birtle:
Tuesdays, 6.30pm
Roblin:
Wednesdays, 6.30pm
COMMUNICATIONS Q & A...
Q: I called the church several times; why did I not get a call back?
A: The church phone does NOT have caller ID. Unless a message is left on the answering machine, I have no way of knowing you called.
Q: If I can’t reach you at the church phone, should I call your home number?
A: No. The church phone rings in the rectory—if I am there I will answer it, if not I check messages at least once a day. My personal phone is for my personal use only, not for church calls. In case of emergency, please get in touch with me via my mobile phone (wardens have the number).
Q: Why is there no information about *whatever event* in the PlainsSpeak?
A: No information was passed along to me to put in. I asked (in all our congregations) for information, none was received. If you would like information included in future, you need to submit it to me (preferably in writing!)
Q: I have a complaint about something in the church. Should I go to a warden?
A: Only if your problem is with that person! If the complaint addresses the church, it needs to go to the rector. So please come and see me—I’m approachable! Wardens are not meant to be conduits for complaints. See Matthew 18.15.
Q: Shouldn’t the rector be doing more visiting?
A: I do a fair amount of pastoral visiting every week. I put priority on those most in need; in care homes and hospitals and shut-ins. While I wish I could do more visiting, with 5 congregations my time I limited.
Have more questions? Please ask! The only silly question is the one not asked...
SCRIPTURE FOR WORSHIP
JANUARY:
01: Numbers 6.22-27; Psalm 8; Galatians 4.4-7; Luke 2.15-21
08: Genesis 1.1-5; Psalm 29; Acts 19.1-7; Mark 1.4-11
15: 1 Samuel 3.1-10; Psalm 139-1-5, 12-17; 1 Corinthians 6.12-20; John 1.43-51
22: Jonah 3.1-5,10; Psalm 62.6-14; 1 Corinthians 7.29-31; Mark 1.14-20
29: Deuteronomy 18.15-20; Psalm 111; 1 Corinthians 8.1-13; Mark 1.21-28
FEBRUARY:
05: Isaiah 40.21-31; Psalm 147.1-12; 1 Corinthians 9.16-23; Mark 1.29-39
12: 2 Kings 5.1-14; Psalm 30; 1 Corinthians 9.24-27; Mark 1.40-45
19: 2 Kings 2.1-12; Psalm 50.1-6; 2 Corinthians 4.3-6; Mark 9.2-9
26: Genesis 9.8-17; Psalm 25.1-9; 1 Peter 3.18-22; Mark 1.9-15
MARCH:
04: Genesis 17.1-7,15-16; Psalm 22.22-30; Romans 4.13-25; Mark 8.31-38
11: Exodus 20.1-17; Psalm 19; 1 Corinthians 1.18-25; John 2.13-22
18: Numbers 21.4-9; Psalm 107.1-3,17-22; Ephesians 2.1-10; John 3.14-21
25: Jeremiah 31.31-34; Psalm 51.1-13; Hebrews 5.5-10; John 12.20-33
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