Longniddry Church is proud to be a public place of worship. Our doors are open for many acts of worship, weekly and monthly, as well as being home to lots of other groups (both church and non-church). Please join us at sometime - you, your family and your guests are very welcome indeed. |
Christmas: a season of joy and happiness? As you may yourself know, for a great many people, Christmas can be a season of real extremes.
Several years ago, I watched a TV programme featuring the Rev Steve Chalke, who described Christmastime as a magnifying glass. If you are happy in December, then all the festivities normally get bigger and better. But (and it’s a huge but) if you are sad, then you can expect that magnifying glass of Christmas to enlarge your sadness and hurt too.
Those of us who have lost family members at Christmas remember all too clearly what a strangely dislocating experience it is to be bereaved when everyone else is in the full flow of festive celebrations. That’s why it’s so important to remember what this up-and-coming season can mean, not just to revellers in their partying, but also to grieving men, women and children in their confusion and loneliness.
Over the last couple of years we have held services in December to help those who have been bereaved, perhaps quite recently, or else longer ago. In 2011, we will have a “longest night service” at 7pm on Thursday 22nd December, the darkest day of the year. It is going to be a very short and simple act of worship, with plenty of opportunity for folk to sit in quiet reflection should they wish to do so. It will also offer a welcome space for people to remember that they are not alone in their loss.
When the church speaks about light in our darkness, we don’t just mean the pleasant glow of a candle at Christmastime. We mean the light of hope which God sends into our darkness, showing that his love is real: real in the person of Jesus, and real in the working of God’s Holy Spirit today.
With all good wishes for Advent and Christmas,
Robin Hill
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We have been busy helping to produce the Christmas CD (priced very reasonably at £5) as well as the Youth Church 2012 calendar, with each month being illustrated by fabulous works of original art! The calendars are available for £7. All profits made from the sale of CDs and calendars are going towards the Christian Aid Karonga Project in Malawi. Please contact Sally Cochrane if you would like to place an order for either the calendar or the CD.
We are always in need of extra helpers (and it doesn't have to be every week!!)
If you would like to volunteer to help with a group, please contact Beth Elliott on 853423.
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