Vicar’s Letter December 09	Archive
Jayne writes Have you ever tasted a hot roasted chestnut? I was amazed to discover recently how many folk have not experienced this – indeed in Brighton there are people who don’t know that you have to peel the shell off before eating them! How do I know this? Well through the wonders of the internet I have just been listening to my nephew being interviewed on Radio Sussex about the joys of the roasted sweet chestnut! Having graduated from University and living in Brighton, my nephew is, like many graduates, job hunting and taking what he can get, which is currently selling chestnuts to passers-by in Brighton and Hove. Top hatted (Dickensian style) and with an amazing selling patter about the nutritious qualities of the chestnut he is clearly enjoying life and making the most of the experience. He speaks eloquently of the goodness of the summer sunshine being packed into this glorious nut so that when harvested, roasted and eaten we experience a burst of all the summer goodness, especially vitamin C; this will ward off the flu and the common cold! He should know, having been kept free from pneumonia while standing out in the raging storms that have hit the south of England over recent days. I admire his spirit and his passion for what he is doing and look forward to a trip to Manchester or Chester, where perhaps I may find a chestnut seller! I am reminded of other winter traditions, hot chocolate by the fire, marsh mallows roasted in front of the fire – to get them so that they are melted inside but can still be taken whole from the toasting fork is definitely an acquired skill! I wonder what are your Advent and Christmas traditions? There are some lovely ways of ensuring that we do not forget the meaning at the heart of these wonderful seasons. One idea for families or indeed for those of us who live alone, is to make an Advent Ring, similar to that which we find in church, with four candles in a ring and one in the centre. On each of the Sundays of Advent an additional candle is lit, beginning with one on Advent Sunday and adding one more each time, until on Christmas Day the central white one is lit. There are special prayers that can be said as each candle is lit which recall us to the themes of Advent. The light gets brighter as we get closer to Christmas. You may also make a little ceremony of opening the windows of the Advent Calendar – a copy of one of these will be made available in church during Advent. As for Christmas – we look forward to welcoming you to your Parish Church for one or more of the Christmas services. On the Monday before Christmas we have a Christmas Crafts session in the Parish Room from 2 til 4. This is a great opportunity to bring your children and grandchildren and join in together making cards and other Christmas items, perhaps last minutes gifts or stocking fillers, as well as a chance to take time out from the hurly burly of shopping and cooking. You don’t have to have a child in tow – just be prepared to get stuck in and help others while making something for yourself! This has been for many people a difficult year – even if we ourselves have had a relatively good year we all know of others who have experienced bereavement and loss, unemployment, financial worries, illness, and we are all so aware of the losses in Afghanistan and of conflict and disaster in many parts of our world. Into this darkness Christ came as a light, giving hope and a promise of joy both now and to come. As we gather at the manger to worship the Christ Child, let us consider what gift we may bring to Jesus... I wish you all a Peaceful Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Vicar’s Letter December 09

Archive

Jayne writes
Have you ever tasted a hot roasted chestnut? I was amazed to discover recently how many folk have not experienced this – indeed in Brighton there are people who don’t know that you have to peel the shell off before eating them! How do I know this? Well through the wonders of the internet I have just been listening to my nephew being interviewed on Radio Sussex about the joys of the roasted sweet chestnut! Having graduated from University and living in Brighton, my nephew is, like many graduates, job hunting and taking what he can get, which is currently selling chestnuts to passers-by in Brighton and Hove. Top hatted (Dickensian style) and with an amazing selling patter about the nutritious qualities of the chestnut he is clearly enjoying life and making the most of the experience. He speaks eloquently of the goodness of the summer sunshine being packed into this glorious nut so that when harvested, roasted and eaten we experience a burst of all the summer goodness, especially vitamin C; this will ward off the flu and the common cold! He should know, having been kept free from pneumonia while standing out in the raging storms that have hit the south of England over recent days. I admire his spirit and his passion for what he is doing and look forward to a trip to Manchester or Chester, where perhaps I may find a chestnut seller! I am reminded of other winter traditions, hot chocolate by the fire, marsh mallows roasted in front of the fire – to get them so that they are melted inside but can still be taken whole from the toasting fork is definitely an acquired skill!

I wonder what are your Advent and Christmas traditions? There are some lovely ways of ensuring that we do not forget the meaning at the heart of these wonderful seasons. One idea for families or indeed for those of us who live alone, is to make an Advent Ring, similar to that which we find in church, with four candles in a ring and one in the centre. On each of the Sundays of Advent an additional candle is lit, beginning with one on Advent Sunday and adding one more each time, until on Christmas Day the central white one is lit. There are special prayers that can be said as each candle is lit which recall us to the themes of Advent. The light gets brighter as we get closer to Christmas. You may also make a little ceremony of opening the windows of the Advent Calendar – a copy of one of these will be made available in church during Advent.

As for Christmas – we look forward to welcoming you to your Parish Church for one or more of the Christmas services. On the Monday before Christmas we have a Christmas Crafts session in the Parish Room from 2 til 4. This is a great opportunity to bring your children and grandchildren and join in together making cards and other Christmas items, perhaps last minutes gifts or stocking fillers, as well as a chance to take time out from the hurly burly of shopping and cooking. You don’t have to have a child in tow – just be prepared to get stuck in and help others while making something for yourself!

This has been for many people a difficult year – even if we ourselves have had a relatively good year we all know of others who have experienced bereavement and loss, unemployment, financial worries, illness, and we are all so aware of the losses in Afghanistan and of conflict and disaster in many parts of our world. Into this darkness Christ came as a light, giving hope and a promise of joy both now and to come. As we gather at the manger to worship the Christ Child, let us consider what gift we may bring to Jesus...
I wish you all a Peaceful Christmas and a Happy New Year!