Knowing, Growing In, And Sharing Jesus Christ In the Power of The Holy Spirit

   St Bartholomews Anglican Church

Christmas Day - Sunday 25th December 2011   

Dear Friends,

A very happy Christmas to you and yours!

The words from John’s gospel that we hear this morning are perhaps the most beautiful and important words in the bible.

“In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God and the word was God… through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made. In Him was life and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness but the darkness is not understood”.

What an extraordinary thing we celebrate today. The one who gave us life, who creates all life comes to live among us. The Word comes to open up for us what life is really all about. The Word comes to demonstrate (not just talk about) unconditional love and self-giving. In other words, the definition of true community. The Word comes to open up for us the reality of our spiritual being that transcends this life both before and afterwards.

Tragically, early on Thursday morning we lost one of the most lovely young men who worked at the Isle de France to a fatal scooter accident – largely as a result of the weather. When I went to visit him with those closest to him at the morgue on Thursday afternoon, it was absolutely apparent that although his body was there, he was not. He had gone. He had gone home. The pain of his loss will endure with his family and friends forever. However, seeing him there proved to me, yet again, that life clearly does continue and endure beyond death. For me, that was physical evidence of the fact.

Jesus came to not only show us the way but also to prove to us that we were loved into being and will be loved as a being throughout all eternity.

That is really something to celebrate, to experience and to enter into more deeply.

Do please keep dear Bertrand and his family in your prayers. And, amongst all the wonderful family celebrations of Christmas, do celebrate the reality of eternal life.

With love and blessings
 
Charlie

Notices :

Prayers : Let’s pray that the Holy Spirit will open our hearts and minds to the new truths that The Divine wishes to lead us into and let us never become fixed by our preconceptions and comfort zones

 AA meets in the church centre 2 times a week – Tuesdays and Fridays at 6:30pm

Wednesday : There will be no spirituality group this week.

Thursday : This excellent non-sectarian meditation group meets at 7pm in the church centre.

Sunday : 9 am: Family Eucharist

Website : www.stbartholomewsanglicanchurch.com 

Donations : We are an entirely volunteer church and dependent on your generosity and regular giving. Do please talk to Fr Charlie or one of the Church’s leadership about how to most effectively give to the church. (If you are a US citizen, giving through our US foundation is tax deductible).

Bishop : The Rt. Revd Errol Brooks, Bishop of the North Eastern Caribbean and Aruba

Vicar : The Revd Charlie Vere Nicoll – 0590271306

Visiting Clergy :

Wardens : Marjorie Romney - 0590277201

Treasurer : Alex Harbord

Vestry : Clarion Romney, The Wardens, Trinette Wellesley-Wesley, Susanna Freer-Passburg, Rachel Barrett- Trangmar, Dave Jackson, Lloyd Younger.

Chairman of friend's of St. Bartholomew's Anglican Church US Charitable Foundation : Bill Barrett

Friend's of St. Bartholomew's Anglican Church US Charitable Foundation : C/O Ms Ann Green, P.O. Box 6199, Fair Haven, New Jersey 07704, Tel: (732) 741 1500, Fax: (732) 741 1925, Email: Anncwgreen@aol.com

Music Director : Charles Darden 

Isaiah 52: 7-10How beautiful upon the mountains
   are the feet of the messenger who announces peace,
who brings good news,
   who announces salvation,
   who says to Zion, ‘Your God reigns.’
Listen! Your sentinels lift up their voices,
   together they sing for joy;
for in plain sight they see
   the return of the Lord to Zion.

Break forth together into singing,
   you ruins of Jerusalem;
for the Lord has comforted his people,
   he has redeemed Jerusalem. 
The Lord has bared his holy arm
   before the eyes of all the nations;
and all the ends of the earth shall see
   the salvation of our God.

Hebrews 1: 1-4 - THE LETTER TO THE Hebrews

God Has Spoken by His Son

Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom he also created the worlds. He is the reflection of God’s glory and the exact imprint of God’s very being, and he sustains all things by his powerful word. When he had made purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.

John 1: 1-14 - The Gospel According to John

The Word Became Flesh

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.

He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God.

And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.