HOW GOOD, HOW JOYFUL, TO LIVE TOGETHER IN UNITY!

Transcription

1 Christmas Quiz continued Shepherds and Wise Men 9 The shepherds and the wise men went to see Jesus. Which group followed a star and which group went to find the baby because an angel told them where to look? 10 What did the angels sing to the shepherds? 11 When the shepherds went looking for Jesus, what was the sign they were to look for? 12 How many wise men/ kings came to see Jesus? 13 Matthew 2:8 says that Herod asked the wise men to inform him where the baby Jesus was. Why does this verse say he wanted to know? 14 How old was Jesus when the wise men found him? 15 What are the three gifts which are mentioned being given by the wise men? ANGLICAN, BAPTIST, METHODIST, MORAVIAN, UNITED REFORMED CHURCH CHURCH OF THE HOLY FAMILY 1 Cuddesdon Way, Blackbird Leys, Oxford OX4 6JH BLACKBIRD LEYS HOW GOOD, HOW JOYFUL, TO LIVE TOGETHER IN UNITY! The Holy Family magazine 30p December January 2015

2 1. Christmas Giving Each year at our Christmas Services our Collections and Donations are divided between one home local charity and one overseas charity. This year the donations will go to BLAP and Ebola relief. Overseas: Since the Ebola outbreak in West Africa was officially declared on March 22 in Guinea, it has claimed 4,919 lives in the region. The outbreak is the largest ever, and is currently affecting four countries in West Africa: Mali, Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. The United Nations Mission for Ebola Emergency Response has been set up and will be based in Ghana to pursue five strategic priorities: stop the spread of the disease, treat the infected, ensure essential services, preserve stability, and prevent the spread of the disease to countries currently unaffected. (Mail Online Dec 2 nd 14) Pictured is Odell Kpaingba, 17, holding her brother Daniel, five months, next to her brothers (from left) Josiah, 5, Otis, 8 and Chancy, 15. The family are orphans after the Ebola virus claimed both their parents. 10. From the registers Funeral: Diana Bushell Baptism: Kian James Myles Confirmation: Bishop John and Revd Adam Stevenson confirmed: Tammy, Rascinen and Rashida Williams, Lesley Harper and Rose Kamau. Locally: BLAP -The playground, on the corner of Blackbird Leys Road and Cuddesdon Way, was brought back to life in 2011 thanks to a 6,590 grant. Since then the estate s children have benefited from year-round play groups and courses, which are funded by charitable donations and grants from Blackbird Leys Parish Council. (Leys News Nov 14) Christmas at Holy Family: Sunday 21 st December: 6.30pm Carol Service Wednesday 24 th December: 3pm Childrens Christmas Carol Service with Crafts pm Midnight Mass Thursday 25 th : 10am Christmas Morning Eucharist

3 9. DIARY Sunday services: Holy Communion and Children s church 10.00am, Time Out Quiet Service 6.30pm Weekday regular events: Mondays Church office open pm Tuesdays: Prayer for the work of Holy Family pm Wednesday Morning Prayer 8.30am Bible Study 7.30pm Thursday Morning Eucharist 9.00am; December Sunday 21 st 10am Eucharist 6.30pm Carol Service Wednesday 24 th 3pm Children s Christmas Carol Service with Crafts pm Midnight Mass Thursday 25 th 10am Christmas Morning Eucharist 2. From the Vicar s desk From the Vicars desk In the news this week there has been a great deal made of the traditional nativity play in our schools. Research revealed that traditional nativity plays are being ditched in favour of Christmas pop songs, with only a third of schools holding a traditional nativity play. New modern Christmas plays have a whole host of characters so that instead of shepherds and angels, children are just as likely to be cast as spacemen, aliens, Elvis, footballers, a lobster, a napkin, carrots, sprouts, a pumpkin, recycling bins, footballers and punk fairies. Here on the Leys our own schools have a live nativity taking place with a real donkey, sheep and camels! For many parents, the nativity play is a central part of their Christmas celebrations. Along with the desire for their little Joey to play one of the leading roles. Yet in the story, Mary and Joseph are just ordinary people. The High Priest doesn t get the role of coming and announcing the Christ has come on the steps of the temple in Jerusalem, Lion King Style. King Herod and the other important leaders also miss out on lead roles. They are left to the unlikely, a young single mother, a carpenter, shepherds and foreigners. For many people, going to church for Carol Services or Midnight Mass are part of their family traditions. The four weeks of Advent are given us to prepare, to wait, for the coming of the new born babe. Emmanuel God-with-us: overwhelming joy and generosity in the gift of himself. Given to us the unremarkable ordinary people, as a gift, to share with those around us. Perhaps, as we prepare, we could look again at the gospel message we have been given for I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, naked and you clothed me, sick and in prison and you visited me It is easy to become cynical about all the glitter and tinsel, the mad rush of buying, wrapping and cooking. And yet we could put alongside the cynicism, the joy of writing and receiving cards, keeping in touch with people we might not have seen all year, the pleasure at giving a gift that will be well received; as we also remember those who will be sick, lonely, cold or hungry. Our giving from our Christmas Service s will be going to help children orphaned by Ebola and also for our local children s playground BLAP.

4 3. (See inset advert.) May we be generous in our concern for our neighbour, as we head into this wonderful season. Merry Christmas! Heather CHRISTMAS COLOURING you can colour in these pictures Here s King Herod. He wants to know where the baby Jesus is so that he can kill him. Do you know why? Here s the Blessed Virgin Mary with the baby Jesus. Mary is usually shown wearing a blue robe. 8. was welcome, but scarce. We arrived as twilight fell, and I wanted nothing but a clean place to lay my burden down. Joseph found the inn filled with swifter travellers, but begged for room out of the crush and din. I was glad of the stable straw, the quiet munching around me in the dark as the pains clustered thick upon me like the beating of heavy wings. I held hard to Joseph s hand, sang to myself an old birth-song I didn t remember learning. The opening above the door showed stars springing free of clouds as the night grew clear. My body learned its work, the channel washing new life into the world. When I heard the first cry, I allowed myself the first tears, and Joseph laughed, for joy, or because I was weeping, or to see the perfect boychild, tiny parts all in place. Perhaps he d been expecting wings. I sent him for water, and found the bundle of salves and swaddling bands. The door to the ox-stall held a manger with a little sweet hay left in it. I found more in a corner, and clean straw for us to lie on. Soon the baby slept in his makeshift bed and we rested, watching the bright stars, unable to sleep for wonder at the way the world had changed. Elizabeth Danson (Russell s sister)

5 7. Mary s Tale I was nobody special as a child, ran barefoot in spring and harvest season with the others in the village, carrying water from the well, babies on our backs, small loaves with fishes preserved in oil or salt to our fathers working in the fields and vineyards. Joseph and I had been friends among friends, then slowly settled into an understanding, encouraged by parents and the village elders. Some of them liked to tease, to see the blood rise in my cheeks when our names were linked. How could I tell him, or anyone, how it happened that I knew I d never be ordinary again, the white wings in the sunbeam s dazzle nothing I could ever describe clearly, though the words echoed in my head: You will be mother... Then came the time of the poll tax and the journey back to the home town, Bethlehem. We d come to terms slowly over the nine months, and Joseph took care of me like the best of husbands. It was strange to know, or anyway to believe, our child would be a boy. The day we were to reach the town was hard from midday onwards. Pains stole my appetite for the hard cheese and raisins, all we had left. Water 4. A Christmas Quiz Joseph and Mary 1 Who told Mary and Joseph to go to Bethlehem? 2 True or False: Mary and Joseph went to Bethlehem for the birth of Jesus because they were following a star. 3 What form of transportation did Mary and Joseph use to get to Bethlehem? Jesus 4 Which Old Testament prophet had the most to say about the birth of Christ? 5 In the accounts announcing the birth of Christ (Matthew 1 and Luke 1 and 2) how many times did an angel or angels appear? 6 Who told Joseph the baby s name was to be Jesus? 7 Can you list 5 names of Jesus found in the Bible? Some are from Old Testament prophecies. 8 What are the meanings of the names Jesus and Emmanuel? Continued on back page

6 5. 6. Clergy Free Church Minister Cashew Nut Roast Revd Adam Stevenson 8 Fry s Hill Anyone for a vegetarian Christmas? This is good: adam.stevenson@oxfordmethodists.org.uk Anglican Incumbent Revd Heather Carter 5 Cuddesdon Way medium onion, chopped 1 tsp dried mixed herbs revhev2@gmail.com 1 oz butter 2 oz ground almonds 1 large tomato, skinned & 4 oz finely ground cashews chopped 2 medium mushrooms, 4 oz fresh wholemeal breadcrumbs chopped 1 ½ tsps plain flour 1 egg 5 fl oz (veg) stock salt & pepper 1 ½ tsps yeast extract 2-3 tblsps dried breadcrumbs for coating Preheat oven to 190/375/Gas 5. Grease 1-lb loaf tin & line w th buttered greaseproof or non-stick paper to cover base of tin & extend up narrow sides. Sprinkle base & sides w th dried breadcrumbs. Fry onion in butter for 10 mins till soft, then add tomato & mushroom & fry for 2-3 mins. Stir in flour, cook for 2 mins, then add stock & stir till thickened. Remove fr heat & add rest of ingredients + seasoning. Spoon mixture into prepared tin, level top & cover with greased foil. Bake for 45 mins, till firm in centre. (Remove foil for last 15 mins to allow browning.) Let stand for 5 mins, then slip knife round edges & invert onto warmed serving dish. Decorate with mushroom, roasted nuts & sliced tomato, if wished. Church Officers Group Tom Baker (Secretary) 18 Partridge Walk Alan Tadiello 2 Grebe Close (Treasurer) Sasha East 13 Allin Close Beverley Humberstone 75 Little Bury Margaret Norwood 16 Kennett Road Andrew Pledge 2 Andromeda Close Gloria Phillips Joey Phillips 1 Crowberry Rd 28 Bray Close Russell Price 190 Pegasus Road Cora Spencer 16 Windale Avenue Church Office: The Church Centre, 1 Cuddesdon Way Office Hour: one of the staff are there on Mondays pm to talk about: Thanksgiving and Blessing Weddings Infant Baptism Confirmation Dedication Banns Adult Baptism Church Membership Some of the organisations already using the Church Centre: Guides Heather Retter Brownies Jennifer Pleass Rainbows Alexandra Cripps Web-site: Please let Victoria have anything for inclusion in the next magazine by 9 January by or post as follows: Victoria Mort victoria@morthome.com 232 Abingdon Rd OX1 4SP