Newsletter - 7 January 2024
PARISH NEWS
Epiphany – the meaning of Christmas
Epiphany marks the end of the Christmas season. An epiphany is a moment of sudden and great revelation or realisation. On the church calendar it refers to the moment when the birth of Christ was made known to Gentiles with the Magi coming to honour the newborn child.
At one level we know very well the meaning of Christmas. It is the birth of Emmanuel – God with us, as foretold by the prophet Isaiah. But Epiphany is the moment when we can become aware of what that means in our daily lives. William Blake’s poem The Divine Image uses four words to describe what his coming into the world means for us now – mercy, pity, peace, and love.
To Mercy, Pity, Peace, and Love
All pray in their distress;
And to these virtues of delight
Return their thankfulness.
For Mercy, Pity, Peace, and Love
Is God, our father dear,
And Mercy, Pity, Peace, and Love
Is Man, his child and care.
For Mercy has a human heart,
Pity a human face,
And Love, the human form divine,
And Peace, the human dress.
Then every man, of every clime,
That prays in his distress,
Prays to the human form divine,
Love, Mercy, Pity, Peace.
And all must love the human form,
In heathen, Turk, or Jew;
Where Mercy, Love, and Pity dwell
There God is dwelling too.
Deacon Ted Wood, ccn
Focus of the Week
WEEK OF PRAYER FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY
18-25 January is the annual week of prayer for Christian Unity. There will be a service on Tuesday, 23 January at Christ the King at 7:30 to which we have invited Christians from the churches in our area. This year’s theme is “Being Good Neighbours” and will feature Jo Collins and Mary Ward from our local Chickenshed Theatre as well as selections from the Rock musical.
Join the Ecumenical Chorus!
Rock is a musical based on the life of St Peter. It was first performed in 1973 at the Parish of Christ the King and is being revived to celebrate Chickenshed’s 50th Anniversary.
Performances will be 24 March (Palm Sunday) and 25 March.
Rehearsals begin at Christ the King, weekly from Friday 26 January 7.15-8.30pm.
If you are interested, please email joc@chickenshed.org.uk