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 Sunday 10 January 2021
The First Sunday of Epiphany
The Baptism of Christ

As we move once again into stricter and more stringent conditions of lockdown – Tier 4+, I am mindful of the following quote, “Dark times lie ahead of us and there will be a time when we must choose between what is easy and what is right.” Do you know who said it? No it wasn’t Boris Johnson, nor the Archbishop of Canterbury – in fact it wasn’t any politician or church leader. The words were uttered by Albus Dumbledore, via the pen of J K Rowling, in Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire.

There are indeed likely to be dark times ahead, difficult decisions too, such is the pattern of life. Today’s Scriptures remind us that at the very beginning of Creation the earth was formless, empty and covered in darkness. Into this chaos God spoke light, and there was light, and God saw that it was good. So good in fact that God went on to create a perfect world, completing his work by creating humankind to manage and care for his creation.

Sadly humanity, which has a natural tendency to let God down, soon revealed its limitations and staggered from crisis to crisis until eventually God decided to intervene again with another burst of light. First the star that lit the birth of a saviour, and then the Baptism which revealed the identity of Christ as God’s beloved Son, our Saviour.

At a baptism service the church presents a lighted candle as a symbol of ‘the light of Christ’ and we are charged with the task to ‘shine as a light in the world to the glory of God the Father’.

As we move forward through the dark, difficult and daunting days ahead, it will not be the magic wand of a boy wizard that saves us from disaster, but the skill and judgement of medics, politicians, and the sacrifices of each one of us to do what is right. Gifts of the wisdom, grace, light and love of our creator God!

Revd John

Services, Worship, and Covid Update:
8 January 2021 - Tier 5   ‘Open for Service’

Although we must continue to strictly follow government and central church guidelines, we are currently still able to hold Church Services as well as on line services. This may change at any time.

Please see the latest issue of Staying in Touch.

Weekly church worship will continue to follow the pattern of:
Family Service - Sunday at 10.00am
Prayer Book Communion - Wednesday at 9.30pm.

Facebook Services:
If you are unable to view any of our  Facebook services through our website, please go directly to our Facebook page:
www.facebook.com/ChelsfieldStMartins

St.Martins Facebook Pages (Larger Version)

Daily Prayers - John Sargant and Val Hemmings are now broadcasting live daily prayers on Tuesdays and Thursday at 8.15am on our Facebook page:. www.facebook.com/ChelsfieldStMartins