I hope you all had a very happy Christmas. In both Gainford and Winston, numbers were up (in some cases markedly so) which while not being the be all and end all, does make for a special atmosphere. Just a few lines to you all between Christmas and New Year.

At Gainford's carol service I kidded people that the C of E had decreed that next year all clergy had to wear liturgical headgear and that we had been chosen as a pilot church to model the various headgear and I would wear a different one during each carol. The first one was a Turkey on my head, the second a pixie hat etc......The one that got the biggest laugh was a rather fetching halo...............................

Winston's carol service was standing room only - I think well over 20% of the village must have been in church and on Christmas morning at Gainford we had musical backing from Neil on piano and Courtney from Australia on the flute, which lent a special flavour to proceedings.

Over the four services on Christmas eve and Christmas day I used two main sermons which were related in content. If you want to read the short one just click here; http://revmartinjacques.blogspot.com/2011/12/bread-of-life.html and the longer one, just click here; http://revmartinjacques.blogspot.com/2011/12/light-of-world.html

Will be a struggle as it is the day after New year's eve/ I'll say no more. Confusion reigns in my head, Is it Christmas 1 or 2, Oh well, I've plumped for Luke 2: 15-21 appropriate because eight days after his birth Jesus is circumcised - ouch.

Although most westerners associate male circumcision as a religious covenanted rite specific to Jews, circumcision is in fact a cultural expression first that later assumed a religious value (a bit like the full veil for women in Islam which is not "Islamic" per se but an expression of Arab culture). The earliest records of circumcision go back to the ancient Egyptians and later was common in all Semitic cultures in the near East (Both Jews and Arabs are Semitic. It always makes me laugh when Palestinians are accused of being anti Semitic ha ha). It is probable that circumcision as a mark of religious separateness for the Jews actually emerged during the exile in Babylon. Circumcision as a mark of religious separateness wouldn't have worked in Israel/Palestine because nearly all men in those surrounding cultures were also circumcised but significantly, the Babylonians did not practise this rite, so circumcision would have assumed a much larger role in proclaiming distinctiveness from their Babylonian rulers. The book of Genesis and the story of Abraham being circumcised, although set in the distant mists of Jewish beginnings was in fact actually written at the time of the exile in Babylon so this also fits this theory perfectly. Abraham's circumcision (Genesis 17) as a covenant sign is most likely an anachronistic projection backwards of a current situation (Babylonian bondage) onto a mythical/historical figure.  Nowadays the rite is a requirement in Judaism, very common in Islam (but not a requirement.Circumcision is not mentioned in the Koran), and common in some African pagan and Christian cultures. Thankfully it is very uncommon here.................................Thanks be to God.

In the new year we are starting an exciting monthly service that will be more meditative and make good use of symbols and candles and silence. These services will have the title "Be still" It will be an eclectic mix of Celtic, Taize and other influences. Music will be provided by piano or guitar. Although the first one is being held in Gainford, anyone from across the Deanery is welcome to come and try it for themselves to see if they find it meaningful. They will be led by Canon Neil Russell who successfully ran these services at his last church. There are four formats, so you get something different every time. The very first one is going to be held at 4pm on Sunday 8th January and the theme will be light.

* A man isn't complete until he's married. Then he's finished.

Some words of wisdom from R.S. Thomas

Love and peace

Martin