Dear Friends

Father Christmas was sitting in his chair, within the Grotto of a large department store.  It was late afternoon and it had been a busy day.  He was nodding off to sleep.

Standing looking at him was a little girl, about five years of age, with large brown eyes and her hair in plaits.  She spoke – ‘My friend says you are not real.’

Through his tired mind he responded -  ‘Of course I am real’, and added, patting his knee,  ‘Come and sit here and I will tell you why’.

Father Christmas began,  ‘Long, long ago in the 4th century I was called Nicholas, I was  Bishop of Myra in Asia Minor (Southern Turkey today).
I had a reputation as a worker of wonders.  Many of them concerned my love and care for children; how I fed the hungry, healed the sick and cared for the oppressed. 
Then they called me Saint Nicholas, or Santa Claus for short; and then someone thought of calling me Father Christmas, because Christmas is a time  for giving presents, and they remembered that I loved giving simple , useful gifts.
Then what grown-ups call the ‘material world’ took up the idea and things have steadily got out of hand since then –  ‘Of course I am real.’

Five years ago I sat with ten other Theology students in a room at All Hallows Convent in Ditchingham.  It was the week leading up to Christmas.  We were thinking about the ‘reality’ of the ‘modern’ Christmas.  Having finished our discussion, we decided to close with a short service of thanksgiving. 
The Group comprised of people whose age ranged from 26 to 60 years.  We each had in our hands a small ‘Beanie’ soft toy.  In the middle of the room was an occasional table with a single candle burning.  After prayers we sang the children’s hymn:
 

We then sat in silence, recalling our childhood, and Christmas’s past.
Each of us experienced the reality of true peace – that which the Book of Common Prayer  2nd Collect at Evening Prayer calls ‘That peace which the world cannot give’.

At Christmas and throughout the New Year I hope in the turbulent, troubled world you and your family find the reality of such peace.
In God’s love,  Tom Candeland.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

28th November Charity Evening at Bawdeswell Garden Centre 
6.30 – 9pm.  In aid of East Anglian Air Ambulance.  Wine & Mince Pies. 
Taverham Brass Band. Coffee Shop open all evening. 
 
3rd  December   Christmas Flowers with Sue Lilwall 
7.30pm at Bawdeswell Community Primary School
Tickets £4 (includes mulled wine and mince pies)
Tickets can be obtained in advance from Jane Loudon 688726 and Kay Gordon 688391.

4th December Children’s Society Coffee Morning 10am at Foxley Lodge, Old Fakenham Road, Foxley.   Bring & Buy, cakes, jams and bric-a-brac, raffle.

5th December Foxley Bowls Club  BINGO  7.30pm in the village hall.

11th December Crib Service  at 9.30am in Bawdeswell Church.
Foxley Social Club Christmas Party at 2pm in Foxley Village Hall.

13th December Christmas Entertainment in Foxley Village Hall 7.30pm
DEREHAM SALVATION ARMY BAND & THE WINDMILL HANDBELL RINGERS
REFRESHMENTS……..RAFFLE   TICKETS: £2. 00   CONTACT: 01362-688768

15th December Carol Service in Foxley church at 4pm.

18th December Christmas Music, mulled wine, mince pies and sausage rolls in Bawdeswell Church.  Handbells by the Windmill Ringers, and also organ music played by Bryan Ellum, readings by Jane Berry and carols for the audience.
TICKETS: £6.00 adults & £2.50  children   CONTACT: 01362-688268   & 688265

20th December School Carol Service 1.30pm in Bawdeswell Church.

22nd December Carol Service in Bawdeswell Church at 10.30am.

24th December ‘Midnight Service’ in Foxley Church at 11.30pm

25th December  Christmas Day Service in Bawdeswell  10.30am