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‘Maureen’s Musings’

The Vicar’s monthly letter for the Parish News

The Vicar December 2016

“It was the night before Christmas and all through the house not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse. Well, no one dared. The consequences might be terrible…. The year was 1647, when Oliver Cromwell persuaded Parliament to ban Christmas. It was not, perhaps, the greatest moment of English history. Cromwell and his Puritan Party have forever since been associated with misery and bah humbug. He is, in British imagination, the original Scrooge. But the truth is that Cromwell was bothered by the English habit of overindulgence at the holiday season (yes, even then!) and wanted people to get back to the real meaning of the holy day when the birth of our Saviour is commemorated.

And we should remember that he is the Saviour of the World – not just of Western democracy and the retail trade.

Well, I am not advocating a return to Cromwell’s strictures, but if you can, do take a moment in the next month or so to ponder quite how our modern festivities truly do honour to the Prince of Peace?

Then again, we face Christmas under new circumstances… the world is full of uncertainties and wars and rumours of wars; credit crunches and austerity measures, that mean we may all need to be a bit more careful with our money. “But surely not at Christmas! ” I hear you cry?

Well, Christmas can feel pretty empty and meaningless to those who have lost a loved one this past year or they simply have no-one with whom to celebrate. I hope that for some of you here in Pattingham and Patshull this year you will find in our ‘Longest Night’ Service on 21st December an opportunity to breathe and reflect alongside others who also find all the forced jollity a little hard to take.

But please be reassured that we are not closing our hearts and minds to the joyous side of Christmas too.

I am delighted that two of our hostelries, the Dartmouth Arms and the Pigot Inn have responded with enthusiasm to the idea of a little Christmas cheer. Look out for Carol Singers unplugged on Thursday 8th and 15th December, collecting on behalf of the Children’s Society. And Christingles galore on December 11th.

We have been working on the Church Christmas Card – which you may well receive with this magazine, and a leaflet about our Church and its life during the year.
So despite my invoking of the spirit of Cromwell, I don’t really favour a miserable Christmas… We should not be afraid to feast and to celebrate. For the wondrously trusting God who shares himself utterly with us invites us to do the same with each other. Let us rejoice and make a feast of ourselves this Christmas time. Have a joyous, peaceful and loving Christmastide.
Happy Christmas!

Maureen