November. Nights drawing in, the leaves on the trees turning from green to reds and golds, a definite chill in the air, and people are beginning to talk more about….yes, you’ve guessed it, Christmas!! There are aisles in the shops devoted to Christmas cards, decorations and traditional Christmas treats!
With Covid still dominating our way of life, Christmas for many will be very different this year. With the continued ban on communal signing in church, we might sadly have to forego the idea of a Christmas Carol Service and look at celebrating in other ways.
But November is a special month, and more than just the month leading up to the celebration of Jesus being born in a stable more than 2,000 years ago.
For many people around the world, the beginning of November will involve being at events to mark the 11th November, Armistice Day and in many churches, parks and villages, on Remembrance Sunday there will be a local memorial service to remember those who gave their lives in conflicts past and present.
On the 1st and 2nd on November, people will also be attending ‘remembering’ services for All Saints Day and All Souls Day, taking time to think of those they grieve in a more personal way.
Research around Life Events show that attending these kinds of events is valued by families as part of their connection with the church and each other, and is often another step on the journey of faith. For bereaved families, these reflective times can be hugely helpful, especially if the local vicar has conducted a recent funeral service, or whether they are remembering someone who shaped their life many years ago.
The Very Reverend Stephen Lake, Dean of Gloucester reflects on how lighting a candle, or simply pausing in the silence, can be an enormous sense of comfort to people. Lighting a candle can help us to remember, to pause, to focus, to calm and to pray.
And so as a candle represents light, and we think of Christ as the light of the world, lighting our way when things seem dark or difficult, may the Light of Christ be with you during this season of remembering,
With love and blessings,
Revd Mandy
