December is always a busy month in the life of the church and this year was no exception. Outside the tree surgeons were dealing with the big old chestnut near the entrance to the cemetery, trying to bring it back under control after 30 years of growth since it’s last haircut. Our biggest fear is that a branch will come down in a storm and damage the boundary wall, the bell tower or worse still, fall on someone’s head as they are walking along the path. So in a funny sort of way we were let off lightly, when in the process of lowering a big sawn off branch from the top of the tree, the thin end swung round and decapitated the castellation from the parapet on the top of the tower. Luckily the path had been closed to pedestrians and a clean break and a fall onto grass meant little damage was done. Not exactly good for the blood pressure though! So it’s with relief that the two stones have now been successfully reinstated.
We were able to get the Christmas tree up in church and decorated (thank you Janette) for the First Sunday in Advent which was also a communion service for all three churches in the benefice. Refreshments were served afterwards and we all had a good catch up with our friends from Brize and Carterton. The following week the outside trees were erected and dressed with lights, adding a really festive appearance to the approach along the path to the church and cemetery beyond. Thank you Richard for crawling around in all weathers fixing the cables and making everything work properly.
As usual Santa Claus paid us a visit last Saturday and gave out presents from his grotto in the Lady Chapel. We are always pleased to have him in Black Bourton and I am sure the children enjoyed his visit too. After the present giving we drank mulled wine and ate mince pies and sung all our favourite carols with Simon at the organ. As we have so few children of our own in the village I must thank those who came from the other churches in the benefice to read the passages from the bible and join in the service. We very much appreciate their boosting our numbers.
Rev Barry will be on holiday from Christmas Day for a month so on January 11th, the first Sunday in Epiphany, we will be welcoming Associate Archdeacon Rev Jane Haslam to St Mary’s to take our Holy Communion service, which I believe is the first time she has ever done this for us. So please come along and give her your support!
A Happy and Peaceful New Year to you all.