NEWSLETTER

February 2000 I trust the new year has brought you the hope that, with the shortest day behind us, and our evenings slowly drawing out, we might be the more able to throw off the many things that spoil our world and pick up the true gift of Christmas. So often the year begins almost as if we were already in Lent. Punishing diets and a miserable spirit can so easily return us to darkness. It is at this point that we need the reminder of the Carol Services and of the Christingle. The children not only played their parts with both skill and ease, but their message gave one of the most graphic, moving and deeply theological challenges it has been my joy, ever, to experience. Jane, Glynn and Jackie have always drawn out the best in the children, and also produced excellent scripts and music, but this year was different. The power of the sad and vulnerable Mary and the preposterous Child whose coming, just like a baby, shouts to the world to become a better place caught the imagination of every one present. The statistics from the Children's Society of runaways and homeless and abused children drew breath from all who did not realise. You might think that this could have depressed our celebration. Not a bit of it- rather it helped us identify even more with what I would call "the sacrament of Christmas". God comes as a vulnerable child and in poverty not in splendour, but He still comes in glory, the glory which is the gift-laden wonder of every child. We have a God who cares from within not from a distance. We have a God who reminds never to pick at other people, for He felt the poison that that engenders. The Christingle is for everyone in the Benefice and if you missed it your Christmas was the poorer. Our deep thanks to children, teachers, backroom technicals and the myriad of mince pie and drinks providers. We have over the past years raised £.200 for the Society; this Christingle raised £375 a generous and spirited response for which we thank you. My thanks also to all who decorated our churches and cleaned them. Special thanks to James Leney and Emlyn Powell and the joint parishes choir for the Group carol service. Those of you who have worshipped in Shirenewton have been warmed by another gift completed for Christmas - the new heating system. It is well worth a visit and thanks to John Nicholas's meticulous supervision we can enjoy singing in the coldest of weather without the tremolo which icy mornings added to the sound! Over the holiday period there were a number of bereavements within our Benefice and the families concerned offer their thanks for both the support and the welcome they and their families and friends received from wardens and others in the churches. There are also a number of families who have members who are ill who also express their thanks for the care and support they have had, in some cases through very difficult days. We wish them all, the comfort and company that God calls us to give. May this coming year fill us all with a heightened sense of community, a deepening faith and the well-being God promises to all His children. Yours sincerely, With every good wish, Hugh Trenchard. Click the Children's Society logo to view their website

The label says it all! The congregation at Caerwent Church sent birthday greetings to their senior parishioner, Mabel Hudson. It was 1911 when Mabel's name first appeared in the parish register! HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MABEL!