I can't tell you how pleased and delighted I was with my first Christmas in the united benefice. It was really thrilling to see our churches so full with many  hundreds of people of all ages coming along to worship the Incarnate Lord. What a lovely atmosphere there was in both churches during the festival season - a true reflection of the glory and the joy which the angels proclaimed on the first Christmas when they made their stunning announcement to the Bethlehem shepherds about this unique and special birth.

CHRISTINGLE

The first ever Christingle service at Feering was a very happy occasion. It was also a wonderful example of the co-operation which now exists between church and school. Thank you to all the adults and school children who worked so well together to make the Christingles for the celebration. I really do enjoy my involvement with our local schools and it was a joy to welcome both schools to the two parish churches for their Carols Services. Christmas is a time of giving and sharing. As a result of generous Christmas collections over a thousand pounds has now been forwarded to the following charities:- The Church of England Children's Society, Shelter, Homestart and Christian Aid.

IN THE MOOD

What a joyful concert we had at St. Mary's in the run up to Christmas - a presentation of both sacred and secular Christmas music. It is truly amazing the musical talent which was presented that evening. This is a great strength as music adds so much to the worship we offer in church Sunday by Sunday. The concert assisted with the Building Fund of one of our two ancient parish churches. As Simon Prideaux stated - Christmas has been celebrated at St. Mary's for over 800 years - it is up to us to ensure that our magnificent parish churches are well maintained and in good order so that Christmas can continue to be celebrated for at least another 800 years. One of the highlights of the season for me was the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols at All Saints' on the Sunday before Christmas. The Christmas story was told according to the Authorised Version of the Bible and carols both traditional and modern were all heartily sung.

A BABE LYING IN A MANGER

Christmas itself saw crowds of people flocking to our churches. Christmas was indeed truly celebrated at Kelvedon and Feering in the Year of our Lord 2003. It was a joy for me to see the love that went into decorating our churches for the festival of our Lord's Nativity. The special flower arrangements were a pleasure to behold. The trees were particularly beautiful - the one at All Saints' decorated with gold and silver ornaments - the one at St. Mary's with decorations specially made by the children of the Sunday Club - stockings, stars, angels and bells. Both trees were dressed with a myriad of new white lights reminding us of the stars that twinkled in the Bethlehem sky on the night when the Saviour was born. So many people made positive comments about the positioning of the crib figures in the hay under the altars - this certainly focused our attention on what Christmas is really all about - God's Greatest gift to the world of His only begotten Son. The bells of our two towers rang out with joy to celebrate this "great and mighty wonder".

CANDLEMASS

That same Bethlehem babe was presented in the Temple in Jerusalem to Simeon who recognised in Jesus - God's Light. Candlemass will be celebrated in both of our parish churches on SUNDAY 1st FEBRUARY:-
8.00a.m.     Prayer Book Communion at St. Mary's
9.00a.m.     Candlemass Communion at All Saints'
10.30a.m.   Candlemass Family Eucharist  at St. Mary's
6.00p.m.     Prayer Book Evensong at All Saints'

The guest preacher at the 6 o'clock service of Evensong will be the Dean of Chelmsford - the Very Reverend Peter Judd. We look forward to welcoming our visiting preacher from the cathedral. This Candlemass will mark the first anniversary of my welcome to the united benefice. Can it really be a full year since that snowy evening on 30th January 2003 when I began my ministry here? What a fulfilling year it has been with so many signs of new growth. Let us all continue to work together to glorify God's holy name and to extend Christ's Kingdom of love and joy and peace.

EVERY BLESSING

Father David