Dear Friends,

The weeks before Christmas are one of the busiest times of the year for a priest but each Advent I also try to make space to slow down, to quiet my heart, and find rest. Perhaps I am weary from the toll of this chaotic world. I need to step back from the demands of everyday life and remember the Lord. My soul is ready to once again enter into the season of Advent—a season of prayer and penance, and of waiting and watching for the coming of Jesus. Advent is the perfect liturgical season for my longing. I wait for the light and warmth of Christ to illuminate the darkness of the world, which can weigh so heavily on our hearts. For just as the dawn comes after the long, dark hours of night, Jesus comes to bring light and love, to dwell among us.

By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace. (Luke 1:78-79)

Have you ever experienced this longing, too?

Love and prayers,

James.

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Sunday and weekday Services

Our weekly service times are:
Sunday 10:00am Eucharist
Tuesday 10:00am Morning Prayer (BCP)
Thursday 10:30am Holy Communion (BCP)

The weekly online service is now a livestream of our Sunday Morning Eucharist Service. The link for the livestream page is https://stmarymagdalene.church/livestream-service/ the Service for the coming Sunday is listed on this page on a Friday. The page includes a video that will go live at approximately 9:55am on Sunday, it also has the words to the hymns, collects and readings and has a downloadable service booklet. It will continue to be made available to those who, for whatever reason, are unable to attend church.

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Christingle

The Christingle service on 24th December will once again include a costumed adult nativity as is the custom at St Mary Magdalene. The service is a very special one for our young people, many of whom might not have been at SMM for some time, if at all. The Christingle is an important part of the church’s involvement with young people in the parish and local community and part of its pattern of worship and events organised throughout the year for young people.

Can you support the Christingle this year either in stewarding or in taking part in the adult nativity. A few parts involve reading lines but many do not. You will need to feel comfortable moving and acting in front of a very full church. Perhaps you know a neighbour or friend who would like to take part. Perhaps you can help with costumes.

if you would like to take part please contact James or Chris through our contact page. The performance will be on 24th December at 3.00 and the rehearsal on Monday 19th starting at 7.00pm in the church.

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Coffee Mornings

Dear Friends – It was a wet morning, but that didn’t dampen our spirit; seventeen people attended, all clad in raincoats with colourful umbrellas. There was plenty of laughter, fun, coffee, biscuits and cake! Many, many thanks to those who contributed on the day and also to those who gave me donations in advance, altogether we raised £281 between us (after the Tax rebate). My special thanks to Rita for overseeing the kitchen, and Michael for giving out the tickets, it was very much appreciated. Jackie Fish

20th Dec – Rita

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A Literary Christmas
Saturday 17th December

A social evening of poetry, prose and play reading
presented by St Mary Magdalene Drama Group.

7.30pm Start

£8 Book a seat with Alison or Judy.

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Christmas Cards

A Very Happy Christmas to all my dear friends at St Mary’s and a Peaceful and Happy New Year🙏🏻Wendy Dollimore

“To dear friends.  I wish you a Happy and Peaceful Christmas and a Happy and Healthy New Year. Love and all good wishes. Betty 💕🙏x”

Wishing all my lovely friends at St Mary’s a truly happy, blessed Christmas and a good, healthy, happy New Year – let’s all keep going/smiling/praying together. Love to you all Rita

Wishing you all at St Mary’s a very happy, peaceful time this Christmas. Love from ‘The Jones’s’, and Kath, Chris, and Victoria.

Wishing all at St. Mary Magdalene health, happiness and peace this Christmas and coming New Year. Dot.

Wishing everyone peace, joy and hope as we celebrate the birth of our Saviour, Jesus Christ our Lord. With love and every blessing. Jackie Fish.

Christmas wishes and seasonal greetings from Paul & Alison Anderson and family

Janet & Peter – Would like to wish all our dear friends at St. Mary’s a very Happy, Healthy, Joyful, Smiling Christmas and New Year

We wish you all a happy, healthy and peaceful Christmas. Best wishes Diane and Neil

Happy Christmas to all my friends at St. Mary’s and peace and joy in the New Year. With love, Josie Andrews

To all my friends at St Mary’s, A very happy Christmas and every good wish for a peaceful New Year, Janet Reed.

Janice and John Salmon wish you all a Joyful and Peaceful Christmas and we send our best wishes for a happy and healthy year ahead.

Best wishes to all our friends for a happy Christmas and New year. Love Pam and Vic.

Wishing Christmas greetings and a Peaceful New Year to all at St. Mary’s from June Carr.

Wishing you all a joyous Christmas and blessed 2023. Thank you for your prayers, Ken, Laura and Dawn.

Alison and Paul wish all our friends at St Mary Magdalene a joyous Christmas with friends and family and a happy and peaceful New Year. X

Wishing all at St Mary’s, past and present, a very joyous and peaceful Christmas with love always Christine & Terry xxx

As Churchwardens we thank all who have worked so hard devoting time, energy and effort to ensuring that all our services and events have run so successfully and smoothly this past year and those who have kept the church safe and looking glorious through the changing seasons. We appreciate everything you have done.

2022 has seen us come together again with joy as a community and we look forward to the fellowship, prayer and praise to come in 2023. Wishing you all a wonderful Christmas, Anneliese and Alison

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Pantomime ‘Oh yes he did! Oh no he didn’t!’

James has purchased tickets at £15 each to go and see Mother Goose at the Hackney Empire for the matinee performance on Saturday December 10th at 1:30pm. The journey is very straight forward – a train from Enfield Chase to Highbury and Islington, and another train to Hackney Central with about a 5-minute walk to the theatre. The 12:00pm train will get us to the Hackney Empire at around 12:45pm, giving plenty of time to find our seats and have a ‘comfort’ break.

These are always excellent productions and well worth seeing. Please see James to book your place. Find out more here: https://hackneyempire.co.uk/whats-on/mother-goose/

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Lights of Love

Lights of Love is an opportunity where we invite the local community to remember those they love by making a dedication to those who have, or still do, light up their life. Dedications can be a fond memory, words of love or hopes for the future. Anything that brings people closer to their loved one/s.

Each dedication we receive is added to the display in our centre on Baker Street, Enfield and in our dedication book. For each dedication we receive, a hanging heart of love will also be sent that can be put on display in people’s home.

Our annual Lights of Love ceremony will be held outside Microsoft Enfield, 33 Genotin Road, Enfield on Wednesday 7th December 2022 at 6:30pm. It will be a celebration of life and remembrance with readings, carols and the lighting of the Christmas Tree. All are welcome to attend and we invited everyone to stay after the ceremony for mince pies and mulled wine.

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Sermons

If you ever want to revisit a sermon, these are available on the website under the more ‘user-friendly’ name of Talks. They include a specially recorded video and the text of the sermon and can be found here: https://stmarymagdalene.church/resources/talks/

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Chris Royall and Students from Latymer

Chris Royall and some of his students from Latymer School will, once again, be performing in a special Christmas concert with carols in church on Sunday 11th at 6:30pm.

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Dates for your diary

December
Saturday 10th Pantomime at ‘Mother Goose’ at Hackney Empire 1:30pm
Sunday 11th Toy Service 10:00am
Sunday 11th Charity Concert with carols by Chris Royall and students from Latymer School 6:30pm
Wednesday 14th Coffee and Concert with the Bush Hill Recorder Group – coffee from 11:30am and concert from 12:30pm
Wednesday 14th Fellowship Christmas Lunch 12noon (please note the change of date)
Saturday 17th Drama and Poetry evening with the St Mary Magdalene Drama Group 7:30pm
Sunday 18th Nine Lessons and Carols by candlelight 6:30pm
Tuesday 20th Christmas Coffee Morning at Rita’s 11:00am
Saturday 24th  3:00pm Christingle Service
Saturday 24th Midnight Mass 11:15pm
Sunday 25th Christmas Communion 10:00am

January 2023
Wednesday 11th Coffee and Concert with the Bush Hill Recorder Group – coffee from 11:30am and concert from 12:30pm
Tuesday 17th 11:00am Christmas Coffee Morning
Wednesday 18th 2:00pm Fellowship
Saturday 28th 7:00pm Parish Feast at Enfield Golf Club