Vicar’s Letter by Rev Tom Ringland
As I write to you, we are heading towards the darkest time of the year. On December 21st the night will be more than twice as long as the day, with just seven hours and 29 minutes between sunrise and sunset in Wensleydale.
Darkness can be threatening, and it’s always encouraging to think of the days lengthening with the coming of the new year!
But we use the darkness as a curtain to display an ever-increasing range of Christmas lights in this season – decorating windows, house fronts and even gardens with illuminations that cheer us and raise our spirits as our eyes are drawn to them - in contrast to the dark.
Some of our villages are once again lighting a new window each day in December, as they become living Advent calendars. Look out for numbered windows in West Witton, Thoralby or Carperby!
There’s a strange saying in the midst of that wonderfully mysterious opening chapter of St John’s Gospel. It’s a passage we often read or listen to in our Christmas services. John writes in Chapter 1 verse 5, ‘The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it’.
In the older Bibles this reads, ‘And the light shineth in the darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not’.
Light disperses darkness – whereas darkness cannot subdue – or grasp the light.
There can be many reasons why we feel the world is a dark place – and not just literally because of the winter. Our lives might be filled with trouble and challenge; the news might be ever more threatening – but the celebration of Christmas, even more than being merely a time of parties and of forgetting of troubles is a time when we celebrate that Light which shines in – and overcomes the darkness.
We celebrate a message of angels … a star in the heavens … the birth of the world’s Saviour … a sign of God’s presence.
The darkness may still be present, but just as our eyes are drawn to Christmas lights, so if we pay attention to the heart of the Christmas good news, we shall find that the darkness is lessened and hope Is awakened.
During this dark month of December, on clear nights you will see a bright light in the sky, apart from the moon.
Earth and Jupiter are both on the same side of the sun, and are in alignment, so the planet appears especially bright. Perhaps it will be a reminder of the star that led the Magi – and like our decorations serve to remind us of the birth of Jesus, the Light of the world!
The contemporary hymn writer and worship leader Graham Kendrick has written:-
Like a candle flame
Flickering small in our darkness
Uncreated light
Shines through infant eyes …
May the God who comes to us in Christ, banish the darkness and embrace us with his light and life this Christmas and beyond!
Happy Christmas, everyone!
Click here for the December 2024 -January 2025 edition of Penhill Beacon
Our church buildings are usually open:
Preston under Scar and Wensley - Daily
Aysgarth - daily
Castle Bolton - daily
Redmire - Daily
West Witton - daily
Prayer Fellowship
The Prayer Fellowship meets on the 4th Tuesday of each month at 7.30 pm at Aysgarth Institute to pray together for the benefice, the wider church, local, national and international issues, and for personal concerns and each other. We begin with a Bible Reflection and short discussion. The next meeting is on Tuesday January 28th.
Deanery Prayer Meeting:
Monday February 3rd 3rd 11am - 12 noon.. Tea/ coffee available at 10.45am. East Witton Parish Room (near the bus stop at the bottom of the Green. Parking on the road side). Our prayers for our beautiful deanery will have a liturgical structure with space in between for our own prayers and for silent prayer. Everyone is warmly welcome.
The Filling Station:
Friday February 14th 7-9pm at Thornborough Hall, Leyburn, DL8 5AB. Speaker: Roger Carswell from Threshfield.
Contact: 07714 204024 http://thefillingstation.org.uk/station/wensleydale/
Food for Thought in Lent: Tuesdays March 18th and April 1st, 6..30pm for 7.00 pm at West Burton Village Hall. Two enjoyable evenings with a Supper and listen to a Speaker. Home-made desserts available on a donation basis, to be given to the Charity chosen by the speaker. Full details including ticket price are to be confirmed. For further info please
contact
Prayer and Praise Live - 7pm on fourth Sunday in the month at Chantry Hall, Bedale.
Dates for the next 6 months:
January 24th
February 28th
March 28th
April 25th
May 23rd
June 27th
Looking forward to praising God together!
For more information contact Linda Collingwood -
Christian Aid
There will be a separate plate in churches for donations to Christian Aid's appeal for aid for the civilian population of Gaza. Christian Aid have partners on the ground in Gaza and are exploring possibilities of supporting Israeli civilians also.
Castle Bolton Print For Sale
If you would like to buy a print of St. Oswald’s Church at Castle Bolton priced at £20 which are mounted and cellophane wrapped please contact the office (01969 663097) for further information.
Aysgarth church -
The following are now available online -
War Memorials and Graves at Aysgarth church
The printed illustrated guide to War Memorials and Graves in the churchyard is available in Aysgarth church.
Daily Hope offers music, prayers and reflections as well as full worship services from the Church of England at the end of a telephone line.
The line is available 24 hours a day on 0800 804 8044. Callers will hear a special greeting from the Archbishop before being able to choose from a range of options, including hymns, prayers, reflections and advice on COVID-19. Please let your family and friends, who are not on internet, know about this. More information click here
Hear To Help
Just 'B' is offering emotional wellbeing support to people in the Harrogate District, Hambleton and Richmondshire, with its Hear to Help phoneline, available to anyone who may need help with such issues as grief, low mood, isolation, anxiety or isolation. The line is manned by trained staff and volunteers and is available seven days a week, 8am-8pm. For more information see Hear to Help.