FROM THE METHODIST MINISTER

Dear Friends,

In the process of time and the Providence of God we come once more to the Holy and Happy season of Christmas when amidst the pressing, demanding concerns of a busy life, we turn again, all-be-it for so brief a time, to the thoughts of Christ's coming, consciously or unconsciously wondering how and why this miracle of world-shattering importance, happened. It almost seemed as if God were shy of introducing His Son to men. His Coming was not regarded as "important" according to the way men measure importance but was surprising and unpredictable, the breaking in of heaven to the earthly, material life of men. God surprised us then, for looking for Him here we found Him there, expecting a warrior strong in battle they find a baby, weak and helpless in the arms of a bewildered, incredibly happy mother whose bed at child-birth was the shared stable of a village inn.

Men ever look for God according to defined ideas and patterns and ever He surprises us by exceeding our hopes and breaking through our misconceptions.

There were however those with eyes to see and hearts to understand and to them the treasure of life was given. It is always so. May Christ, God's Son, your Saviour and mine, bring you His blessings this Christmas-tide.

DONALD WHITE

PARISH NOTES

Sad Loss

Was suffered by the parish in the sudden death on 14th November of Mr. Jack Reed, of Rainham. For about 10 years Mr. Reed has been responsible (under the direction of Mr. Francis Webb) for the upkeep of our churchyard. No one could have worked harder or more conscientiously at this task than he, and it was proper and deserving that visitors seldom see this churchyard without passing some tribute to its high standard.

Last Post

And Reveille were again sounded on Remembrance Sunday by two boys from King's School, Rochester. We are very grateful to Canon Vicary, their Headmaster, for permission and to the boys themselves, especially as the week-end concerned was their Half-Term.