The end is nigh…and so is the new beginning.
 
Last Sunday was the feast of Christ the King. It is a relatively recent addition to the liturgical cycle. It points to the ‘end state’ following the Gospel narrative. This week’s Collect succinctly describes where we are in the arc of the church calendar.
 
Collect for the Sunday Before Advent – Christ the King
 
Eternal Father,
whose Son Jesus Christ ascended to the throne of heaven
that he might rule over all things as Lord and King:
keep the Church in the unity of the Spirit
and in the bond of peace,
and bring the whole created order to worship at his feet;
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Amen.
 
This week is the final week of the cycle at the end of the arc. Jesus has triumphed and has ascended to the throne of heaven. He is alive and reigns as one God in unity of the Holy Spirt, now and forever.
 
We know that there is more to come, that Jesus will return at the moment of transformation to a new heaven and earth. It is this knowledge that underpins our unquenchable hope as Christians. Do take a few minutes to listen to Bishop Richard’s weekly message on this theme. It is a theological masterclass and is helpfully enlightening and full of wisdom.
 
I know the end (of the Church year) is nigh, because I’ve almost got the end of my book ‘Reflections for Daily prayer – Advent 2020 until the Eve of Advent 2021’. I use it often to inspire my own reflections as well as the prayers I use in meetings and when writing these messages. It has been a loyal friend and guide, for someone who is still very much a theological beginner. Tomorrow is the final reflection in the book, because it is the Eve of Advent. I’m not sure we think enough about this day. It usually goes by in most years, without much notice. Christmas Eve is just a little more high-profile in our collective consciousness for all sorts of reasons, as is New Year’s Eve. Well, in the cycle of our worship and prayer cycle, tracked by every church and every school, tomorrow is our New Year’s Eve. So this very day, we are on the threshold of a new beginning in Christ.
 
New beginnings are so often transformational. They are a moment of confluence between the past and the future. We can look back on what has been achieved and forwards to the promise and hope of what lies ahead.
 
Anyone who has worked in schools, will be very familiar with two ‘new-year-transformations’ every 12 months. The familiar, ‘resolution-making’ one on 1st January as the calendar year turns, and the academic new year which starts on the 1st September at the end of the restorative summer break and much preparation and relabelling of coat pegs.
 
Well… I’m here to tell you, that there is a third ‘new year’ and its starts on Sunday.

Click here to continue to read Andrew's message...

If you have not already, please submit your application for School Condition Allocation (SCA), electronically to education@hereford.anglican.org by 30^th November 2021.  Please contact the Education Team if you need a copy of the SCA letter and application template.
 
We are not limiting applications to two per school this year as some schools have more than two high priority condition issues that need addressing in this year, but please be mindful the Board of the DBE may need to further prioritise schemes to match the funding available.  As a reminder also, if you are not intending to apply for any schemes this year would you please confirm that in writing to us.

RE & Christian Ethos

• Being an Effective RE Leader: 25th January 2022 9.30am - 12 noon
• Developing Spirituality in your School: 2nd February 2022 9.30am - 12 noon

Governance

• Being a Governor in a Church School: 1st, 2nd, 7th & 9th December 2021.  4 x 1 hour FREE evening training sessions for all governors or LAB members of church schools in the Hereford Diocese. Please CLICK HERE. for more information.

In time for Advent!
Community Matters at Christmas 
Advent resource from Archbishop of York's Youth Trust

Over the 4 weeks of Advent this resource explores different communities from the Christmas story, to see what they can teach us about community and how they can inspire us to make a difference this Christmas. The resource celebrates how community can bring us joy, acceptance, generosity and love, and includes videos of pupils talking about their communities, Bible links, reflections and practical challenges and can be used in the classroom or in collective worship. Find out more here.

The video for this week explores HOPE and looks at the hope that Jesus brought as a baby to the people of God, from Isaiah 9. The take away worship sheet contains further ideas for reflection in classes or at home. Special thanks to the children at Tenbury CE Primary for their contributions.

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Picture News Christmas Campaign for 2021
 

Essentially, Advent Sunday is the very first day of the 3-part (2 month) season of Christmas. Advent (the prologue) is part 1, Christmas (12 days of) is part 2, Epiphany (the epilogue) is part 3. Epiphany ends on Candlemas which is on 2nd February.
 
From Saturday to Sunday we shift our focus from Christ’s triumph in Glory, alive and with us as Father, Son and Holy Spirit, at the very end of the arc, right back to the days before the humble birth in a Bethlehem stable. So, Sunday is a really big day. We should switch on some lights or something…
 
On the final page of my faithful book, printed on the inside cover in fact, is the Benedictus, otherwise known as the Song of Zachariah. He was the father of John the Baptist. As we look out from the pinnacle of Christ’s victory and approach our own transformation and begin a new journey through His church, I hope these words are helpful and a comfort for all who shine the light of God upon the children of our diocese, through their own daily life and incredible work in our schools.
 
Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel;
he has come to his people and set them free.
He has raised up for us a mighty savior,
born of the house of his servant David.
Through his holy prophets he promised of old
that he would save us from our enemies,
from the hands of all who hate us.
He promised to show mercy to our fathers
and to remember his holy covenant.
This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham:
to set us free from the hands of our enemies,
free to worship him without fear,
holy and righteous in his sight all the days of our life.
You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High;
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way,
to give his people knowledge of salvation
by the forgiveness of their sins.
In the tender compassion of our God
the dawn from on high shall break upon us,
to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death,
and to guide our feet into the way of peace.
 
Blessings and best wishes for a restful weekend and for the week and new church-year ahead in our wonderful schools. Have a lovely Advent Sunday, when we can at last officially say, in the immortal words of The Muppet Show, It’s time to play the music, it’s time to light the lights!

Andrew
 
Canon Andrew Teale
Diocesan Director of Education