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On Tuesday I travelled to Broseley CE Primary and met with headteacher Sam Aiston and Chair of Governors Ian Barratt and Vice-Chair Alison Edwards. It was my first visit to this lovely school, on the edge of the diocese, not too far from Ironbridge. The first thing I noticed was that they have one of the most impressive school Christmas trees, I’ve seen so far this year! I arrived early and was given a lovely cup of tea and a seat in the reception area. On the table was a copy of the Parish and Community Magazine from the Broseley Group of Churches. Although I was tempted to check my e-mails, instead I left my phone in my pocket and opened the magazine. The pages fell open on the, ‘From the Rectory’ section. Here I found and read a story written by the late Rev Christopher Penn, who sadly died during the summer. Christopher was a member of our Diocesan Board of Education for many years and so I thought, I would reprint his story for all of you, here, including the touching note from the editor, Nick Wood, which preceded it. Thank you to all who help produce this lovely publication and all those like it in parishes across the diocese.
Editor’s note:
This is our first Christmas since Fr.Christopher’s passing, and, looking back, I thought it would be nice to reprint his first Christmas ‘Rectors remarks’ from 2017 which, with its gentle humour, to me at least is one of the many reasons he is missed.
The Rector recalls the case of the missing Jesus
When my children were little, before I was ordained, as a family we had a routine on Christmas day. The Christmas tree was in the hall next to a table that was adorned by our nativity set. On Christmas morning the children would wake, at an hour I had never realised existed pre children, clamber in to our bed and they would open the few presents Santa had thoughtfully left in pillow cases at the bottom of their beds.
Then we would all get up, get washed, dressed, a quick breakfast before setting off to church. Once we were home then our celebrations would really begin; mum and dad would open something fizzy while the boys played Santa tackling the mountain of presents under the tree, the torn paper mountain grew until eventually all was unwrapped and children disappeared to play with their new toys in front of the sitting room fire. Mum disappeared into the kitchen to wrestle the turkey, leaving dad to clear up the wreckage in the hall.
All done I walked back through the hall and realised that we had forgotten to put the baby Jesus in the crib of the Nativity (we always kept Jesus hidden at the back of the stable until the appointed day). The family were summoned back and the youngest child was charged with the task of retrieving Jesus and placing him in his rightful place between Mary and Joseph, surrounded by shepherds, animals, and some premature wise men (they shouldn’t have arrived until 6th of January!). ‘He’s not there’, said Michael. ‘What do you mean’, said dad. ‘Jesus isn’t behind the stable’ said Michael. ‘Of course he is’ said dad. ‘No he isn’t, have a look’. And he was right, Jesus was missing!
What followed was a major investigative search that was worthy of an episode of Miss Marple - even the cat and dog were interrogated, but seemed innocent; each giving the other an alibi. The Labrador looked guilty, but there again Labrador’s always do.
Eventually the family got bored and made their way back to the sitting room just in time for the Queens speech. It was then that I had an epiphany and headed out to the bins. After much rummaging, you will be relieved to hear that Jesus was found safely wrapped in discarded snowman print wrapping paper. He was duly returned to the warmth of his and our family’s bosom and the cosiness of the stable.
Later that night with the house asleep and all quiet I sat in front of the fire with a turkey sandwich and a night cap and recounted the day: ‘Fancy losing Jesus!’ I thought and then I realised that we risk doing just that every Christmas. We become so involved with presents and the tree and the dinner and being surrounded by friends and family it is really easy to lose Jesus in all the wrappings – after all he is the reason for the season. There is nothing wrong with all the trimmings and everything that goes to make up that very special day, but let’s try and remember what we are celebrating. Jesus, God’s true light, coming into the world to change for ever the lives of you and me.
Your priest and friend
Christopher
Collect for 2nd Sunday of Advent
Almighty God,
purify our hearts and minds,
that when your Son Jesus Christ comes again as
judge and saviour
we may be ready to receive him,
who is our Lord and our God.
Amen
Prayers and blessings for Dan Breary and the team at Bridstow CE Primary who had a special Christmas visit from our friends at OfSTED for two days this week. There is never an easy time for an OfSTED inspection, but the last weeks of the Autumn term in a primary school are exceptionally tough. Without wanting to be too unwelcoming, I do hope this will be the last one in our diocese until 2023.
Thank you for all that you are doing in support of our precious schools at this hugely busy time of the year. Blessings for a restful weekend and for the final week of term (for most but not all schools).
Andrew
Canon Andrew Teale
Diocesan Director of Education
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