I can keep my ‘Millennium powder dry' as the January 'Swaffham Crier' is always published before Christmas, which means that this issue can properly focus on The Feast of the Nativity, the anniversary of the birth of the Saviour of the World, which we celebrate beginning with Christ's Mass, 11 30 pm on Friday 24th December. This is truly a parish communion, there being no service in Reach on Christmas Eve.

It is a source of great encouragement to me that so many people feel they want to be at that service. While for the rest of the year, there (sadly) seems to be a reluctance to attend Parish Communion, no such barrier presents itself in peoples minds on December 24th as evidenced by the number who come and who don't receive Holy Communion ... last year out of a congregation of 197 + 3 young people, 55 received.

I am writing this on Remembrance Sunday evening, after a most moving performance of Durufle's Requiem in St Cyriac's Church by Cambridge Voices, in its proper liturgical context, a service of Holy Communion. The whole metaphor of sacrifice and memorial is bound up in such a service; ' do this in remembrance of me" said Jesus, and we do so as the Church's proper response, and we receive the sacrament according to our own perception; for some it is a memorial meal, for others a more literal sense of The Real Presence. Either way, it feeds our spiritual hunger; and we meet God .

How do you go about receiving Holy Communion when you never have before? Many people were not confirmed in their teens, for a whole host of reasons, and, historically at least, this lack has disabled people from feeling they can come to the altar-rail. The Church would always wish people to come who are confident of at least a rudimentary understanding; if that is you, and you're not confirmed, please feel that you can . Some of you might like lo go forward and be confirmed by the Bishop on May 13th; others might like to consider joining our planned 'Emmaus' course of Christian education next year. Either way, please get in touch with me.

The Bishop has given my 3 churches permission to proceed with the admission to Holy Communion of baptised children aged 7 and over, before confirmation. Preparatory sessions are now being planned from January, with a view to First Communion at Easter. This new venture accords with -the practice of our Roman Catholic friends, and we look to it as the best way of families worshipping together, at the Lord's Table.

Much of this is looking into next year, and 1 hope some n-fight avail themselves of such new provision. for now, please accept an invitation lo 'draw near" this Christmas, and to "see this thing that has come to pass ….God showing the world that He loves us so much, that He sent His only Son, who came among us in great humility, and who, when He grew up, taught and showed us what love really is.

Carolyn, Sarah, Lucy and Oliver join me in wishing you all a very joyful and blessed Christmas,