Diary of a church dog 16

Diary of a church Dog. 16

Well, here we are again December and another year ends. I have watched from my seat at the back of church the comings and goings of my friends and family at St Michaels for the last twelve months. I have seen new people come and join us, we have lost old friends and seen new babies arrive. In short, apart from the dreaded covid, it has been a year marked by all the normal and usual events. The church’s calendar begins at Advent and Christmas follows as it should. The joy and colour of Christmas is always a welcome insert to the long cold winter nights. Amongst all the commercial shedazzle and sell, sell, sell it is sometimes hard to see the true message. Mumma has a number of favourite poems that always come to mind at this time of year the first is the glorious Betjeman poem Christmas. Mumma’s beloved husband used to read it every year at the Advent Carol Service the words are so beautifully set and she especially loves verse 6. Her second Advent poem is the beautiful The Coming by R.S Thomas. Finally, the words of Advent by Eric-Milner White.

And is it true? And is it true,
This most tremendous tale of all,
Seen in a stained-glass window's hue,
A Baby in an ox's stall?
The Maker of the stars and sea
Become a Child on earth for me?

On a bare Hill a bare tree saddened
The sky. many People
Held out their thin arms
To it, as though waiting
For a vanished April
To return to its crossed
Boughs. The son watched
Them. Let me go there, he said.

Let me sing the new song,

following the Lamb whithersoever he goeth, loving wheresoever he loveth,

doing whatsoever he biddeth,

unto the perfect day

and for ever and ever.

These words are just so very beautiful, comforting and reflective I commend all three poems to you as a pre-Christmas meditation.

I do hope that you all have a peaceful and joyous Christmas and let’s hope that 2022 brings more order and calm.

Much love TJ.