January 2025

10 Buckden Roundabout January 2025 Church News Weekly Prayer Roster Each week during the year the Churches, in their prayers, remember the residents of particular streets in the village, those who work in the parish and village organisations. Those to be remembered this month are: 5th January Penda Court, Danes Way, Jute Crescent, Saxon Way 12th January Clubs and societies, their leaders and members, volunteers, and the team that produces and distributes the Buckden Roundabout 19th January Buckden Surgery: the doctors, nurses, receptionists, pharmacists, health visitors and midwives; those we know who are in hospital, the elderly, disabled and housebound 26th January Farming communities, Taylor ’ s Lane (West), Hardwick Lane, the residents and staff of Hardwick Dene, Great North Road, Brampton Road, Perry Road, Buckden Wood Thought for the month For many of us this time of year is challenging; it's a bit bleak. January can be depressing, and that is why it is so important the church continues her celebration of Christ's birth beyond the 25th of December, Christmas is far from being one single day. Into January, the church continues to celebrate Christmas until the Epiphany on the 6th (the arrival of the wise men who visit the Holy Family with their precious gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh); twelve days of Christmas. Beyond that we contin- ue similarly right through to the day the church remembers the Presentation of Christ in the Temple, Candlemas, on the 2nd of February. The Crib and nativity scene will remain in church throughout this time. God, the creator of heaven and earth, was born in a stable; it will take our lifetime of Christmases to appreciate this. God gives us the brightest gift, in dark days, in, as Christina Rossetti's hymn eloquently says, the bleak mid - winter. Be mindful of this, the church believes that God's gift to us at Christmas is ever - life - affirming and life - giving. Christmas is full of meaning that we can take to heart. The timing is good, if the grey cold short days of Winter can at times feel bleak, then God's wisdom in giving the world the Word made flesh (Christ, Jesus, the Son of God, the second person of the Holy Trinity), is perfectly timed. Perfectly timed. From the prologue to John's gospel: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. I pray you will be filled with hope and joy, because of the Christmas gift of Jesus Christ. With love and warmest wishes, Fr David Priest in Charge of St Mary's, Buckden, with All Saints', the Offords The Roundabout editorial team wishes all our contributors, distributors and readers a Happy and Prosperous 2025