Christmas Message 2024
Much has happened over this past year- prime ministers and governments come and go, presidents and
other world leaders change, and many familiar landmarks and patterns that we assume will always be
there just seem to melt away into something else...
Change can be good, of course, as well as challenging, but it is something that has a kind of
'baked-in' capacity; it can be seen as part of God's overall plan for us as the people he made to
inhabit his world and grow in it. However, as we come into Advent and, eventually, Christmas, we can
see that in all the natural change that happens, there are points at the centre that never change.
It's a bit like the quiet, still centre of a spinning top, perhaps- knowing in our hearts that God has
always been, and always will be in control, whatever we think we may see to the contrary in the world
around us.
How does he do this? We don't have room to go too deep into this, but there is that incredible
prayer that we pray every year on Advent Sunday, which you may be familiar with. That prayer boldly
reveals the heart of God's love and care for us in sending Jesus to actually become one of us, so that
when Good Friday and Easter finally comes, we can know deep down that he has overcome the old
order of sin and death to make all things new, including, and perhaps especially, our lives.
May God bless us this Advent and Christmas, and all those around us whom we love, and may we all
know that renewal of our lives, which is, maybe, the greatest change of all.
Here's a version of that prayer that I mentioned:
'Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works
of darkness and to put on the armour of light, now in the time of this mortal life...and now, Lord, as your
kingdom dawns, turn us from darkness to the light of your love and holiness, that we may be ready to meet
you when the time comes. Fill us this Christmas with faith and hope, and instill in us true joy for the new
day that has dawned'
Amen.
May we wish you a Happy and Peaceful Christmas - with our love and blessings,
Gary and April
Weddings, Baptism and Funerals
It is our privilege to be involved in many of the significant moments of people's lives. Here at The Waterside Group of Churches we will do our best to guide you through what Christians mean by baptism, marriage and funerals.
Waterside Scratch Band
Scratch Band is the church music group for the Waterside group of parishes. The band meets for practice, fellowship, fun and a tea break every Thursday evening at 7.30pm to 9.30pm usually in the Church Room, Ludham or in one of the Waterside parish churches.
We play for services in the Waterside benefice and beyond, supporting regular worship in the churches and outdoors. We also entertain at local events and go carol singing in pubs, care homes and anywhere else that will have us!
Scratch is open to all. A warm welcome awaits whether you sing, play an instrument, or would just like to listen.
Contacts:
David Frost mobile: 07907679630
Diana Rackham mobile: 07880943104
Email: dianarackham@hotmail.com
WATERSIDE SCRATCH BAND – PRESS RELEASE
Meets: Thursdays, 7:30pm – 9:30pm, Ludham Church Room (Please check with a contact before coming, in case we are meeting elsewhere)
Contacts:
David Frost mobile: 07907679630
Diana Rackham mobile: 07880943104
Email: dianarackham@hotmail.com
Scratch Band is the church music group for the Waterside group of parishes.
The band meets for practice, fellowship, fun and a tea break every Thursday evening at 7.30pm to 9.30pm usually in the Church Room, Ludham or in one of the Waterside parish churches.
We play for services in the Waterside benefice and beyond, supporting regular worship in the churches and outdoors. We also entertain at local events and go carol singing in pubs, care homes and anywhere else that will have us!
Scratch is open to all. A warm welcome awaits whether you sing, play an instrument, or would just like to listen.
New member Dianne comments:
Hello, we are the scratch band, a group of musicians and singers who provide music and support for the Waterside Benefice (Ludham, Catfield and Potter Heigham Churches). We were formed some 10 years ago to provide music when there was no organist in the churches. And so now we attend all Benefice services and other special services in the church calendar. This Christmas we sang carols at Stalham Christmas event, sung to the residents at The Old Vicarage, Ludham. We were also found singing carols in the The Crown Public House Catfield one of our more unusual venues. Our happy band could also be heard in all three churches over Christmas. The final feather in our cap was a spot on Radio Norfolk singing our own very special rendition of While Shepherds.
My name is Dianne, and I am one of the new members of the band. I enjoy singing but never felt brave enough to join a choir. So when the bands leader David Frost invited me to become a member of the Scratch Band and I went along in fear and trepidation but I can honestly say is the best decision I made. There’s music, laughter and fellowship at our weekly meetings and I now really hate to miss a meeting. I urge anyone who loves to sing or play and perhaps a little hesitant about joining to come and give us a try. There’s no audition.
There is also a social side to our group and for Burns Night this year we had a haggis neeps and tatties supper followed by the traditional dessert of Cranach. The haggis was piped in by one of our musicians Ros Wilson and the address was given by another of our musicians Eilish. Once we had all enjoyed our supper we were treated to a very informative and enjoyable talk by Dr Zena Aldridge on “Dementia Awareness”. The whole evening was a huge success.
So having read all about us, I hope it’s whet your appetite and made you just a-bit curious about us
THE SCRATCH BAND.
Would You Like To Be More Involved In Your Local Church
All are welcome. We need musicians, readers, singers for the
choir/worship group, people who would like to pray, worship
assistants, help with buildings and maintenance.
People to help
with youth and children's work, people who would like to help
with pastoral care, fundraising people.
Would you like to host a house group or fellowship group?
There are many opportunities for all.
Please come along to one of our churches and speak to a Churchwarden.
The Waterside
