Christmas at Sheldon

As we close Sheldon down for our Christmas holidays we are very much thinking of all our clergy guests and supporters for whom the final week of Advent and the Christmas season is a really busy time. Our prayers are with you all. 

Here at Sheldon we are really looking forward to welcoming some of our respective parents, children, grandchildren, brothers and sisters, nieces and nephews who will be coming to stay and/or share meals with us over the next week or so. There will be a few practical things going on behind the scenes (such as cleaning the carpets in Reception - impossible to do when the place is open). The rest of the time the Community and Alongsiders will be enjoying a welcome break after a busy few months.

During Advent we've been reading some of the poems from Malcolm Guite's Advent book to lead our thoughts and reflections. Here's a verse from Christina Rossetti's "Christmas Eve"

Earth, strike up your music
Birds that sing and bells that ring;
Heaven hath answering music
For all Angels soon to sing:
Earth, put on your whitest
Bridal robe of spotless snow:
For Christmas bringeth Jesus,
Brought for us so low. 

Wishing you every blessing for Christmas from all of us at Sheldon.