Dear Friends,
Our church always looks splendid when decorated for Christmas by our talented team of flower arrangers and decorators, which is why I’ve chosen a picture of the church in full Christmas splendour for the front of this year’s parish Christmas card. Hopefully you have one as all the Mass times are listed on it.
Yet what is still more wonderful to see is the church full of people who have come to worship God, who comes close to us not only at Christmas but every time we celebrate Mass. I’m reminded of the story of the patron of our neighbours over the road, St Lawrence, who as a deacon of the church of Rome acted as its treasurer. When compelled by the emperor to hand over the treasures of the church, he rounded up the poor and the lame and presented them as the true treasure. It is you, the people of God, who by bringing yourselves to Mass become an offering pleasing to God and adorn the church more wonderfully than any precious ornaments. And the feast of the saviour’s nativity – his taking of our poor human nature to himself – reminds us that each and every person is of infinite worth and dignity God’s sight.
It is a curious thing that people should come together in great numbers, in churches up and down the land and all around the globe, to honour the birth of a child two millennia ago. No other human child is honoured in this way, because no other human child is the Son of God. No other child can be said to have come down from heaven, sharing our mortality in order to raise us up to heaven and give us a share in his immortality. No other child is born so that he might reconcile the human race to God by dying, and by rising from the dead conquer death on behalf of us all. At Christmas we tell the great story of our faith, a plan of salvation unfolding from the beginning of time, God’s love for his people revealed through the witness of patriarchs and prophets and finally a young couple, willing to say yes to all that God asks of them. It is, mind you, no fairy story, myth or legend that brings us together year by year, week by week – that would be absurd and pointless – but the truth of God’s love for us made visible in a particular place and time, for all people in every place and time.
I hope you will be among those who adorn our church for our Christmas services. If you are travelling over Christmas then perhaps your presence will adorn another church! For those members of our parish family who are unable to be physically present at Mass, I hope you will never think you are forgotten; and know that your prayers will adorn the church in a different way. Most of our Christmas Masses will be live streamed – if you haven’t managed to access this yet then perhaps myself or one of our ministers of holy communion or SVP visitors will be able to help you. If you have a tablet, computer or smart TV all you need to do is follow the link from our website or type is.gd/sjuptv into the address bar of your web browser. More information here.
I wish you a joyful Christmas and blessings for the year ahead. May the infant Christ bring light, joy and peace to all, especially those find this time of year difficult.
God bless you all,
Fr Matthew
Fr Matthew’s video message
Click here to watch in our Facebook feed instead.
Christmas Masses 2024
Tuesday 24th: 5pm (simpler vigil Mass aimed at families with younger children with carols and the blessing of the crib); 6.30pm* (family vigil Mass suitable for all ages with carols and blessing of the crib); 11pm* (‘Midnight’ Mass with the choir; carols from 10.30pm).
Wednesday 25th: 8am (said Mass of the Dawn); 10am* (sung Mass of Christmas Day).
If you are visiting Upminster over Christmas then you are most welcome to join us. There is no need to book in advance. The 6.30pm and 11pm Masses are likely to be the busiest, so you are advised to come in good time (though not too early for the 6.30pm as there is a Mass before).
*Live streamed at is.gd/sjuptv
The church is just off St Mary’s Lane, close to the centre of Upminster and about 5-10 minutes walk from Upminster station. There are very few parking spaces at the church, so those who come by car are encouraged to use nearby public parking facilities. There is some on-street parking but we ask those parking on the street to take car not to block access to residents’ driveways.
Finally, if you haven’t received a physical Christmas Card from the parish, here is a virtual one.
