church letter

The Word That Came to Us.

As we approach Christmas, many of us are swept up in the hustle and bustle—shopping, decorations, family gatherings. But beyond the holiday cheer, there is a story that continues to speak powerfully to our lives today, even in a world so different from the one in which it began.

The Gospel of John opens with these remarkable words: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." (John 1:1) These words may sound a bit abstract at first. What does it mean that the Word was with God, and was God? The Word John speaks of is not just an idea or a concept, but a force of creation, a deep, eternal truth. This Word is the presence of God, woven into the fabric of the universe itself. And John tells us that this Word is a person—someone we can know, someone who walked among us. Then comes the heart of the Christmas story: "The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us." (John 1:14)

This is the incredible, beautiful part of the story—the Word that created everything, the divine presence that held the universe together, took on human form. He came to live among us, to experience our world—the joy, the pain, the struggle, and the hope.

This truth speaks to us in a very personal way today. In a time when so much feels uncertain, fragmented, and divided, we long for connection and understanding. Christmas invites us to reflect on the possibility that God isn’t distant or unknowable. The Christmas story shows us that God, in Christ, stepped into our world to be close to us, to share in our lives.

Whether you're celebrating Christmas for the traditions, for the family time, or for the chance to rest, there’s a deeper invitation embedded in this story: To see that the divine isn’t just out there, somewhere far away, but that it has come near. Christmas reminds us that we are seen, that our struggles and joys matter.

The Word that became flesh continues to speak into our lives. In a world that can feel chaotic, fragmented, or even numb, Christmas calls us to pause and consider how we are invited into a story of hope, of new beginnings, and of light breaking into the darkness. Whether through the relationships we cherish, the moments of peace we find, or the simple act of giving and receiving love, there is something transcendent that moves us in this season. The Christmas story points to that reality: the possibility of transformation, of life beyond the ordinary, of the invitation to believe that things can change—for the better.

This Christmas, take a moment to reflect on what it means that the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. It’s not just an ancient story; it’s a living truth that still speaks to us today. May this season bring you peace, joy, and a sense of wonder that the divine is not far off, but right here close to us, with us, and for us. May you have a wonderful Christmas.
Revd Annette

PRAYER FOR TODAY
Hidden God, you are known to me as absence more than presence
yet just occasionally the point of a needle breaks through the fabric of my life,
makes one perfect golden stitch and disappears again into the depths.
It’s not much, but enough to know that the thread is unbroken and for that I thank you.

Rachel Parkinson, District Chair, Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury District

Church Contacts

Benefice Administrator: Tamara Laing, part-time at the Benefice Office Email: wbboffice@gmail.com 07359 327072.

Churchwardens:
Inkpen: Charlotte Bampfylde (tel. 669285).
Combe: Tina Fiertz (tel. 668529), Katherine Astor (katherine@kirby-house.co.uk).

Inkpen graveyards on-line

For anyone wishing to view the details of Inkpen's graveyards, including burial details, grave stone inscriptions and the location of the graves, please click here.  Inkpen Burial, Marriage, Baptism and Birth records covering the period 1607 to 1837 can be found on the Inkpen history website, here.

NEWS FROM ST. MICHAEL'S

The Services in December start with Compline which is at 6pm on the 1st. There is then Morning Communion at 8.30am on the 8th. We then offer three Christmas Services, the first which is particularly for children being Christingle which is at 4pm on the 15th. The puppets that were such a hit last year are back again and as always Christingles will be given to all the children. This together with the candle lit church and churchyard have a special magic which is truly memorable.

For the Carol Service which is at 6pm on the 22nd the church will as always be beautifully decorated with candles much in evidence. Come and sing the carols that are truly part of Christmas and hear again the story of the birth that changed the world. It is hoped that for this Service there will be a small choir. If you would like to sing in it, please contact Christopher Sears at: treasurer.inkpenchurch@outlook.com.

Then finally on Christmas Day we have our traditional two-part service. Starting at 9.45 there is the Family Service which after a break of about 10 minutes is followed by a shortened Service of Holy Communion. The Services remind us of whose birthday we are celebrating and make a joyful start to Christmas Day.

Services for January are Compline which is at 6pm on the 5th, Holy Communion using the Book of Common Prayer which is at 8.30am on the 12th and Parish Communion which is at 9.45am on the 19th.

Finally, may we wish all a very Happy Christmas and our prayers that 2025 is a year in which sanity and indeed Christian love return to the world.

CHURCH FUNDING
We are again appealing to the many people who have given generously in the past and to others who would like to support the upkeep of our church. If you would like to donate to St. Michael's Church Inkpen, please do so using the secure website www.parishgiving.org.uk.

Your donations are vital to the upkeep of our beautiful church which so many rely on for weddings, baptisms, funerals and memorials as well as regular services. Thank you.

church services FOR INKPEN, COMBE and West Woodhay

Other Services in the Benefice are on the Website which is www.walburybeaconbenefice.org.uk

INKPEN
Sunday 1st December – Compline at 6pm
Sunday 8th December – Holy Communion at 8.30am
Sunday 15th December – Christingle at 4pm
14th December 1600hrs - Nativity
22nd December – Carol Service – 6pm
25th December – Family Service with Holy Communion at 9.45am

January
Sunday 5th January – Compline – 6pm
Sunday 12th January – Holy Communion at 8.30am
Sunday 19th January - Parish Communion at 9.45am

COMBE
Sunday 22nd December – Carol Service at 3pm
25th December – Holy Communion at 11.15am

WEST WOODHAY
Sunday 8th December – Carols at 11.15am
Sunday 22nd December - Holy Communion by extension at 11.15am

January
Sunday 12th January – Morning Prayer at 11.15am
Sunday 26th January – Holy Communion at 11.15am

The first Christmas in Inkpen Church


“During the major rebuilding of Inkpen Church which began in 1896, and which gave us most of the beautiful layout and decoration that we have today, medieval paintings were revealed but were too decayed for any attempt at restoration to be contemplated.

The wall paintings executed in 1910 by Miss Ethel King Martin include this one on the north wall of the chancel of the First Christmas depicting the appearance of the Angel Gabriel to the shepherds.”

catholic services

Our Lady of Lourdes, Priory Road, Hungerford RG17 0AF Parish Priest - Fr Zbigniew Budyn 01635 40332

Sunday Mass - every Sunday at 9.00am
Weekday Mass - every Wednesday at 10.00am

CAROL SINGING ON THE GREEN - Lower Green 10th December 6.30pm
Join us for Carol singing on the Green at Lower Green on December 10th at 6.30pm. Mulled wine and alcohol-free hot toddy to keep throats lubricated. We'll collect in aid of Inkpen School's Outdoor Play Area project. Look forward to seeing you on the 10th.

OBITUARIES

A victorian view - now and then

The images of St. Michael's past and present are shown here