Dear Friends,

I am sure those of you who are in Cayman will be enjoying as much as I am the lovely weather we are so often given at this time of year. The hurricane season is over at last (from the beginning of the month) and those who “shuttered up” for the hurricane season (or some of it) can let the light and the breeze into their homes again. Windows and even doors can be thrown open to let in the fresh air and the warm sunlight. I do apologise to those of you in much colder climates who may be reading this, but then again you really should be visiting the Cayman Islands at this time of year.

Actually I am at the moment enjoying a “much colder climate” contribution as well because our internet radio is, as it often is, tuned to the UK programme “Classic FM”, which has included, with other pieces, an excellent and classically presented selection of some beautiful Christmas carols, and not even a mention of “Santa Claus is coming to town”, etc. 

We are so glad to have Bishop Melvin Williams and his wife Pamela here in Cayman also. Bishop Mel has undertaken to take charge, with the help of others, of the services at church last Sunday and this Sunday coming, and I am sure they also will be enjoying the weather, which I believe is somewhat different from that in their Virginia home. I hope they will get some time away from the other duties pertaining to their first visit here after the lifting of covid restrictions. And after all, it was a special birthday for +Mel last Sunday….

The Collect for the Fourth Sunday in Advent is

 O Lord, raise up (we pray thee) thy power, and come among us, and with great might succour us; that whereas, through our sins and wickedness, we are sore let and hindered in running the race that is set before us, thy bountiful grace and mercy may speedily help and deliver us; through the satisfaction of thy Son our Lord, to whom with thee and the Holy Ghost be honour and glory, world without end. Amen.

This year Christmas Day falls on a Sunday, so there is a full week this year following the Fourth Sunday in Advent, which of course over the years is not usually the case, before Christmas Day arrives. While modernists consider the “First day of Christmas “ to be the U.S. Thanksgiving Day in November (or maybe "Black Friday”), actually the First Day of Christmas is Christmas Day itself, the last day of Christmas being the 5th day of January. That’s the last day of Christmas because the day after that is Epiphany. 

I make the point because that is the context in which the Advent 4 Collect can be fully appreciated. Indeed, it is the context in which the whole of Advent can be “felt”. Because in Advent the emphasis is on looking forward to a huge fulfilment, and while that fulfilment is the final prize of those who are “sore let and hindered in running the race that is set before us”, the race in which God grants us by His grace the potential actually to partake of the greatest of all prizes, there is also in Advent the fulfilment ahead, in present time, of the commemoration of the Birth of the Christchild, Christmas Day. The two “looking forwards” of Advent are connected “through the satisfaction of thy Son our Lord”, to Whom be immeasurable honour and glory.

(As noted previously the Collect for the First Sunday in Advent is is to be said as well.)

I envisage again that with Bishop Mel’s leading the service on Sunday, Mr. Peter Westin and I will be playing particular roles as well.

In faith in the holy Name of our Lord Jesus, who will continue to provide guidance and joy by the Holy Spirit to all His people.

+ Nicholas

PS Katie has arranged for us to be able to use the Clubhouse on Christmas Day the 25th as it is on a Sunday.