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January 2020 January 2020
Dr Seymour said the Wise Men were probably astronomers. Jupiter was the
planet of Kings and Saturn the protector of the Jews. “When our calendar was Artificial Christmas trees, and trees with decorations attached, will not be
revised in the Middle Ages it is probable that some mistakes were made in the collected.
calculations. The result is that we have been celebrating Christmas on the wrong The council recognise that some people, like us, will be collecting trees for charity.
date.” He said it was “pleasing from a scientific view” to explain the miraculous, So, to have us collect your tree, email or text your address to us with the comment
but that he would continue to celebrate Christmas on 25 December like “I have put £xxx in the box at XXX. Please collect our tree.”
everyone else. The then administrator of Plymouth’s Catholic Cathedral said, “This
confirms scientifically what we have been saying for two thousand years – that Happy Christmas from The ELM Branch. 07 419 312 517
there was a star in the east to mark the birth of Christ!
michael.menzies@talk21.com
It is clear from the Bible that the shepherds would not have been out in the fields
with their sheep if Jesus had been born in December. Autumn is the time when
Jews celebrate their Feast of Tabernacles, a time associated with the coming of
their Messiah. Therefore 15 September is a much more likely date for the birth of
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Jesus.
However the important thing to remember about His birth is that Jesus didn’t stay
a baby, but He grew into manhood and became a teacher and performed
many miracles which confirmed that He was indeed the Son of God. He then
died on the cross, taking the punishment for wrong doing that was due to us, and
then rose again to new life. If we believe in Him and commit our lives to Him,
asking forgiveness for all our wrong doing, then He will give us His new life here
and now. Why not take that step of commitment, it is the best start to a New
Year that you can ever have.
BRIANTSPUDDLE VILLAGE HALL - EVENING LECTURE SERIES
The members of the Congregational Church wish you all a Happy, Peaceful and
God-Blessed New Year. Flora & Fauna
by Margaret Chetham, Bob Gibbons & Lesley Haskins
Joyce Healey
Margaret will introduce this evening talk of plants, and animals. Bob is a wildlife

expert and professional photographer. He will tell us about the wildlife of Dorset
Just a Smile woodlands and heathlands with the aid of his own stunning photographs.
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Chocs Away! The Vicar visited an old lady after Christmas, and while he was 7:30 p.m. Friday 10 January 2020
there he was offered a plate of nuts. A few weeks later he visited again and was
offered some nuts once more. But he noted that she didn’t have one. “No”, she Admission £3
said, “People keep giving me chocolates, and I like the chocolate but I don’t like Includes tea coffee biscuits. Wine is available at cost.
the nuts, but I know that you do.” Margaret will take us on a brief canter through 15 or so years of the parish

A lady was very nervous about her appointment with the dentist. Before leaving wildlife newsletter – by all its contributors. Whilst much of the technical input
home she sought courage by reading the Bible text for the day from her comes from Ian Cross, the beauty of the publication is the opportunity for all the
calendar. It was Psalm 81:10 “Open your mouth wide and I will fill it!” village folk to tell and show what they have found living near them.
A major part of our surroundings is undergoing restoration to woodland and
heathland through the work of the Erica Trust. The Erica Trust takes its name
from the Latin name for heathers, which also happens to be the middle name of
Lesley Haskins, its founder and one of its trustees. Lesley will be on hand to
relate Bob’s talk to the restoration works taking place around us.

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