A homecoming.

Dear friends,

Come with me in your imagination if you will on a summer adventure. We’ll catch a plane for the short hop to Geneva, then a train for an hour or so back into France, heading south, skirting the Alps. Just a little beyond Annecy, with its wonderful lakeside, our train will terminate at St Gervais Le Fayet. We’ll have to change here, and wait for our connection onwards. The mountains tower all around us, but to climb further up the valley towards Chamonix we need to get on the smaller gauge line that creeps round rock and river heading into Switzerland. But we are not going so far on this efficient little mountain line. We’ve climbed into the gorge, and left the town well behind. There is cliff and river to our left, and dense, dark pine forest to our right. Press the button, because the next stop of Viaduc St Marie is a request halt only. There isn’t a station, just a small and very narrow platform. Chances are we’ll be the only people getting off. There is an indistinct footpath leading on and up into the pines from one end of the platform. Yes, that is the way. Shoulder your rucksac (you did bring one?) and head into the darkness of the trees. After about half a kilometre we emerge onto a narrow lane bounded by green pasture, and, not two hundred metres ahead, we see the Telecabine du Prarion. We are going up in the world! The little two person bubble cars are not for the faint hearted, but they are a great way to climb quickly. Perhaps only twenty minutes later we are high on “Le Prarion” – a mountainous shoulder projecting from the northern side of the Mont Blanc massif.  There are views all around, and the sole building at this point is the “Hotel du Prarion”, which has been in the same family for almost a century. To celebrate our ascent, we should perhaps partake of a little something, while sitting on the south facing terrace, where one can gaze in wonder at the white snow capped dome that is the Mont Blanc massif. We can look down the valley from where we’ve just ascended, with the village of Les Houches below, and Chamonix in the distance. Pause, and with your beverage, wonder at the marvel of it all.

Too soon it is time to move on. We’ve a mile to walk now, which although it is with luggage, nevertheless is all downhill, back around the far side of Le Prarion, through alpine pasture and meadow, redolent with summer flowers and butterflies. After about twenty minutes winding downhill on the rough rocky track, look for a small path off to your right, almost hidden in undergrowth and scrub. Its been a long day, and you are anxious not to miss this turn. You don’t want to carry anything back up the very steep hill if you can avoid it. Is that it? Let’s see – yes, come on, push through the bracken. I’m sure this is the way. Five minutes later, there, through the trees, in a clearing in the birch and pine forest, perched on the side of the hill there is a large wooden chalet, with a low metal roof. Wood smoke curls lazily from the chimney in the centre.  “They’re here!” you cry, and sure enough, there are some of your friends, already in situ, some sitting lazily in ramshackle basket chairs in the afternoon sun, others attempting a rather curious variant of croquet on the neither manicured nor level grass. There are greetings, and joy, and tales of the journey, and laughter. “So glad you found your way!” “Welcome!”

Christmas Eve

4pm Christingle Service at St Peter and St Paul, Checkendon, with the children’s choir, church music group, and a Christingle to take home.

11.30pm Midnight Communion at St Mary’s, Ipsden.

Christmas Day

11am Christmas Celebration at St Peter and St Paul, Checkendon, with Canon Kevin Davies

Sunday 28th December

10.30am Team Service of alternative Christmas readings and carols at St Mary’s, Whitchurch on Thames, with Rev Dr James Leach.

Last Words

This will be my final note to you of 2025. No matter the journey that you are on, however interesting, puzzling, perilous or convoluted your way turns out to be, my hope and prayer for all of us is that, in all our comings and goings, we will each find a welcome and a home in our churches – wherever you happen to be in the Langtree Team ministry area. Thank you all for your care, love and support for myself and all the ministry team. May the grace and peace of our Saviour be with us all. A very happy Christmas!

Your Rector, Canon Kevin.