ADVENT AND CHRISTMAS IN THE PARISH
The Advent theme of expectation which begins on Advent Sunday, 2nd December,
intensifies during the season as we turn our thoughts to Our Lord’s coming. Advent
Sunday is marked by the lighting of the candles on the Advent Wreath at the morning
service. These symbolise the Advent theme of preparation for Christ, thinking of the
Patriarchs and Prophets, of John the Baptist and of the Blessed Virgin Mary, who
prepared hearts and lives for the coming of the Messiah. In the evening, we will be
holding the annual Carol Service for Advent.
On December 16th we will be holding the annual Children’s’ Carol and Gift Service.
We ask the children of all ages to bring a gift suitable for a boy or girl, indicating on the
gift the age and gender of a child who would most appreciate it. These are presented
during the service and afterwards forwarded through Barnardos to children for whom
Christmas might otherwise be a bleak time indeed. We are grateful to Mandy Fleury
for undertaking the delivery of the gifts on behalf of Barnardos, and to the children and
families who respond so generously each year.
The Service of Nine Lessons and Carols will be held on Sunday 23rd at 7.00 pm.
This is always a most enjoyable occasion supported by the whole community and
provides an excellent opportunity to invite friends and neighbours along to St Andrew’s.
Christmas Day proper begins on the evening of Christmas Eve. The First Communion
of Christmas will be celebrated at 11.30 pm as we remember the birth at Bethlehem
which occurred in the middle of the night (a fact immortalised by Edward Sears’ wellknown
hymn, ‘It came upon the midnight clear’)
There will also be celebrations of Holy Communion at the usual Sunday morning times
for worship (8.00 am and 11.30 am in St Andrew’s, 10.00 am in St Doulagh’s, with the
latter two being particularly suitable for families with small children)