Make Way!
We had an exciting start to our Advent season on the first of the month, with a mixed up Nativity scene and quite a lot of baubles. The angels had their work cut out to spread the Good News amongst this mess!
First, we lit the first candle of the advent wreath, which has a candle at each corner for the four Sundays in Advent and one in the middle which we light on Christmas Day.
Then, to inspire our season of preparation it was the return of the High Stools. We welcomed Barbara, Annabelle and Natasha to tell their stories of what Christmas has meant to them over the years and the things that make Christmas special in their family. You can listen to their stories and our regular sermons on the website.
Finally, with the help of the young people, we hung the baubles and angels on the tree, sorted out who’s who in the Nativity and said prayers for everyone preparing for Christmas, wherever they are and whatever their circumstances will be this year.
Half way already?
So now here we are half-way through Advent; are we any more ready for Christmas than we were at the start?
With our Carol Service completed and the Senior Citizens’ Lunch eaten and washed up, we’d like to say a big Thank You to everyone who lent a hand to create these events, including Ann Frank and the Stoke Poges School Choir who came to visit our Senior Citizens’ lunch.
If you need some more encouragement to get you through the next two weeks, we have plenty of opportunities for you to join in:
Still to come before the Big Day…
Watch out around the village for our angels, created by the Knit and Natter crew, who hold a Christmas invitation for whoever finds them. Their little tag leads to our Christmas Events page so that people can find out about our Christmas services and Wassailing at the Memorial Gardens.
What is Wassailing?
Rather than the “singing to the orchard” variety of Wassailing, we will be enjoying the “caroling and wishing each other good health” mode which is sometimes practiced after Christmas as a Twelfth Night, or New Year celebration. Wrap up warm and come and make your own paper or jam jar lantern to light your path through the Memorial Gardens to Repton Bridge (facing Stoke Park). After a few carols on the bridge, we will make our way to the cosy atmosphere of St Giles’ where warm treats and a few more carols await.
And finally…
We love to welcome everyone to St Giles’ on Christmas Eve. It sometimes feels like the whole village has come to hear the News. From tiny tots at the 3.30 service dressed as the cutest sheep, the kids that we eyeball carefully when we give them a candle at 5.30 and to those who have decided that it’s not Christmas until they have been to Midnight Communion (at 11.30pm) or Christmas Day (10am). One way or another, they have all made sure that Jesus has room at their party.
So what’s your plan for Christmas? Eat, drink and be merry in celebration or quiet contemplation of the Coming of the King? Or a little of each…
For more details of all of our events and services pick up a leaflet at church or visit our website.
Stoke Poges Church Blog 