All Saints offered the community a wonderful range of family-friendly services over the festive period.
Christmas really felt like it had started in earnest with the DIY Nativity on the 11th of December. It was a lovely occasion with the youngest members of our church family involved in an unrehearsed re-enactment of the Christmas story. With at least two Marys, a handful of Josephs, numerous shepherds, resplendent wise men and definitely a host of angels, the children donned their costumes and performed beautifully at the front of the church around the crib scene. Members of Super Saints narrated the story and the congregation enjoyed joining in with a number of carols. Of course there were plenty of appreciative “oohs and ahs”, as the little ones sweetly interpreted the retelling in their own individual and unique way; adjusting head-dresses, scratchy tinsel and wings that needed attention!
Afterwards the children enjoyed a sumptious party-tea and it felt like Christmas had indeed arrived.
On Christmas Eve the church looked glorious, bedecked with seasonal flowers and foliage and candle-lit for the popular Christingle Service. Every year it is such a wonderful moment to be together when the lights are dimmed, the candles lit and we stand around the church as one united body echoing the symbolism of the Christingle itself. The orange representing our world; the sweets, the fruit of the earth; the red ribbon, the blood of Christ and the candle, our Lord Jesus, the light of the world.