This Sunday our Eucharist included the lighting of the last of the four Advent candles, Christmas is nearly here! The church has now been decorated with greenery, in anticipation of Christmas, and looks festive. In the Sermon today Father Stephen spoke f the importance of listening to God's voice, and how the frantic activity of the pre Christmas season can prevent us from finding those quiet moments needed to hear the message God has for us. Mary had listened to this voice and had accepted the role of mother of the Christ child for us. The Choir sang 'A song of Mary' as the anthem.

In the evening we had our traditional service of Nine Lessons and Carols. The readings, telling the story of the Messiah from beginning in Genesis through to St John's opening treatise on the nature of the incarnation were taken from the King James version of the Bible. The Choir sand 'Up! good Christen folk and listen', Words and Melody by G.R.Woodward, 'Adam lay ybounden words traditional Setting by Peter Warlock,
'Away in  Manger' arrangement by Nigel Short, in this item the Junior choir sang the first verse. The Junior Choir also sang the third verse of 'Once in Royal Davids City' Words Mrs C F Alexander, Music by H.J. Gauntlet. Other Choir Items included the Coventry Carol set by Philip Stopforth, Tomorrow shall be my Dancing day English traditional arranged by David Willcox , and Gaudete also traditional words and music.The Congregation and Choir together also sang traditional Advent Hymns and Christmas Carols. The service was a very successful start to our Christmas celebrations!

A Wintery view of rhe Church

A rare flash of winter sunshine

Just before the 9 Lessons and Carols

All the Advent Candles lit