ST ANDREW’S, DEARNLEY

WELL, it’s almost here! The children of the parish are getting more restless and more excited by the day, our kitchen fridges are jammed full of festive fare, Santa has checked the runners on his sledge are in shipshape condition for the long trip south to warmer climes – and here, at St Andrew’s, we are busy getting the church spotlessly clean and looking at her best in readiness for the many services and events over the next few days.

It all starts at 11am this (Saturday) morning when we meet in the parish room to make the Christingles for one of the main services of this festive season tomorrow (Sunday) when we have a Family Christingle

Service, starting at

10.30am and followed by brunch. A light meal with a festive flavour, of course!

This really is a service not to be missed, especially for those with children, for whom the magic of Christmas is often reflected in a service which has carols and hymns which they know from school.

Most of our young people will be familiar with what the REAL Christmas is all about – namely, the birth of our Saviour to a virgin mother in the humble surroundings of an inn’s stable which He shared on day one of his amazing time on earth with donkeys, horses, sheep, goats and other cattle. We have a manger in Church and other symbols of what happened to change the world all those centuries ago.

Harry Potter can’t even begin to compare with the magnificent, mindboggling story of the first Christmas, knowledge of which, and a belief in it, will shape a young person’s life if he or she is exposed to it now. Hope to see you in Church by

10.30am tomorrow and maybe again on Wednesday (December 20) when we have a Carol Service, starting at 7pm.

That takes us through to Christmas Eve, Sunday, December 24, when we have the usual Sunday morning Eucharist at

9.30am, followed at

11.30pm by Midnight Service with Eucharist (Midnight Mass) – another service which traditionally produces one of the best attendance figures of the Christian year.

So to Christmas Day, Monday, December 25 when we have a Family Service at 9.30am to which you are invited to bring a toy. How times have changed across the years, reflecting on current trends and moods and a far cry from the old days when Church life could perhaps be described as stuffy. It certainly isn’t that now!

On the last Sunday of the year, December 31, there will be a Combined service at Smithy Bridge Methodists, starting at 11am. If you need to speak to anyone at St Andrew’s regarding Christmas or any other matter please contact Rev Rachel Battershell on 378 466 or on 07748 113 121; warden Janice Perkins on 07730 367 919, warden Christine Longhurst on 07766 404 282 or Lay Reader Geoff Hurst on 370

047.

This year’s Advent course is every Thursday at 7.30pm in the parish room with sessions on Hope, Peace, Joy and

Love.