This week in our Churches

On Friday 13th of December, we welcome our church organist, Nick Wilson to the local airwaves as he is giving his Christmas “Thought for the Day” at 8.15am on BigglesFM, 104.8 on the dial. Nick has some great stories and anecdotes and is well worth listening to!

Last Sunday was a service of Choral Holy Communion led by the Rev Canon Lyndsay Dew once more. In the afternoon that most popular children’s service, Christingle, took place, led by Rdr Simon Gutteridge. In his talk, Simon suggested that the Christingle could be made out of other objects rather than the orange, candle and sweets and the traditional red band round the middle. But the children would not accept that a pineapple with a carrot stuck in it would do the job as well. Simon soon had them all explaining what a traditional Christingle really meant and why it should stay that way. Each child was then presented with a Christingle and when the candles were lit, the church lights were extinguished and the children all slowly paraded around the church, a beautiful sight in the candlelight.

Next Sunday, December 15th, the Rev Canon Lyndsay Dew returns once more to conduct the shorter Holy Communion and using the children’s Treasure Boxes to illustrate the elements of the service. At 6pm, the service of Nine Lessons and Carols is being held at St Mary’s. This is a traditional service telling the story of the Nativity, with a series of lessons, carols and readings. Carol Services are also being held on the same afternoon at 3pm at Cockayne Hatley Church and 4.30pm at Sutton Church. All are very welcome to any of these services..

All other services in the Benefice for next Sunday: Services at St Mary’s Church, unless shown otherwise, for Sunday December 15th: 9am Benefice Holy Communion (Said) at Sutton Church 9am Morning Prayer 10.30am Shorter Holy Communion 3pm Carol Service at Cockayne Hatley Church 4.30pm Carol Service at Sutton Church 6pm Nine Lessons and Carols