Churches across our diocese have been marking the start of Advent in many different and creative ways. Here are some of their stories:
St Barnabas, Winchester
St Barnabas Church held it first Christmas Tree Festival in 2016 and six have taken place since then. A trail has also been set up around the building, with seven different stations manned by church members, who tell the Christmas story.
Since the trail and festival opened last weekend, hundreds of people have passed through the doors including members of the community, residents of a nearby care home, local nursery groups and school parties from Winchester and beyond.
Organisers Lucy Dines and Caroline Taylor said, “We started the festival because we were concerned that children had lost the wonder and awe of the real Christmas story. We wanted to welcome into our building people who wouldn’t normally come in, and celebrate Jesus’ birth. We found that the tree side of the festival creates a buzz in the community, and when people come in to view the trees, they get an opportunity to interact with the Trail and we get a chance to chat about God and the Christmas story.”
Visitors follow the trail through the church and church hall and at the end, can enjoy 35 creative Christmas trees made by a variety of local groups from the Scouts, the women’s breakfast team, flower arrangers, the Basics Bank and even the local dry cleaners.
Rev Ed Dines said, “This event engages with the community and the community engages with the church. It means they hear the story of Jesus and the story of Jesus is not a myth, it’s not a pantomime, it’s not made up, but it’s real and based in history. I hope they take away something about Jesus and the sense and the feel about who he is and what difference he makes.
“The creativity of the trees is amazing and quite inspiring. There’s one tree from the charity 2 Wish which supports families who have lost children so it doesn’t just have community involvement, it has deep community involvement and it touches people’s hearts and it means we can connect people as well. We can invite them to all sorts of other events and that makes a big difference.”
At the end of the trail, each visitor is given a present of a decorated wooden star with a Christian message.
St George’s Church, Christchurch
Each year Christchurch Deanery Mothers Union have an Advent Service and invite Mary Randall from the Bournemouth Salvation Army to come, talk and accept donations for the homeless. This year’s service was held at St George’s Church.
Church members brought everything from socks, hats and gloves to toothpaste, blankets, and Christmas chocolate treats to donate to the charity named “Mary’s Men”. The service was organised by Christine Clode, the MU Deanery chairperson and led by Revd Sam Duckhouse, the curate and associate priest for St George’s and Christchurch Priory.
Paul Smith from All Saints, Mudeford said “A visit to the Salvation Army at Winton in Bournemouth is an eye opener. The first thing seen on arrival is a café on one side and rails of donated second hand clothes, shoes and accessories on the other. Every Monday evening the church provides free hot meals for about 40 people They also provide showers and baths – a godsend for some who cannot remember when they last had such a ‘luxury’.”
St Marks Church, Archers Road Southampton
St Marks Church, Southampton (Archers Road) celebrated the start of advent with a wreath making workshop. It was the second time they had held the event and 60 people joined in.
Revd Lorna Allez, Children’s, Youth and Schools Lead said “The majority of those who attended were friends, family and neighbours of those in our church, who had not been in the church building themselves before. We made wreaths amongst Christmas music and festive refreshments, and were able to advertise our Christmas events and services coming up during advent. It was a fun and festive event with some great wreaths produced too! Lots of people commented how welcoming the church felt and how friendly everyone was – we are trusting that Jesus will make himself known to all who attended through these relationships and experiences.”
St Mikes Church, Bournemouth
St Mike’s Church made some space in the run up to Christmas for a time of reflection to remember those who have been loved and lost. The ‘Christmas in the Dark’ service included a chance to light candles and provided a meaningful moment for those who attended.
Revd Sarah Yetman said “We believe that in the hustle and bustle of Christmas and the relentless focus on joy and brightness and celebration, there is so much that is difficult. Christmas is about remembering that God keeps his promises and knowing that he walks alongside us, whatever we face in life – Jesus is Emmanuel, God with us. This is a service that helps us remember that, to mark our sadness together, and to look with hope towards the future.”
St Francis, Valley Park
St Francis Church started the festive season with an Advent Service of Light.
Revd PJ Bromley said, “It was a chance to pause, to pray and start this advent season remembering that Jesus is the light in the darkness. As we wait for him to come again, there is so much darkness around us both globally but also in our own trials and hardship. Yet Jesus came as a light to us to have hope despite the darkness, and that we might be that light to others this advent.”
St John’s, Hartley Wintney
Sixteen windows around the village are being lit up with beautiful scenes from the nativity story including the manger, angel, shepherds and the wise men. St John’s in Hartley Wintney has set up the Advent trail to involve the community in discovering more about the Christmas story.
Revd Helen May said, “Every year we think as a church about how we can be reaching out to our community. Not wanting to become stale and stagnant in our offerings. This year instead of doing our usual one night trail for stars around the village Christmas Market, we decided to create an advent trail around the village to tell the Christmas story. We have created a map to follow the trail, with a simple retelling of the Christmas story to go with each window. The trail starts and ends at the church, and each window has a QR code linking to our church website with information about the trail and our Christmas services.
“We are also taking our young families on an ‘advent-ure’ to go and see the windows together in community, with a well earned hot chocolate along the way. We hope and pray that the Christmas story will be shared with those outside of the church each day, as we share it inside too during our many Christmas services and events.”
St Matthew’s, Winchester
The Advent carol service was a double celebration at St Matthew’s Church in Winchester. The 12th century church has been closed for repairs since September but after much hard work and community spirit, it was able to open again for last weekend’s popular service.
Revd Dr Jonathan Rowe said, “Our Advent carols at St Matthew’s has long been one of our most well-loved services. But there was an extra layer of meaning to this year’s edition, as it was our first service after the church reopened following several months of being closed for essential repairs. It was a profoundly beautiful moment to see this ancient place of worship filled once again and ringing with the voices of our community.”
All Saints, Milford on Sea
All Saints’ nativity trail forms part of the church’s outreach into the community this Christmas. A nativity character or display will appear in a different window of local businesses and shops each day and families are being encouraged to collect a map and follow the trail. There’s also a QR code that takes people to the Christmas page on the church website.
Rebecca Webb, Families and School Leader said, “We pray that the trail will encourage people to come along to one or more of our Christmas services and events. We’re counting in ones this year and if just one person comes to one of our services that wouldn’t normally, then we’ve been successful.
“For me the joy in developing something like this trail comes from the connections we strengthen with those that live and work here; in having a purpose to visit each shop and talk about church; giving them a Christmas card, mentioning the Alpha we’re running in January and the Bubble Church we’re launching too. Our mission as church this year has been all about trying to ‘Live Out Luke’, taking our faith outside the walls of the church to share it in our community, and the trail is just another small part of that. When conversations are framed within the context of something we’re doing together it’s easy to Talk Jesus, share faith and build connections.”
