Cheating slightly this month because we start the magazine at the Hampstead Arts Festival production of the Messiah on 29th November, sung by members of our choir. For a lot of people Messiah is a Christmas piece, although of course it isn’t, it’s much more than that. Maybe we have the BBC to blame – every Christmas Eve while I was growing up they broadcast it in the evening, it was what we decorated our tree to. I can’t now remember whether they did the whole thing or just Part 1 – how long does it take to decorate a tree? At least it meant that in a largely unmusical household I was exposed to a little of the best.
We’re not short of musical treats in December – Messiah is followed by the Advent Carol Service on 6th December and the Service of Nine Lessons and Carols on 20th (both these services at 6pm). Don’t confuse them – Advent has all the best tunes but we won’t be singing Christmas carols. There are always a few people who leave, clearly thinking they were coming to a carol service when, if they stayed, they would, like me all those years ago, be exposed to some very beautiful music.
Quite as popular as the Carol Service and more user-friendly for families with young children, is the 5.30pm Crib Service on Christmas Eve when the children re-enact the Christmas story and we all get to sing as many Christmas carols as you can squeeze into half an hour.
There are other carol services – 8 in all I think – given by our local schools and there’s nothing to stop the public coming in to listen. Some of the schools really do have excellent choirs and are a joy to listen to even if they do ALL start with Once in Royal David’s City and end with O Come all ye Faithful. I shouldn’t complain, I do realise I’m the only one who has to attend all 8!
Work carries on around these services – Gardening on Saturday 5th, Cleaning on Saturday 19th, Katherine will be looking for helpers to staple all those carol service sheets, Holy Hamsters carry on till 17th, Sunday School till 13th (with Christingles* on 6th) – finishing with a celebration of St Lucia. There’s a Living Book Club on 6th and the Tea Service on 13th. And don’t forget that 27th December – St John the Evangelist – is our patronal festival!
Christmas Cards
Have you bought your church cards yet? They’ll be on sale on Sundays over coffee in the crypt room.
Greetings board – as usual we’ll put up a board in church for you to pin open greetings to all your friends in the congregation but one thing we’re NOT doing is the table for you to leave private cards. Please don’t do this – it’s too sad, after Christmas, to have to dispose of cards that haven’t been collected and know that so many people never knew you cared.
By popular demand – well, a couple of people suggested it – we’re putting the Diary pages back in the centre of the magazine, making it easier to find. We’re always happy to take comments and suggestions about the magazine – my email is on the contents page.
No second Wednesday activity this month as there’s a carol service but we’ll be back in January with a scrapbook project.
Foodbanks
Please don’t forget, in the rush and bustle of Christmas preparation, to bring your offerings for the Foodbank, or if your local supermarket has a collecting point, give something there.
* Christingle : the orange represents the world, with a lighted candle to represent Christ, the Light of the World. Nuts, raisins and sweets on cocktail sticks around the candle represent God’s bounty and goodness in providing the fruits of the earth. Red paper, forming a frill around the base of the candle, reminds us of the blood of Christ shed for all people on the cross at Calvary.
December
Judy East