St Faith’s celebrated Christmas with a number of  parties leading up to Christmas, starting with the Mothers’ Union dinner in early December followed by parties at the Thursday Fellowship and After Eights meetings and finally on the Saturday before Christmas, a party for the children of the parish where they were able to join in decorating the huge Christmas tree as well as games and scrumptious food.

Next morning the children were in quieter mood as they performed a lovely Nativity Play during  Sunday morning worship.  Narrated by the Sunday School teachers the children acted out the Christmas story and performers of all ages were able to take part, from tiny angels and a toddling sheep, to a very evil teenage King Herod.

The Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols that afternoon was another enjoyable occasion  and the choirs hard work in practise came to fruition in performances of some old familiar and some new carols and the congregation had plenty of opportunity to sing as well.  Afterwards we partook of seasonal refreshments, including mulled wine. The whole day was a great  start our Christmas week and later that evening some of the music group and singers went to Peter Sell House for carol singing.

The church was open for periods on the days leading up to Christmas to provide an opportunity for time out for anyone wishing to light a candle or have a quiet time of prayer. Mindful of the fact that Christmas is not a happy time for everyone we hope this provided  some comfort to those who took the opportunity to come in.

The excitement of Christmas Eve was demonstrated in the procession to the crib service, which this year started from Highover School.  The new travelling crib, made by the Beadle family was taken on the journey and there was no shortage of youngsters eager to take a hand in carrying it.  About 90 folk took part  in the torchlight Nativity procession and hot chocolate was served when they reached St. Faith’s church.  Even more folk  joined us at church for the crib service where children carried the crib figures in to dress the crib in front of the altar and then  Charmaine told the Christmas story to the children. The music group played and we had the opportunity to sing more Christmas carols.  Later that evening it was the turn of the adults with Midnight Mass  at 11.30p.m. and the Christmas services culminated in the All Age Festival Communion at 10.30a.m. on Christmas morning.

Over this period we have had a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the  birth of Jesus in many and varied ways and we hope this has given all who came something of the magic and joy of this very special season.