The season of Advent takes place over the four Sundays before Christmas. We begin by thinking about the end - not the first coming of Jesus Christ at Christmas but about the end of all things and the promise of the Hebrew Bible that all of creation will know peace. Then we think about the message of the Old Testament prophets who foretold the coming of the Messiah, a just ruler and Saviour of God's people. As the time before Christmas begins to get shorter, we remember the uncouth New Testament prophet, John the Baptist, who announced the coming of Jesus, and finally Mary of Nazareth, the young woman who believed the promise of an angel that she would bear God's Son.

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Advent begins this year on the 29th of November, and we invite you to join with us at our Sunday services at All Saints (7.30 am) or St Mary's (10.00 am), or else at our mid-week service at St Mary's (Wednesday 10.00 am).

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On Christmas Eve we will meet at St Mary's Church (Yule Ave, Middle Swan) to sing carols and share in the Eucharist to celebrate the birth of the Christ Child, the Incarnation of God's love in the world. You are welcome to join us before the service from 7.00 pm in a (BYO) picnic on the lawn opposite St Mary's. The family-friendly service of Nine Lessons and Carols begins in the church at 8.00 pm and will conclude around 9.30 pm. The service will incorporate a children's nativity re-enactment if there are enough willing actors!

 

Or on Christmas Day, join us at All Saints Church (Henry St, Henley Brook) at 8.00 am for a traditional service of carols and Christmas blessings underneath the beautiful London plane tree. 

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