Christmas across the Diocese
Last year’s covid restrictions meant that many of the events leading up and celebrating Christmas needed to be cancelled. It was disappointing not to be able to host the usual candlelit Carol services and Christingle services in our church buildings. However, the situation did provide an opportunity for churches to explore different ways of celebrating Advent and Christmas.
Gary Gregeen, the diocesan rural officer and priest in charge of Ashburnham and Penhurst, agreed that the restrictions offered changes both in relation to content and geography
He said: “As a result events were ‘taken to’ people and as many were in the open air, the Church became more visible and accessible than might always be the case for some people. For example, one village held an ‘Advent Calendar Trail’ which included window or garden displays in 24 locations around the village. The trail could be followed on foot or via Facebook, as a different display (each organised by individual residents or groups/organisations within the community) emerged each day!
Gary added: A number of villages took their carol service onto the village green, with others having different stations or displays depicting the Nativity Story(often involving those who would not ordinarily attend church but were keen to be of help), thus the Carol Service moved around.”
This year Gary led a carol service in the Hailsham Livestock market followed by mulled wine and mince pies. We’ve also heard about carols under the skylight, in the churchyard, outside the pub, in streets and by the pond!
St Andrew’s, Hove is one of many churches across the Diocese who have continued to take Advent out of the church and into the community. In Hove you will see a different window decorated or lit up each day. In other parts of Sussex, as Advent continues, Angels, woolly sheep and other eye-catching Christmas symbols have been hidden in roads and streets for children to find.
Picture: Advent window in Hove
Plans for Christmas at Holy Trinity Eastbourne continue after last week’s Christmas Trail where children were able to meet the characters from the Christmas story and to find answers to the all-important questions.
The church has also hosted a family Christmas party for all children and their families and then on Christmas Eve there will be family fun time discovering the story of Jesus.
In Pulborough at St Mary's church their Mexican themed Crafternooon Feliz Navidad event for 4-12 year olds for 22nd December has proved so popular it is fully booked.
St John’s, Copthorne held a beautiful Christingle service in its churchyard and it was such a joy to see so many gathered together to sing carols and light the Christingles in the outdoors.
Picture: The stunning Christmas Tree festival at Holy Cross Uckfield
St. Peter's, Bexhill is hosting a Christmas Messy Church at 3pm on Saturday the 18th of December and people are encouraged to dress up as their favourite Christmas character. There will be lots of music, crafts, a DIY nativity and lots of fun.
Angela Farley, is the churchwarden at All Saints, Sidley, Bexhill. She told us about their Christmas Coffee Morning being held on Saturday 18th, in the Church, 10.30 - 12 30. Also, the church will hold an outdoor Carol Singing, in front of the Church, on Wednesday 22nd at 5pm. As well as the usual Christmas day Mass there will be a Crib Service, perfect for children and families, on the 24th at 4pm
Over at Seaford– Rev James Hollingsworth is doing a Messy Christingle (20th) and splitting their Nativity services into two in the hope of allowing a bit more distancing. He said: “We went into a local school recently to do Hanukkah to some year 3s which was a blast!”
Picture: The nativity scene at St Leonards, Seaford
St Barnabas in Hove have held a Christmas fair and raised over £700
Christmas tree festivals have been a huge success this year and a great way to invite the local community into the church.
Last weekend Willingdon, Uckfield, Gossops Green and Newick churches and many many others, held theirs.
At St Alban’s Gossops Green & Bewbush there were 21 beautiful Christmas trees to enjoy. With a prize to win an edible Christmas tree in the Grand Draw!
St Mary's East Grinstead will be hosting its annual St Marty Christmas Club.Fr Adam said: "This is the third time we are holding this morning club. It will take place on 21 December between 10-12:30pm. The children will learn some Christmas carols, and write prayers and act out the readings during our crib service on Christmas Eve at 4pm. There’ll even be some fun crafts to do.
"This is always a popular event, and the children love helping to lead our worship on Christmas Eve."
Rev Paul Mundy, Vicar in Newick, took to video to thank the whole community for getting into the spirit of Christmas and contributing to the Christmas Tree festival.
There was a tree for the NHS and all the Doctors and nurses, a tree for the local hospice and also a married couple tree which was a bit of a mystery. Alongside the tree festival, visitors also enjoyed the delights of a Christmas market. Watch it here: https://www.facebook.com/paul.mundy.75/videos/1502711590099084
Earlier this month we heard from Rev Lizzi Green at Gossops Green, a supporter of The Children’s Society. She said: “There's nothing quite like a Christingle service - the magic of getting together, the lights of the candles, the joy of the children. Christmas is a time of hope - celebrating the joy of Emmanuel, God with us.
So many children across the country desperately need that hope because they live in poverty, are at risk of exploitation, have suffered abuse, or are in need in other ways, particularly in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. Christmas doesn't feel hopeful when the rest of life is a challenge. The Children’s Society works to bring light to youngsters in some of the darkest of situations across the country.
Picture: Rev Arwen Folkes at Seaford popped into Morrison’s to pick up the oranges for their Christingle service for this weekend at St Peter’s church East Blatchington.
Picture: Rev Sandi Wickins from St Denys' Rotherfield with St Mark's, Mark Cross went into Rotherfield Primary School to lead their Christingle assembly. It was led by Adam Hardy, Lay Reader in the Benefice. Sandi looks like she had fun with the dressing up box.
Bishop Ruth, wearing her Believe jumper, took inspiration from Glen Scrivener and penned her own verses to explain what she believes in the Christmas story. Watch it here: https://www.facebook.com/DioceseofChichester/videos/340280477460558
Chichester Cathedral
The Chichester Nativity is back to sharethe familiar story of the Nativity in the style of a renaissance tableau.
Thisimmersive art installation at Chichester Cathedral heralds the heroes of the COVID-19 pandemic, from the local community and across the counties of East and West Sussex.
The artwork, created by Visual Arts Advisor and Curator Jacquiline Creswell and Artist and Photographer Ash Mills, is a large-scale photographic installation. The characters in the scene were drawn from local organisations, charities and medical services and paired symbolically to the roles within the Nativity, with angels acting as guardians of health and wellbeing; shepherds as providers of food and resources; the Magi as people who have learned from experience and are now leaders of their community.