From Christmas to Lent

Christmas, Lent and Easter are probably the busiest times of the year for Churches. So let’s have a look at what we did between Christmas and Lent.

It all started with an Advent Carol Service at St John’s on Advent Sunday, at the end of November

Then in December there was the Bilborough Festival in Bracebridge Drive and the surrounding area. We joined in singing carols outside the Co-op.

There were Christingle Services in all our churches. The St John’s Christingle was shared with the Nativity Play, a musical version of the story of the birth of Jesus.

The congregation of St Martin’s had their Christmas Fair, and a couple of days later sang carols at St Martin’s House before caroling around the village, in the rain.

More carols came from All Saints, Strelley who had an enjoyable evening at the Broad Oak.

Of course, there were the usual Carol Services in Church as well as at the Beechdale Community Centre and at Seagrave Court.

The Birth of Jesus was celebrated with the First Mass of Christmas at St John’s and Midnight Mass at St Martin’s And each church celebrated with a Christmas morning Eucharist. Incidentally at St John’s we were delighted that the celebrant was Rev’d Allen Hart.

Then we all came together for a United Service at St John’s on New Year’s Day.

January was much quieter. The two main occasions were the United Service for the week of prayer for Christian Unity held at Lincoln Court and the United Service on Candlemas, the last Sunday of the month.

Moving into February, there is ATC Sunday at the beginning of the month, followed by St Valentine’s Day. Don’t forget to send your Valentine card

A week later we have pancake day, Shrove Tuesday, followed by Ash Wednesday. That day, there are Eucharist Services with the Imposition of Ashes at all three of our churches. There’s one in the morning, one in the afternoon and one in the evening so you have a choice to suit.

Then it’s into Lent and there is the series of evening meetings “Lord, teach us how to pray” which are being led by Bishop Paul in Wollaton.