CHRISTMAS has been a delight at St Mary’s Church. Our Christingle service during Advent was most enjoyable and raised funds for the Church of England Children’s Society. Our Carol Service on the Sunday before Christmas gave us an opportunity to sing many of our favourite carols and the children gave a presentation on the meaning of Christmas. Then for Christmas Eve we repeated the All-age Nativity complete with a real infant, and with angels, shepherds and wise men. Children and adults dressed and acted out the traditional story as carols and readings took us in our minds to the hills near to Bethlehem and then into the town to that stable scene beside the inn. Christmas Day morning gave those who had not been to midnight at Christ Church an opportunity to make their Christmas complete with the Eucharist.

Our next community event will be a Jumble Sale on Friday, January 13 at 6pm. These sales are planned to take place on the second Friday of every other month, so the subsequent one will be on March 9.

On Saturday, January 21 we will hold a special St Mary’s lunch to say goodbye to Clare. We congratulate Clare on being appointed as Team Vicar of the Parish of Whittington and St Mark in the Cherry Orchard, in the Worcester South East Team. We are sad to be losing Clare, but we are thankful for the good work she has done for both congregation and community and for the good foundations she has made on which we can build. Clare will be licensed to her new post in April.

DAVID GUTTERIDGE.