From the January 2025 Parish Magazine
From November 29th to 1st December St Mary’s had a busy weekend with the Christmas Tree Festival, Rushden Town Brass Band concert and finishing off with the Advent Carol service in church.
Even though a little cold with no heating, the warmth of the start of the Christmas season gave us all a warm glow in out hearts.
A huge congratulations goes to all those in the community who supported the event and decorated their trees based on ‘Christmas on Stage’ from Panto to Wicked and even the Rev Richard Coles made his own special jungle appearance. We hope as many of you possible were able to get to church to see how wonderfully it was decorated.
The Band Concert took place on Saturday night. Even though it was at a different venue due to the heating issues at church was enjoyed by over 90 people.
We thank the Star Hall and in particular Joe Lawrence for allowing us at short notice to use the Star Hall, which gave us a warm welcome for everyone. Rushden Town Band certainly blew our socks off with some cracking tunes, many Christmas classics, some good audience participation with everyone joining in the singing and really got you into the swing of Christmas. Well done to all those who kept in time when singing ‘the twelve days of Christmas’!
This must be one of the all time favourites.
Guided by a member of the band and their conductor, they made sure everyone performed their little actions to each verse including maids a milking, lords a leaping and geese laying, most comical, but by the look on everyone’s faces a fun time was had. If you didn’t get there this year, then look out for next years date!
On Sunday we were treated to a moving evening with the Advent Carol Service, providing a little time for reflection along with some beautiful choral works from the choir. It was a very atmospheric evening with all the Christmas trees and candles lighting the church.
A final thank you goes to all those who worked behind the scenes, in preparing, setting up, running the refreshments and stalls at all the events and then cleaning up afterwards. This enabled us to set the church ready for business as usual through the Advent period leading up to the celebration of the birth of Christ on Christmas Eve at midnight mass.
