Whether you visit us once over Advent and Christmas or attend every service, you have perhaps never considered the work which happens behind the scenes to make sure everything happens smoothly.
Planning for the season started back in July when our Fundraising Committee met to decide upon the theme for the Christmas Tree Festival. In August and September, we started to plan the services and events including attending a number of webinars from the Church of England to learn more about how we could tie into “Follow the Star: Calm and Bright” which was the theme for Advent and Christmas 2024.
In October and November, we had lots to do getting the website and marketing materials ready, booking organists, rehearsing all the carols and anthems as well as planning how we would decorate the church.
October 20th although a little early to be decorating a Christmas tree we set one up for a couple of hours to take photos for our December services and events flyer as well as to pull together a set of images we could use across our website and social media posts.
Once we hit the week of the 25th of November it was all hands on deck not only setting up for the Christmas Tree Festival but setting up the crib, advent wreath and all of the other small touches which really make Christmas here at St Mary’s. As the Church was starting to look festive, we took this opportunity to film some seasonal greetings from Rev Morna to be posted on our Facebook page during Advent.
And finally, at 2pm on Friday 29th November we opened our Christmas Tree Festival to the public! But the work didn’t stop there, as throughout that weekend we hosted Rushden Town Band for a concert (relocated to the Star Hall due to issues with our heating system), our 9:30am Sunday morning service and a 6pm Advent Carol Service. Our Christmas Tree Festival closed to the public at 4pm on Sunday 1st December with the choir arriving at 4:45pm to rehearse ahead of a 6pm Carol Service. It was thanks to a small team of hard-working volunteers that (bar the Christmas trees) the church was put back to normal ready to welcome a congregation by the time the choir rehearsal had begun!
Whilst the Advent Carol Service drew to a close a fantastic Christmas Tree Festival weekend, as it was the 1st Sunday in Advent it also marked the start of a busy festive period full of a variety of services and events!
The week after our Christmas Tree Festival our Open the Book team took an assembly into the Junior School all about the little star at the heart of the nativity story, featuring puppets made to look like characters from the story! These wouldn’t be the only handmade puppets to feature this Christmas!
Julie, Colin and Julia did a sterling job running children’s crafts and selling tickets for our Christmas Draw on our stall at the Town Council Christmas Fayre. Rev Morna also popped along to meet the community and draw the Finedon Buffs Christmas Raffle (she would have to wait to draw ours until the Coffee Morning on December 19th).
Over the following days we visited The Bell Inn with the choir for a festive carolling experience, welcomed hundreds of people into the church for the Finedon Schools Christmas Service and held our annual Nine Lessons and Carols Service, not to mention our monthly Outreach Coffee Morning at which we drew our Christmas Prize Draw for 2024. A huge well done to Jean and the team who between the coffee morning and Prize Draw have raised over £1,100.
A special and heartfelt thanks must go to our Choir as well as the visiting singers, organists and accompanists who have supported them throughout the season. From carols services to carolling in the local pub and still treating us to a selection of anthems during our weekly services they really have excelled themselves and shown how strong our musical tradition is here at St Mary’s. Whilst they take a well-deserved week off on Sunday 29th December, they will be back in fine voice for our Epiphany Carol Service on Sunday 5th December at 6pm.
Nine Lessons and Carols marked the star of our countdown to Christmas Day. On Saturday 21st we were joined by children from our Family Funday to rehearse their presentation for the Christingle the following day. On Sunday 22nd over 160 people joined us for our Christingle service. It was a magical experience to see so many people in church, standing side by side with their Christingles making a ring of light within the building. The Christingle was also the second event at which a handmade puppet made an appearance. Clement the Orange arrived in the pulpit to congratulate the children on their presentation and invite everyone to come and collect their own Christingles.
The team at St Mary’s took a well earned day of rest on Monday 23rd before heading into Midnight Mass and Christmas Day celebrations. Prior to the Midnight Mass service we printed and stapled orders of service for Holy Eucharist and Christmas, lined the path to Church with tealights in memory of those whom we’ve lost, set up lights within the church to enhance the celebration and set up the thurible to allow incense to be used during the service! Having locked up at 1am, it was unlocked again at 8:30am to set up for our Christmas Morning eucharist service.
Thank you to everyone to joined us at one of our many services and events throughout this season of Advent and Christmas. We offer an even bigger thank you to all those who volunteered to help us create such a magical season and make Rev Morna’s first Christmas with us one to remember.
Dear Lord,
We thank you for all of the magic you bring throughout the year, but during this Christmas season in particular. May you shine as a beacon of hope and calm during these dark winter months. Keep watch over those this Christmas who are alone or suffering, may their feel your comforting and healing presence in their lives.
We lift our hearts with joy and thankfulness for the ultimate gift you gave us in Jesus Christ your Son. Lord of Peace and Love.
Amen
