Churches across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight can offer oases of calm amid the busyness of Christmas preparations this year.
They’ll also offer a variety of ways to engage with the timeless story of how Jesus became a vulnerable baby so he could ultimately become our Saviour. They’ll host candlelit carol services, festive-themed musical events and dramatic re-enactments of the Nativity.
Many of them are following the national Church of England’s Christmas campaign – ‘Follow the Star: Calm and Bright’ – which draws on the sentiments expressed in the carol Silent Night. There will be daily reflections offered online during Advent and Christmas for those who sign up here.
The Brighstone Christmas Tree Festival will once again take place in venues across Brighstone, Calbourne and Mottistone, from 5th – 8th December.
Around 150 trees will be decorated by local organisations and displayed, with music and refreshments available for visitors. The festival has been held since 1996 and has raised over £100,000 for charity. Find out more details here: www.brighstonechristmastree.com.
St Mary’s Church, Brading will also host a Christmas tree festival from 6th – 8th December, with an Advent concert on the Friday evening at 19:00, and a Nativity procession from St Mary’s Church, starting at 16:00 on the Sunday.
Newport Minster will host Carols in the Square at 16:30 on 14th December. Join Wight Diamonds and the minster’s Singing for Fun group to sing carols around the tree in St Thomas’ Square. Then on 17th December at 17:00, Ryde Chorus invite you to sing Handel’s Messiah from scratch.
For more details of carol services and festive events, see www.portsmouth.anglican.org/christmas.
God’s house should be an oasis of calm all the time
Very true