Thank you to everyone who is helping behind the scenes to make our Christmas services as special as they can be. Last week—despite heavy rain and the World Cup!—Simon Ffennell and the choir helped us to celebrate the Candlelit Carol Service in Martyr Worthy in a wonderful way.

And this week we look forward to the Crib service at 4.00pm on Christmas Eve in Easton: the floodlit church and its lofty star are such a welcoming sight—we hope many will be joining us.

This is a wonderful service for all the family with children taking part and favourite carols.  Be sure to get there early to get a seat! As you know, parking is quite limited, so please consider a car share of some kind!

Below are the details of our other services:

Midnight Communion – A special opportunity to celebrate Communion together, starting at 11.15pm in St Mary’s church, Avington.

Family Communion – A family-friendly communion service at 10am at St John’s church, Itchen Abbas.

And looking ahead, we are aware that New Year’s Day can be a quiet time for many, so why not join us at St John’s, Itchen Abbas for our next Café Church from 4-5pm? The theme will be “Looking Back, Looking Forward”. There will be activities for all ages or just an opportunity to come along and relax with tea and cake. Everyone is welcome: come and meet new friends and old.

May I take this opportunity to thank you for your Christmas good wishes and to pray that you will have a wonderful Christmas with your family and friends.

Next week I will be working in the parish on Wednesday and Thursday (28 and 29 December), so do please leave a message on my Rectory office landline (01962-588313) if you would like me to be in touch with you on one of those days on any matter of concern.

Revd Peter

“Christmas: probably the best news in the world!”