Carols

Our annual carolling events started on Monday December 15th when we met to go round the local area carol singing. About 24 of us met and sang for about two and a half hours. Then we gathered together at the house of a member of our congregation for snacks and coffee to get warm.
On Wednesday 17th December, the Ladies Fellowship group invited people to join and sing carols with the Salvation Army band. Around 40 people enjoyed the afternoon.
Thursday December 18th was our new event titled "Five Courses and Carols". The menu was: appetiser, angel biscuits and peasant's salad; crofters' soup; celebration chicken; figgy pudding with cream; mince pies and cheese with tea or coffee and turkish delight. Over 40 people gathered and sang carols appropriate to the courses.


Our carol service, led by our pastor, Susannah, was on Sunday December 21st at 3-00p.m. nearly 50 of us gathered to celebrate and sing traditional and local carols. We were introduced to a new carol written by one of our congregation, "A Mayfield Carol". Sung by Susannah to the tune "Cranham", this was used again the following Sunday. Afterwards we met for mince pies and coffee in the back room.


On Christmas day we met for a service led by our pastors Jonathan and Susannah. Ably assisted by Nathan, who burst out of a parcel when Susannah asked us what we would bring to Jesus, the service gave us chance to consider the message of Christmas once again.

Early Advent.

Our journey towards Christmas started in mid November (23rd). Our pastor, Jonathan, celebrated "Stir-up Sunday" by baking a cake during the morning service. This Sunday, another name for the Sunday before Advent, is so called because the set prayer, or collect, for the day begins with the words "Stir up, O Lord, the wills of your faithful people;". Comments were made about the "Cooking Pastor" and Jonathan asked the congregation whether they wanted to be stirred up. We ate the cake after the service with the coffee.
The "Fair Trade" coffee morning on December 6th was very well attended and the sales of Fair Trade goods were very encouraging. We hope that this attempt to improve trade justice will continue to grow.
December 14th was the date of our "Advent Carol Service" when we considered what we were preparing for as we approach Christmas as we sang a selection of hymns and carols related to the coming of our Lord. We also listened to what Jonathan described as one of the most profound things in a song. The Song was by Slade. The message was "So here it is, Merry Christmas, everybody's having fun; look to the future now, the future's just begun.