Christ Church and St John

Christ Church and St John

Autumn, Advent and Christmas 2008

Autumn and Advent

Autumn

  • Sunday 5th October 11.00 Harvest Festival and lunch at Christ Church Join us for our annual celebration of the abundance of the harvest of food and the spiritual harvest of people. Our service will feature the first performance of our recently-formed African drumming group.
  • Saturday 11th October A Day Retreat walking through the Surrey countryside. Led by the sisters at the House of Prayer, West Moseley, this will be a chance for prayer and reflection. Contact the clergy for more information.
  • Sunday 26th October 11.00 Parish Eucharist at Christ Church for One World Week One World Week is an opportunity for people from diverse backgrounds to come together to learn about global justice, to spread that learning and to use it to take action locally and globally.
  • Saturday 1st November 12.00 All Souls Commemoration at Christ Church Please join us at our annual service to commemorate the faithful departed. This is a chance to remember and to give thanks for both all those who have died in the parish and those we have known in our own lives.
  • Sunday 2nd November 11.00 Parish Eucharist and lunch at Christ Church for All Saints’ Day We give thanks for all that both known saints and unknown saints have given us to help us understand our faith better.
  • Saturday 22nd November 19.30 Dramatic Reading of St Mark’s Gospel at St John’s Join us for a reading of Mark’s Gospel that will bring its dramatic stories to life. Tickets available from the clergy.
  • Sunday 23rd November 11.00 Parish Eucharist and lunch at Christ Church for Christ the King As our parish church is Christ Church, this is the day when we celebrate the foundation of the church. The festival is in honour of Christ as Lord over all creation and marks the end of the Church’s year.

Christmas Services

Christmas and New Year

  • 24th December 23.30 Midnight Mass at Christ Church
  • 25th December 11.00 Christmas Festival Eucharist at Christ Church
  • 28th December 11.00 Parish Eucharist for the First Sunday of Christmas
  • 31st December 23.30 Watch Night Service at Christ Church
  • 4th January 11.00 Parish Eucharist for the Feast of the Epiphany

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Autumn

The Autumn Term is not just about waiting for Christmas!

There’s plenty going on and much to celebrate in the Parish between now and December.

holly
Advent Services

First Week of Advent

  • 30th November 11.00 Parish Eucharist for Advent Sunday at Christ Church
  • 30th November13.00 Sunday School: Godly Play at St Mary’s Putney (bus leaves Christ Church at 12.30 prompt)
  • 30th November17.30 Newcomers’ Tea
  • 30th November19.30 Advent Carol Service at Christ Church
  • 2nd December 19.30 Eucharist and Advent Group at Christ Church
  • 3rd December 9.00 Eucharist and Discussion at St John’s

Second Week of Advent

  • 7th December 11.00 Parish Eucharist for Advent Sunday at Christ Church
  • 7th December13.00 Sunday School: Godly Play at St Mary’s Putney
  • 9th December 19.30 Eucharist and Advent Group at Christ Church
  • 10th December 9.00 Eucharist and Discussion at St John’s

Third Week of Advent

  • 14th December 11.00 Parish Eucharist for Advent Sunday at Christ Church
  • 14th December 1.00 Sunday School: Godly Play at St Mary’s Putney
  • 15th December 19.30 Carol Singing Around the Parish – meet at Christ Church
  • 16th December 19.30 Eucharist and Advent Group at Christ Church
  • 17th December 9.00 Eucharist and Discussion at St John’s
  • 18th December 16.30 Christmas Carols and Nativity at St John’s

Fourth Week of Advent

  • 21st December 11.00 Parish Eucharist for Advent Sunday at Christ Church followed by decorating the church and tree
  • 21st December 1.00 Sunday School: Godly Play at St Mary’s Putney
  • 21st December 7.30 Christmas Carol Service at Christ Church
  • 23rd December 19.30 Eucharist and Advent Group at Christ Church
  • 24th December 9.00 Eucharist and Discussion at St John’s

holly
Advent and Christmas

The season of Advent begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas.

“Advent” is a Latin word meaning “the coming”. During the season of Advent, Christians across the world prepare the celebration of the coming of God into the world through the birth of Jesus, His son.

Advent is a time of preparation and waiting, of darkness and light.

We think of these themes as we look forward to the Birth of Jesus – the Light of Christ coming into our world.

The darkness of Advent is transformed as we celebrate Christmas Day, which is the celebration of Jesus’ birth – the birth of God incarnate. In other words, Christmas is when God came to earth in the person of Jesus.

This is why Jesus’ birth is so important. The birth of Jesus is the light that comes out of the darkness of Advent.

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