Christmass in Stony Stratford & Calverton

No photo's, I'm afraid, but a joyous celebration of the Nativity of the Lord.

Christmass Eve saw me taking the Blessed Sacrament to the Sick & Housebound after the morning Mass of the day. A brief break for lunch and then out again to St Giles House Nursing Home for Scripture Readings, Prayers and Carols. At 4:30pm we celebrated our Christingle Service which is not that appalling version in Comic Worship. Here we make it far more meaningful with simply the images of Mary & Joseph in the Crib - the shepherds are placed elsewhere in the Parish Church and the Magi are on top of the organ console in the western gallery. The children and young people read from the Scriptures and then, following the singing of a carol with the church lights put out, lead prayers at the crib. Record numbers participated this year: 350. The entire collection will be added to our Advent Appeal for the Fistula Hospital in Addis Ababa as will money from our people's Advent Boxes and the Carol Singing around the parish.

Midnight Mass and Blessing of the Crib is always at All Saints, Calverton due to the large number of hostelries in Stony Stratford and the accompanying problems of drunks and vomit. A very good turnout and Calverton Village's chance for a really big do! I always find the stillness at this Mass quite wonderful as everywhere else I have been the volume of noise has been most distracting.

Christmass Morning at Stony Stratford for the Parish Mass and Blessing of the Crib (two parishes - two cribs to bless) was wonderful this year. Good numbers present, splendid music with descants and our Brass Ensemble accompanying the Organist in appropriate parts of the Mass Setting and in the carols: Adeste Fideles and Hark the Herald Angels sing. A visitor from Bradford said that the music and singing was as good as anything at the Forward in Faith National Assembly Mass which was a very nice tribute to our new Organist and Choirmaster: Andrew Storer.

So far beginning with the School Carol Service and Nativity Play we have seen over 1400 people at worship over the past few days. I just wish they would come more regularly!