We finished with an Advent Candle Prayer Something to take away and further reflect on this season. Bring us O Lord God at our last awakening, into the house and gate of heaven; to enter into that gate and dwell in that house, where there shall be > no darkness nor dazzling, but one equal light; > no noise nor silence, but one equal music; > no fears nor hopes, but one equal possession; > no ends nor beginnings but one equal eternity in the habitation of thy glory and dominium, world without end/. Amen. (John Donne)
It was a couple of hours of being together as ‘church’ and enjoying good food, singing carols, ‘The 12 Days of Christmas’, ‘Rudolph the Red nosed reindeer’ and of course meeting Father Christmas! He’s not just for the youngsters!!Please click on the link to see more pictures.
The Advent wreath is used to symbolically commemorate newness, eternal life, and the death and resurrection of the promised Messiah. Traditionally, the Advent wreath is a circle of evergreen branches. It is often decorated with berries and pinecones. Both the evergreen branches and the circular shape symbolize the passing of time and eternal life. The shape of the wreath, with no beginning or end, reflects the complete and endless love that Jesus has for us. During the Advent season, we eagerly anticipate his coming and the promise of eternal life in heaven with him As a Christian tradition, the wreath holds the four Advent candles. The candles represent Jesus coming as the light in darkness. One candle is lit each Sunday until all four candles are lit. As Christmas draws nearer, each candle brings a little more light into the darkness. A white candle is lit on Christmas Day to symbolize that Jesus is with us. This can be referred to as the "Christ candle." Each Sunday in Advent, we light a candle on our Advent Wreath. The four candles of Advent represent the four Sundays of Advent, and they respectively symbolize hope, peace, joy, and love · First candle: HOPE · Second candle: PEACE · Third candle: JOY · Fourth candle: LOVE Each Sunday in Advent there will be a free craft ‘Take away’ for our youngsters. Be sure to attend church every week and collect the set 😊Please click on the link to see the full events program for St Anne's over the Christmas period.
At Christmas as we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ; the Incarnation is central in our Christian doctrine. God became flesh and assumed a human nature and became a man in the form of Jesus Christ. At Easter we celebrate the Resurrection, a foundational belief of our Christian faith. It is by the grace of God that we have been saved though faith in Jesus and we are sealed by the Holy Spirit. Through resurrection, we believe life has triumphed over death, good over evil, hope over despair. The resurrection is a sign of God's great power. At Easter we had ‘Lilies of the Cross’ and at Christmas we have ‘The Cross at Christmas’. The Poinsettia is the traditional flower of Christmas, as the shape of the flower and leaves resemble the Star of Bethlehem which led the Wise Men to Jesus. The red-coloured leaves represent the blood of Christ shed for the world, as do red roses and red carnations. On Christmas Eve, at our Sunday morning service, we will remember those we have loved and lost, who will not be with us, sat at our table, to celebrate Christmas. By remembering them at Christmas, we hold secure in our faith that through the birth and death of Jesus Christ, our loved ones rest in peace. Please take an envelope (found in the narthex) containing a blank gift card. Write the name of your loved one on the card and include a verse or sentence if you like (one card per one name). Please replace your card in the envelope with your donation to support our ministry here at St Anne’s. We suggest £5. Please bring you sealed envelope containing your card/s and donation to church on or before Sunday 17th December All names will be read out in our morning service on Christmas Eve
