It’s the most wonderful time of the year, as the song goes. However, I don’t know if you are finding this, but that most wonderful time of the year seems to start earlier and earlier. Christmas stock arrives in the shops in September, and while I was away for October half term, standing in a queue for a till, the lady in front of me declared, “that’s it, all my Christmas shopping is done!”, and my reaction, oh blimey, I haven’t even started to think about it! As I write this on the 6th November, I’ve just heard the first, of what I’m sure will be many, Christmas advert for John Lewis.

It is so easy to see Christmas through the lens of commercialism and to lose sight of the real message of Christmas, and the biggest casualty is the season of Advent. However, this year we do have something in common with the secular Advent calendars, because Advent Sunday this year falls on December 1st, so as many children (and now many adults too with the rise of fancy advent calendars) excitedly open that first door, we open the door to the start of Advent in our purple robes as we prepare ourselves for the white joy of Christmas.

Every year the Church of England produces Christmas branding for churches to use in their seasonal advertising and you will see this on all our publicity. This year the theme is “Follow the Song, Calm and Bright,” taking a line from that beautiful German carol, Silent Night. The idea behind it is to encourage us to ensure that our Advent season is Calm, so our Christmas can be Bright.

As it is so easy to lose Advent in all the busyness of Christmas, I have provided some Advent reflections, one per week which we will post to our social media site, these are written by Revd Dr Anna Creedon. Do spend some time with them each week, reflecting on the message and bringing some calm into this busy time. The Church of England also provide daily reflections, and these can be accessed via their website, or if you use a mobile device on the Church of England Everyday Faith app.

Of course there are lots of events and services happening in both our churches during December and we hope you are able to attend them. We start our Advent season at St Mary’s with our Advent Carol Service at 6:30 pm. This is one of my favourite services of the year, as I love the Advent carols. It is a beautifully calm and uplifting introduction to the Advent season and if you have never been I really recommend it.

During December, our schools will celebrate with Nativity plays and Christingle services and, on the last day of term, Congleton High School will bring all of Key Stage 3 (years 7, 8 and 9) into church. For some children this may be the only time they ever visit a church. Please pray for Bishop Sam as he leads this service.

Live Nativity is returning again by popular demand, and we will welcome families to experience the story of Christmas, as our holy family journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem, in search of somewhere safe for Mary’s baby to be born. Along the way they will meet Shepherds, Angels and a rather grumpy Innkeeper.

This year Live Nativity is on Monday 16th and Tuesday 17th December and if you would like to join our cast or help with the running of the event please do get in touch, as we always need plenty of helpers.

Russell Watson is performing two concerts with us once more this year and we are incredibly grateful to Russell and his team for organising and managing these sell-out concerts again.

This busy week is bookended with traditional Carol Services. This year, due to the very generous provision of grass matting on the field by Somerford Chapel, donated by Somerford Village Council, we are able to have a Carol service at the chapel without the risk of all our cars needing to be pulled off by tractors. This service will be at 2:30 pm on Sunday 15th December. St John’s are also having their Carol Service on Sunday 15th at 6pm and St Mary’s Carol Service is on Sunday 22nd at 6:30 pm.

All Saints Parish in Congleton also offer a “Christmas Without a Loved One” service, taking place at St Peter’s Church on Sunday 22nd December at 3:30pm; do ask me if you would like more information about this service.

On Christmas Eve we are holding our Crib services, with just a little bit of Christmassy mayhem led by Bev and myself; we will be at St John’s at 3:30 pm and, if you missed that, we are doing it all again at 5 pm at St Mary’s. Holy Communion for Christmas will be at 10 pm at St John’s led by Jeff Cuttell and at 11:30 pm at St Mary’s, led by Archdeacon Jane. On Christmas morning Andrew and I will be leading an All-Age Family service at St Mary’s at 10 am. Do bring along your new presents as Andrew and I love to have a good look at what everyone has received from Santa.

Wherever and how ever you celebrate the season, I pray that your Advent will be Calm and your Christmas Bright.