Over 70 schoolchildren from Thornton-in-Craven Primary School recently visited the church of St Mary’s in the village for an Experience Advent event, where members of the congregation shared the Advent adventure with them.

We explored how God can surprise us and give us hope when we may seem overwhelmed; how in all the world's turmoil we celebrate the coming again of The Prince of Peace; in the dark periods of our lives Jesus brings light to show us the path ahead; and we share in Mary's Joy of Jesus' birth and how each of us, no matter how ordinary we may think we are we are all special in God's eyes.

“We were blessed to hear children confidently sharing their personal experiences with us.”

The children also made a Tree of Hope, which carried all their hopes for Christmas which will be prayed for in the coming weeks, and they created their own Advent wreath to put up in their classrooms to help them reflect further during Advent.