It was a real joy to see St John’s so full for our Christmas services, with our regular congregation joined by many very welcome visitors. There was a wonderful sense of warmth and community as we gathered together to worship and celebrate the season.

Our Community Carol Service, held on 21st December, focused on the themes of Hope, Peace, Joy, Love, and Light. Through five readings and a selection of much-loved traditional carols, we shared in the good news of Jesus and the timeless story of Christmas.

On Christmas Eve, we held our Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols. This beautiful and reflective service follows a tradition first devised in 1880 by Bishop Edward White Benson, who later became Archbishop of Canterbury. Through nine readings, we journeyed through the key moments of the biblical story, from Adam and Eve and the promises of a coming Messiah in the Old Testament, to the Nativity story in the Gospels, interwoven with the traditional carols that many of us know and love.

Christmas Day itself was marked by a joyful communion service, celebrating the birth of Jesus and the wonderful mystery of God becoming human. Through scripture readings, prayers, hymns, and the sharing of bread and wine, we remembered both Christ’s coming into the world at Bethlehem and his continuing presence with us today.