Advent & Christmas 2019
Those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint. (Isaiah 40: 31)
Advent marks the beginning of the church year. It is a time for reflection in darkness, for renewal of hope and for a movement towards a beginning.
The season of Advent, as it first emerged in the Church in the fourth and fifth centuries, lasted, like Lent, for 40 days. Later tradition developed the Advent we know today, of four Sundays before Christmas Day.
The word Advent simply means ‘coming’ – it’s the season when Christians remember that God came to earth to be born as the Christ child, Jesus.
God also promised that Jesus will come again at the end of time to heal all the world’s hurts and divisions. Advent remembers this amazing promise, so it’s a time of hope, of getting ready, and expectation.
Waiting is hard, but Christmas is worth waiting for – it’s a special time, and at its heart is a gift of love from God to the world. Talk about which things about Christmas are hard to wait for and which are worth saving until the day.
(Alll events at St Thomas à Becket’s Church unless otherwise stated)
Sunday mornings in Advent (December 1st , 8th , 15th )
8.00am Holy Communion
9.45am Parish Eucharist
Sunday morning December 22nd
8.00am Morning Prayer
9.45am Parish Eucharist
Sunday evenings in Advent 4.00pm
1st December Advent Carols & Readings
8th December Christingle
15th December Evening Prayer (Common Worship)
22ndDecember Compline
Weekdays in Advent
Tuesdays 3rd and 17th 7.00pm Eucharist
Tuesday 10th 7.00pm Evening Prayer
Wednesdays 4th,11th,18th 10.00am Holy Communion
Wednesdays 4th,11th,18th 7.00pm Compline
Carol Services
Tuesday 17th December 7.30pm – Carols at The Bear Inn
Thursday 19th December 7.30pm – Chichester Voices Choir
Christmas Eve
4.00pm Crib Service
11.30pm Midnight Eucharist
Christmas Day
8.00am Holy Communion
9.45am Family Eucharist
Sunday 29th December First Sunday of Christmas
8.00am Morning Prayer
9.45am Parish Eucharist
4.00pm Christmas Carols
Sunday 5th January The Epiphany
8.00am Holy Communion
9.45am Family Eucharist Eucharist
4.00pm Evening Prayer
Sunday 12th January Baptism of Christ
8.00am Holy Communion
9.45am Parish Eucharist
4.00am Celtic Prayer