December’s letter to the parish comes from Rev Sue:
The other day, I had a nostalgic moment when I received an Advent calendar through the post. It was one of the old-fashioned ones, where behind each flap is just a little picture—no gifts, no trinkets. I’ve heard of people receiving Advent calendars with teabags, or ones filled with toiletries or toys. There’s even one with little bottles of gin for the odd days and tonic for the even days. But the most universal Advent calendar gift is, of course, chocolate. Most people love chocolate and there are good reasons for this. One thing about chocolate is that it has a wonderful, smooth mouthfeel, because it has a melting point just below body temperature, and because years of experimentation have produced ideal blends of fat and sugar which combine to give a smooth, uniform texture. Added to that, chocolate contains tryptophan, a feelgood chemical which increases calm and pleasurable feelings. It’s no surprise that chocolate is such a winner!
Advent calendars, with their daily treats, give you just that little taste, leaving you wanting more. The days are long gone when churches held Advent as a time of fasting and preparation, with clergy insisting that Christmas carols could not be sung until Christmas Eve. Now, we feel lucky if the shops don’t start advertising Christmas gifts before the harvest festival! Maybe the Advent calendar, with its daily surprises, offers a clue for a contemporary approach to this season. As we move through December, can each little celebration whet our appetite for more? Can we take it slowly, and sustain the build up to Christmas Day itself, when we can both spend time eating, drink and exchanging gifts with the people we love, and celebrating the birth of Christ come to bring light and hope into the darkness of our world.
At Saint Margaret’s and Saint George’s, there is the usual variety of services, starting with the Carol Services in both churches on the Sunday before Christmas. The crib service on the afternoon of Christmas Eve is a family celebration suitable for small children, but loved by many adults, too. Christmas Eve the midnight service has a particular poignance for night owls. It’s a good time to bring family who may not be regular churchgoers. Christmas morning is a relaxed time when both churches meet together at St George’s. If you are staying with family and can’t be with us in person, we also offer the opportunity to watch our St Margaret’s services live or recorded on Facebook. We hope that you will join us, and bring your family and friends, and that day by day through Advent, you will look forward to celebrating the birth of Christ as the heart of your Christmas festivities.
Rev Sue
St Margaret's Church Prestwich 