Christmas is coming, the geese are getting fat. And at St.John's we're busy preparing to have a lovely time.

The first way Christians prepare for Christmas is to observe a holy Advent. It's a time of self-examination and self-discipline. In and amongst all the enjoyment of parties and shopping we make sure that we set aside time for God. We make a special effort to open ourselves up to God; to be honest about the way we mess things up; and to give God the chance to make us ready to meet him when he comes amongst us as the Christ child.

So, on Sunday December 2^nd we are all decamping to St.Matthew's for an evening Service of Light at 6.30pm. During the Sunday morning services of Advent we shall light the candles of the Advent Wreath. With each candle we shall remember an important person or group of people who partnered with God and prepared us for Jesus: the founding fathers of the Hebrew people, the prophets, Mary and John the Baptist.

Then we shall be having some lovely services to celebrate Christmas. On Tuesday 4^th December we are having a Crib Service especially aimed at the under 5's. This will be in church at 4.00pm with plenty of tea-towel head dresses and tinsel haloes.

On Sunday 23^rd December we are having a Christmas Cantata during the 10.15am service. The Christmas story will be told in drama and music. The words have been written by our very own David Garside and have been put to music by our Musical Co-ordinator, Pam Dimbleby. We are so fortunate to have such talented people amongst us; and we're so grateful for the way they make use of their talents for the glory of God and his church. Young people and adults will all be involved in offering this performance as part of our worship.

The Christingle Service on Christmas Eve is so popular that this year we're having two sittings. There will be a service at 3.00pm and another at 5.00pm. Each service will have all the usual festivity and fun and will conclude with the beautiful site of the Christingles lit in a cross shape down the church. The Christingles remind us that the whole world is held in God's love; that the good things in all parts of the world come from him; and that Jesus is the light of God coming into the world.

There will be a traditional Midnight Mass to celebrate the arrival of Christmas day. It will begin at 11.30pm on Christmas Eve. This is a splendid way to round off Christmas Eve festivities. We shall sing some of the best loved Christmas Carols; we shall hear it told once again that the Word became flesh and lived among us; we shall receive the first Holy Communion of Christmas; and before we go home in the early hours we shall sing the for the first time this year the final verse of 'O Come all ye Faithful' - 'Yea Lord, we greet thee, born this happy morning'.

There will be a short informal celebration of Holy Communion at 10.15am on Christmas Day. It will be suitable for all the family. Children are particularly invited to bring one of their Christmas presents with them.

Jesus is looking for a home this Christmas. Everybody is invited to make a home for him in their lives. Expect to meet him at any of these services - and don't be surprised if you meet him where you least expect him.

A very merry Christmas and a happy new year to everyone.

Matthew.