December 5th

Tomorrow is our Holly Fair! Are you coming to share in the fun?

10am-1pm in the Windhill Churches Centre.

Food, stalls, refreshments and beautiful handmade holly wreaths.

ALL proceeds go to to local, national and international charities supported by our Charities Support Group. You can find out more about the work they do by clicking here.

Holly Fair 2025

December 4th

The word “Advent” is derived from the Latin word adventus, meaning “coming,” which is a translation of the Greek word parousia. Scholars believe that during the 4th and 5th centuries in Spain and Gaul, Advent was a season of preparation for the baptism of new Christians at the January feast of Epiphany, the celebration of God’s incarnation represented by the visit of the Magi to the baby Jesus (Matthew 2:1), his baptism in the Jordan River by John the Baptist (John 1:29), and his first miracle at Cana (John 2:1). During this season of preparation, Christians would spend 40 days in penance, prayer, and fasting to prepare for this celebration; originally, there was little connection between Advent and Christmas.

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December 3rd

The Advent Wreath

The lighting of candles on an Advent Wreath was imported into Britain from northern Europe in the 20201213 105935 nineteenth century, and is now a common practice.

The Advent Wreath at St Michael's Church has four purple candles, reflecting the liturgical colour for Advent, in a ring around a white candle. The first candle is lit on Advent Sunday and additional ones are lit Sunday by Sunday, with the white one lit on Christmas Day.

There are several traditions about the meaning or theme of each candle, traditionally the Church of England follows the following theme:

Advent 1 The Patriarchs

Advent 2 The Prophets

Advent 3 John the Baptist

Advent 4 The Virgin Mary

Christmas Day The Christ

Each of the four Sundays then reminds us of those who prepared for the coming of Christ. ‘The Patriarchs’ can naturally focus on Abraham, our father in faith, and David, the ancestor in whose city Jesus was born. ‘The Prophets’ gives an opportunity to reflect on the way the birth of the Messiah was ‘foretold’. John, who proclaimed the Saviour, and Mary, who bore him in her womb, complete the picture.

Our first candle will be alight at the 10am Holy Communion service: will you come to the service and share our worship with us?

December 2nd

Today it's TLC Tuesday!
2:15pm for 2:30pm in the Windhill Churches Centre

The first Tuesday of every month!

An opportunity to join in with tea and talk and a regular 10/15 minute presentation on wide ranging interests.

Later in the afternoon we welcome families after school for a short while, to share in reading/play and enjoy a biscuit/cake/fruit snack. Do come along…and tell your friends too!

This month we are delighted to welcome children from St Michael's School who will be singing carols to and with us.

December 1st

Travelling Crib 2

Yesterday, our Travelling Crib began its wonderful journey around the Parish!

A bit of background information…
There is an old Mexican tradition, Posada, where, during Advent, people dressed as Mary and Joseph and travelled around their villages knocking at peoples' doors to see who would give them hospitality (posada means 'inn').

This custom has been adapted around the world through the idea of a ‘Travelling Crib’, which involves the model figures of a nativity scene being passed from house to house each night during Advent, before being brought to Church on Christmas Eve. This journey symbolises Mary and Joseph's difficult journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem before the birth of Jesus. On their designated night, host families set up the Crib in their homes and use the opportunity to stop what they were doing and think about the true meaning of Christmas. It is a lovely, intergenerational, unique way to help us prepare for Christmas, that schools and churches have been facilitating for years.

Our Crib began its journey at Church on Sunday 30th November, with a blessing during the 10am service. It's then going to our Church School of St Michael's to be greeted by the children at their Collective Worship on Monday morning. Our headteacher, Ms Griffiths and her son will host the Crib, and it will continue on its journey with another teacher and her children too!

Each host gets to keep a little knitted sheep when they pass on the Travelling Crib ... and bring that sheep along to greet the Baby Jesus at our beautiful porcelain Crib during our family Crib Service on Christmas Eve.

Will Mary, Joseph and the donkey be staying at your house this Advent?

Do contact the Parish Office if you'd like to share in this joyous experience.

Advent Calendar December 2025

Season's Greetings from St Michael's Church