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(Pictures below) The Christmas services started with the traditional Nine Lessons and Carols service on Sunday 13 December. The church looked magnificent with its decorated windows shining in the candlelight. This year the windows depicted carols from the service and had again been designed and made by Audrey and Hannah Broderick. We offer them our grateful thanks for their outstanding contribution to our festive season. The large congregation stayed after the service for seasonal refreshments including mulled wine. The following Friday was our Blessing the Crib service. Helen Hoe blessed the Crib and Polly Hindley’s granddaughter played the oboe to accompany the carols. Mince pies and tea and coffee were served in the United Reformed Church schoolroom after the service. Sunday the 20 December was a busy day. In the morning we had our Nativity Service as part as our morning worship. The Nativity was performed by the Sunday Club and friends. It was an excellent performance, word perfect with beautiful singing. The unrehearsed dancing of the two young shepherds with their two lambs made the show complete! Special thanks to Karri, Helen, Jean, Rachel and Sarah for all their hard work. After the service the children all received a Christmas gift and enjoyed their party food. In the afternoon we held our Christingle service. It was a very special service. Again the church shone in candlelight. The candlelit Christingles were held up as we heartily sang “Happy Birthday” to baby Jesus. The Children’s Society candles given out last year were collected and new ones given out for next year’s contribution. On Christmas Eve we gathered around the Christmas tree in the middle of the village. However due to the snowy conditions the service was held inside the village hall. This traditional family event was very well attended with about two hundred people from the village. The Holymoorside Band played and we all sang our hearts out. The service was conducted by Rev Audrey and Donald Walker and Judith Bramley from the other churches in Holymoorside. Santa arrived to the delight of the children and refreshments were served as people caught up with old friends and exchanged seasonal greetings. Later in the evening we had the Christmas Eve Midnight Communion service. There were many new faces, visitors and friends came together to celebrate Christ’s birth. The service included lighting the white advent candle for the first time to recognise our Saviour’s birth. On Christmas morning we celebrated with an ecumenical service at Holymoorside Methodist Church.
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