What is your favourite thing about the Christmas season?

What is your favourite thing about the Christmas season?

Christmas trees? Decorations and fairy lights? Time with friends and family? Presents? Christmas jumpers? Turkey?

There is so much to love and celebrate about Christmas and each of us has our own traditions that become sacred over time and are repeated each year. For many the next few weeks will be a busy time of celebration in many different mays, for others it may be a more difficult and challenging time.

At the heart of Christmas is the Nativity story of a baby being born in a stable in Bethlehem. I’m sure we can all remember this story from our school days! For some this story may just be a fictional tale. For Christians this story is the fulfilling of God’s promise to send a new King (Jesus) in to the mess of the world to bring hope, make things right and give us all a new start.

In the excitement of all the wonderful things about Christmas this story is often lost or forgotten, but when we look at the world it is easy to see the challenges in our personal lives, our communities and our nation.

If you would like an opportunity to reflect on the true meaning of the original Christmas story for our lives here in South Leeds this Christmas then local churches are hosting a range of events and services to explore this. They take place in a mix of styles, days, times and locations and are open to all regardless of age, background or church experience.

If you live in Hunslet you would be most welcome to join in any of these activities on Sunday (22 December 2019):

Community Carol Singing, 1:30-3pm at Morrisons. All welcome to share festive cheer by singing carols to the shoppers and staff! We’ll provide words and music – any standard of singer can join us! It’s about making a joyful noise! Please spread the word and invite as many folk as you’d like to come along! Spectators also welcome.

Soup, crafts & quiz, 3-3:45pm at Hunslet St Mary’s Primary School. A short social gathering for all ages between Carol Singing and the service.

Carols by Candlelight, 4-5pm at Hunslet Baptist Church (next to Subway). An atmospheric environment to celebrate and reflect on the Christmas story.

Carol services at Hunslet Methodist Church (Telford Terrace). 10:30am & 6pm. A traditional service with carols and Bible readings.

More information on the new Hunslet Gathering Anglican Community Church can be found here: www.facebook.com/hunsletgathering

Happy Christmas and best wishes to all for 2020.

This post was written by Ben Hutchinson

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