St Laudus marked the start of Advent with its “Carol Service by Candlelight”, with Christingle on Sunday.

A full church, despite the weather, enjoyed this enchanting and popular service. After the service a small number of mince pies, in comparison with the amounts that will be devoured over the coming weeks, were dispatched along with parts of the Christingles!

There are a number of special events and services over the coming weeks which folk may wish to attend and at which they will be warmly welcomed (the heating in both churches is working!) On Thursday, December 10 at 6.30pm, outside the shops in Mabe – the lighting of the Christmas tree with the local Brownies and carol singing. Sunday, December 13 at 6pm in Mabe Community Hall on Summerheath – “Carols for Christmas”, put on by Mabe Youth and Community Project. Thursday, December 17 at 7pm at St Michael’s Church – Service of Lessons and Carols There will be Parish Eucharists at 9.30am at St Laudus, and 11.15am at St Michael’s on December 6, 13 and 20. On December 27, as folk recover from two days of festive celebration, there will be services of Morning Prayer at both churches.There will be a short service of Holy Communion at 8.30am at St Laudus on December 6.

Midnight Mass will be celebrated at both churches at 11.30pm on Christmas Eve. On Christmas Day there will be a “Service for Christmas Day” at 9.30am at St Laudus; and a Parish Eucharist at St Michael’s at 11.15am.

The people at both churches look forward to celebrating the true meaning of Christmas with you at any of its services and Father John Savage would like to take this opportunity to wish ‘one and all’ a peaceful and joyous Christmas.