The season of Advent starts on the Sunday nearest to the 30th November. There are four Sundays before Christmas day. At St Margarets we always have an advent candle wreath. Children from the congregation take it in turns to come and light the advent candles as the weeks progress: first one candle, then two etc. Finally, on Christmas day, the middle candle is lighted. The coming of Jesus is like a light in the darkness as God reveals his love to us.

It's so easy for us to 'do away with the manger'
in the busyness of Christmas!

Advent is a time of looking forward and preparing for Christmas. Just as children get excited about Christmas and all the presents, so Christians get excited about God sending his Son to us  so that we can know what God is like. Just as we all have to make practical preparations for Christmas, so we are asked to make time in our hearts to understand what God's present of Jesus means to us. We also look forward to the time when Jesus will come again as king of all.

We have practical Christmas preparations to make at Church as well as home, with the setting out of the nativity set and decorating the tree etc. but we have many services in the run up to Christmas day that keep us focused on the Christmas story.

     Bible: Isaiah 9 v6