As autumn takes a firm hold and evenings draw in, many turn their thoughts to Christmas.
In the church we have just four weeks to prepare for the birth of the baby Jesus on Christmas Day.
This period known as Advent begins on Sunday November 27.
Many children have Advent Calendars to count down to Christmas and in St Mary’s our countdown begins on Sunday at our service at 9.30am with the lighting of the first Advent Candle in our special Advent Wreath.
The town’s Christmas celebrations begin on Sunday too with the switching on of the lights on the Market House Christmas Tree and the Christmas Fayre.
At St Mary’s we will also be hosting an art and craft fayre on both Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th November.
Our h.Art artists (pictured above) will be returning, following their visit in September, which sadly was cut short by the death of Queen Elizabeth.
They will be exhibiting all sorts from paintings and ceramics to jewellery and textiles, many with an emphasis on Christmas.
You are guaranteed to find some special Christmas Cards and gifts which you would not find elsewhere.
In addition, there will be some craft stalls, including a stall of gifts made by our own church members with proceeds going towards the ever-rising costs of keeping St Mary’s here for everyone.
The church offers a warm welcome to all at the fayre, whether you just want to come and sit and enjoy the atmosphere, buy some homemade lunchtime soup, delicious cake and coffee or browse and possibly buy the lovely items on show.
We look forward to seeing you