Where there was darkness, people around the diocese are filling the world with light, music, joy and praise, on this rather different Advent journey into Christmas.
Finding creative ways to celebrate in the current climate hasn’t fazed the church of St Anne’s in Leicester and its wider community.
Their ‘Light Up’ advent trail this year is the church’s gift and Christmas blessing to the local community.
It’s a live trail and a daily initiative to get out and about in the area and visit 21 houses and three different schools during the coming weeks.
Members of the church family and local school children have been working hard crafting window displays and decorating their doors with bright lights and dazzling adornments, to bring Christmas cheer to the community. Each day a different ‘window’ is unveiled. The journey will end at the vicarage on Christmas Eve.
This venture is part of a wider initiative in partnership with the local schools, Western Ward Community Enterprise and PROJECT hive - an eco-project to renew and redevelop land in Western Park into a social and educational hub - which the church has been supporting for a number of years.
There will also be a ‘Light Up Western Park’ weekend on December 12th and 13th, which coincides with St Anne’s Christingle services.
People from across the community have paid to enter a competition to decorate their entire house with lights and Christmas paraphernalia, the money from which will go to PROJECT hive. An additional trail to see these spectacular offerings will take place during the Covid-safe weekend of outdoor festivities.
Reverend Liz Wilson, vicar of St Anne's and St Paul's with St Augustine's in Leicester, says: “It’s just great that the church is seen as an important part and partner in the community, and that we can come together for these festivities.”
She continues: “It’s a form of proclamation: Christmas is going to come - even in the middle of a pandemic - and we want to be able to say how cool and amazing Jesus is.
“We also want our community to enjoy each other’s company, doing the trail as best as we can, while giving people something to look forward to and enjoy in the countdown to Christmas.
“Jesus is the light of the world, and we’re making that light shine out from the homes in our community.”
Another member of St Anne’s congregation has been inspired to share the ‘good news’ and has created an additional advent calendar on the church notice board. Each window reveals an image and a Bible reading telling the Nativity story.
Rev Liz has also written an Advent assembly on the theme of waiting, which has gone out to five schools in the benefice and neighbouring borders.
“I was so chuffed when the schools said ‘yes’ and pleasantly surprised that some had been shown to the children within 48 hours of me sending,” she explains. “I even got stopped in the street the other day by a child who said they’d seen me on the screen in class. I hope it has been a blessing for the teachers.”
A whole host of churches across the diocese are connecting with their communities in new and innovative ways this Advent, and this list is by no means exhaustive, but here are a few other things happening…
St Denys Church in Evington have been sending out Advent bags to their local community. Put together by members of the church family, each bag contains an envelope for every Sunday of Advent with reflections, craft activities and colouring as well as some chocolate. The team delivered 100 bags around the area and the response, from those who are vulnerable in particular, has been really positive.
Normally at this time of year St Denys would be visited by its five community primary schools. In order to make that connection this Christmas they have set up a small trail round the churchyard, as a way to encourage classes to come and explore the Christmas story using the outdoor environment.
There’s also a knitted sheep trail with 10 sheep hiding in shop windows around Evington.
Finally, they have three online house groups reading the book of Malachi with the verse that features in Hark the Herald about the sun of righteousness risen with healing in his wings.
Leicester Cathedral has a virtual advent calendar you can access each day through its Facebook page. Day one saw a video of Rosie Vinter, Assistant Director of Music, playing a beautiful piece by Brahms on the organ, while day two features the Cathedral Chamber Choir.
Similarly in Hathern, the community have come together to put on a trail around the village they’ve named, ‘Hathern’s Advent Windows’.
Each day a different ‘window’ will be opened with a display at venues including individual homes, local businesses, shops and schools.
Day one featured Hathern Church of England Primary School’s fabulous stained glass windows, created by the children, as they began retelling the greatest story ever told.
There is also a daily video going out on Hathern Together’s Facebook page, which is especially lovely for those who might not be able to get out and about to see the windows.
Although Hathern Christmas Tree festival will not take place this year, members of the Church committee have put together a film following the history of the festival, including hundreds of photos and video clips from over the years.