This weekend sees the first Sunday of Advent when Christians anticipate and remember the birth of Jesus.
Advent is a time of quiet contemplation and prayer for four weeks before the festival of Christmas itself. It has its own hymns and carols such as O Come Emanuel, which reflect this beautiful time.
Christmas, at the end of December is the most joyous season as we all know and love, with feast and song as the news of Jesus’s birth brings hope and light!
This December, we are delighted to offer worship and activities to reflect both Advent and Christmas in all our villages in the Langtons and Welham Benefices.
We have produced a Christmas card with all the details. The card will be delivered to the parishioners of St Peter’s Church this weekend, but for friends further afield, there is a PDF to download below, with all the services listed, along with a Christmas message from our Lay Incumbent, Maxine Johnson.
We hope you can join us for some of the services but also wish our friends and followers here who live further away, a very peaceful Advent season and a joyful Christmas when it comes. Thank you 🙏
Autumn is a wonderful time to reflect on and enjoy the night sky. The days draw in and October gives us a chance to enjoy beautiful sunsets.
Once the sun has set, the atmosphere changes again.. The stars are out and bats may be glimpsed darting through the trees, especially so in an ancient churchyard…
These glorious photographs of St Peter’s church and the night skies were taken by James Cullen.
The images are dramatic and striking in colour and viewpoint.
The building looks amazing, but the stars beyond hold even more wonder…
A Night of Remembrance and Community at St. Peter’s in Church Langton
Last night, despite the rain, members of the community gathered at St. Peter’s Church in Church Langton, for the All Souls service. It was a moving evening filled with the warmth of shared memories and the promise of eternal hope. The event brought people together to remember their loved ones, whose names were read aloud and for whom prayers were offered.
In the midst of the hushed, reverent atmosphere, attendees were invited to light candles in memory of their dearly departed. The soft glow of these candles illuminated the hearts of those in attendance, providing a tangible connection between the living and the departed, a symbol of the enduring love that transcends the boundaries of life and death.
Candles for our loved ones
The address given by Reverend Martin Hathaway. He spoke of Jesus’s promise, one that brings comfort and solace to those dealing with loss. “In my Father’s house are many mansions,” he quoted, drawing from the Bible’s Gospel of John. These words offer the reassurance that there is a place prepared in heaven for all of us, where we will one day be reunited with our loved ones. It’s a promise that provides comfort and hope during moments of grief.
The service reached its conclusion with the hymn ‘Praise my soul, the King of Heaven.’ As the congregation joined in song, the power of communal worship and shared faith became palpable.
After the service, attendees gathered for a time of fellowship over coffee and biscuits. This opportunity to share stories and console one another served as a reminder of the strength that comes from coming together as a community. It is in these moments of shared grief and mutual support that we find solace and healing.
St Peter’s Prayer Tree
Additionally, attendees had the chance to explore the newly installed Prayer Tree, a symbol of hope and inter-generational connection. The tree is adorned with paper leaves that contain prayers, contributed by Year 4 students from the church school. These heartfelt wishes hang from the branches, the children’s collective aspirations and desires.
The Prayer Tree is a testament to the enduring power of prayer and the unity that it brings. Congregation members and visitors are encouraged to add their own prayers to the tree, either in person or by sending them to the church. As the tree continues to grow with new leaves, it becomes a living testament to the shared faith and hope that binds the community together.
The Prayer Tree
In conclusion, the All Souls service at St. Peter’s in Church Langton was a night of remembrance, faith, and community. Despite the rain, the warmth of shared memories and the promise of Jesus’s words on ‘many mansions’ provided comfort and solace to those in attendance. In moments of grief and loss, coming together as a community and offering prayers for our loved ones is a powerful reminder that love endures and transcends the boundaries of life and death.
Jesus’ words of comfort
Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
St Peter's Church, Church Langton 