Events for Families Carols and Concerts in the Parish of Abingdon-on-Thames Saturday 17 Dec 10.30 am - 12 noon

Pre-school Nativity Play and Celebration St Helen’s Church Sunday 27 November - 5.30 pm Bring your children dressed as shepherds or angels and Carols at St Helen’s Church take part in our Nativity Play and meet the donkey. A service of carols and readings to mark the beginning Songs and refreshments too. of Advent and the wait for Christmas. Free event for accompanied children aged 1-7 years. Collection for the Island Farm Donkey Sanctuary. St Helen’s Church, West St Helen’s St Sunday 18 December - 6.00 pm - 3.00 pm Carol Service at St Nicolas’ Church St Nicolas’ Church, Market Place Crib Service Music and readings for Christmas. St Michael’s Church St Michael and All Angels’ Church, Park Road Journey with us from Nazareth to to hear the Christmas Story, sing Carols and build the Christmas Crib Friday 23 December - 7.30 pm ready for Christmas Day. And, come along, dressed up at St Helen’s Church ADVENT AND as someone from the Nativity. Families with young chil- A service of music and readings for Christmas in the dren are especially welcome. special light of hundreds of candles.

Christmas Eve - 4.00 pm Crib Service Saturday 24 December - Christmas Eve - 6.00 pm St Nicolas’ Church Christmas Lessons and Carols Help us assemble our Christmas Crib. Families with 2016 at St Michael and All Angels’ Church young children are especially welcome. Hear the Christmas Story though readings and music. Christmas Eve - 4.30 pm Christingle Service Friday 6 January 2017 - 7.00 pm St Helen’s Church St Peter’s Chorale at St Helen’s Church Collection for The Children’s Society. This service is very popular with families, doors open 3.45 pm. The choir from St Peter’s Lutheran College, Brisbane, Australia will be singing sacred music from the Renaissance through to folksongs and works from contemporary composers. Sunday 8 January 2017 - 4.00 - 6pm Carols and Tea and Blessing of Families St Helen’s Church Sunday 8 January 2017 - 4.00 pm After a short (25min) service of music and readings to Epiphany Carols at St Helen’s Church mark the arrival of the Wise Men to visit the Christ A short service of music and readings to mark the arrival Child, we celebrate with tea and home-made delights, of the Wise Men to visit the Christ Child. including a Three Kings Cake and, for the grown-ups, Followed by tea and cakes. All families welcome. Kir Royale. Everyone welcome and especially families with children baptised at St Helen’s.

St Helen’s Church, St Nicolas’ Church, St Michael’s Church, West St Helen’s St, Abingdon Market Place, Abingdon Park Rd, Abingdon

www.sthelens-abingdon.org.uk www.stnicolasabingdon.org.uk www.stmichaels-abingdon.org.uk

Regular Sunday Services at St Helen’s Regular Sunday Services at St Nicolas’ Regular Sunday Services at St Michael and All Angels’ 8.00 am Holy Communion (1662) in December 8.00 am Holy Communion (1662) in November and January 9.30 am Sung Mass 10.30 am Sung Eucharist and Junior Church 11.15 am Holy Communion / Morning Prayer 5.30 pm Evening Services (please see website for details)

Special Services during Advent Special Services during Advent Special Services during Advent

Sunday 27 November - The start of the Church’s year Sunday 4 December - The Feast of St Nicolas Tuesdays 29 Nov, 6 and 13 December Advent Carols and the blessing of the Jesse Tree, 5.30 pm Patronal Evensong, 5.30 pm. Advent Labyrinth Walks 11 - 12.00 am and 7 - 8.00 pm This is an opportunity to walk the labyrinth or simply to Sunday 18 December Sunday 18 December enjoy the sacred space. Material for reflection will be Choral Evensong 5.30 pm Carol Service Music and readings for Christmas, 6.00 pm available on a different Advent theme each week.

Friday 23 December A short prayer will be said at the beginning and end of Carols by Candlelight - music and readings for Christmas 7.30 pm each session, but feel free to come and go as you please.

Saturday 24 December - Christmas Eve Saturday 24 December - Christmas Eve Saturday 24 December - Christmas Eve

Christingle Service 4.30 pm. A service for all families. Receive your Crib service, 4.00 pm. Help us assemble our Christmas Crib. Crib Service, 3.00 pm. Journey with us from Nazareth to ‘Christ light’ and help us raise funds for The Children’s Society. Families with young children are especially welcome. Bethlehem to hear the Christmas Story, sing Carols and Very popular, (doors open 3.45 pm). build the Christmas Crib ready for Christmas Day. Families with young children are especially welcome.

First Eucharist of Christmas - the ‘midnight’ service, 11.30 pm Midnight Holy Communion 11.30 pm Christmas Lessons and Carols, 6.00 pm. Hear the Christmas Story through readings and music.

Midnight Mass, 11.30 pm

Sunday 25 December - Christmas Day Sunday 25 December - Christmas Day Sunday 25 December - Christmas Day

Holy Communion (1662) with hymns, 8.00 am Holy Communion, 10.00 am Family Mass, 10.00 am Family Service with Eucharist, 10.30 am Sunday 8 January - Celebration of Epiphany Epiphany Carols, 4.00 pm. A short service of music and readings to mark the arrival of the Wise Men to visit the Christ Child, followed by tea and cakes. All families welcome.