A Happy Christmas to all our Readers, from St Mary's Church, Potton

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Not too many people braved the very cold weather on Sunday morning for the Treasure Box Holy Communion service given by our Rector, the Revd Alex Wheatley. In the choir area, the Chancel, the heating is not so good so the few of us sitting in there I feel, really suffered and were glad that after the service we could grab a hot cup of coffee to thaw out! Whatever the service we hold on a Sunday it is always followed by refreshments and hot drinks today were at the top of everyone’s list!

It was a bit better in the afternoon, the outside temperature had risen a little, and the rain which came eventually, melted all the snow, quite rapidly in fact. Inside St Mary’s, it was much warmer than it had been in the morning, as we enjoyed the traditional “Nine Lessons and Carols” service at 6pm. The Choir led the service but the traditional opening hymn “Once in Royal David’s City” was led by a young soloist “borrowed” from a local choir as we do not have any junior choir members. Our soloist made a very nice start to the service. The service was traditional in every way with the nine readings and a total of twelve carols, three of which were from St Mary’s Choir. Many people came to make the congregation quite full and after the service was over, everyone went to the church hall to enjoy mulled wine and mince pies, in my case just what I needed as my voice was starting to fail!

The final service before Christmas, will be the Midnight Mass service of Holy Communion, held on Christmas Eve and starting at 11.30pm. All are very welcome to come to yet another traditional Christmas service, but please wrap up warmly it can be quite cold at that time of day!

Thought for the Day on BigglesFM. The next “Thought for the Day” given by our organist, Nick Wilson, will be on December 23rd at 8.15am on BigglesFM when the presenter, Alan Waring will once more speak to Nick about what is happening in St Mary’s Church and there is no doubt that there will be a Christmas air about it with all our services over the Christmas holiday being promoted by Nick. However, it is expected the sequence will end with the usual comedy banter that always happens. Find them on 104.8Mhz on the FM dial on your radio.

Christmas Parish Lunch. The lunch in aid of St John’s Hospice at Moggerhanger was on December 16th, and there was sell out with sixty tickets being sold. Everyone enjoyed a really delicious lunch from our dedicated catering team busy in the kitchen but also enjoying the fruits of their labours once everything had been served. We thank the team for doing such a good job every month but especially producing a really special lunch for everyone at Christmas. Well done to you all. Next month on the Parish Lunch day, January 27th, we will be presenting representatives from St John’s Hospice, with a very large cheque for this year’s contribution to their cause.

Services for Next Sunday, Christmas Day

9am, St John’s Church, Cockayne Hatley, Holy Communion 10.30am, All Saints Church, Sutton, Holy Communion 10.30am, St Mary’s Church, Potton. Christmas Day Prayers