December 2025 (taken from The Link Magazine)

Dear All,

Well, here we go again….. As I write the Christmas TV adverts are in full flow, Christmas lights and decorations are going up and the shops are already gearing up with Christmas produce. When am I actually writing this? 11th November: Remembrance Day. Sigh.

This will, I think, be the busiest Advent/Lead up to Christmas I’ve known in in our three churches in the 10 years I’ve been here, with Christingles, Fairs, crib services, and (I counted them up) some 15 varied Carol Services from Carols by Candlelight with “Uckfield Brass” & Nine Lessons and Carols, to School Christmas assemblies and carols at Retirement homes. In many ways, it will be one big party from Advent I onwards, and what fun!

My favourite moment of the year will be when I shout “Behold” in the Crib Service at Holy Cross on Christmas Eve and some 20 glitter streamer cannons go off, turning the church into a giant snow globe. I will be referencing this in my FoCT Christmas Tree as I will have my tree festooned with streamers from party poppers from the first couple of hundred people through as a sign of the sheer joy and excitement of the season. But at the base of the tree, there will be a little crib scene, with an empty crib to remind people of the real reason we will be doing all this: the Christ Child to come.

Yes, let us enjoy all the fun, excitement and conviviality of the coming few weeks, but don’t let us lose sight of why we are doing it all: the birth of Christ.

My love to you all, and when we get there, a Happy Christmas!

Love Fr. John

p.s. Note to self – I must get a new pair of Angel’s wings as my current ones have moulted badly and the elastic’s gone….