Following our pattern of Advent study, there’ll be a couple of sessions at the Vicar’s Rooms in Barrow on Thursday December 11 (2.15-4pm) and Thursday 18th December (2-4pm), where we explore what it is to read Scripture faithfully. (It’s also running at St Mary's Church Hall in Barton on Saturday mornings 10.30am-12 noon on December 6th and 13th.)

Funny though it may seem to some, 'faithfully' doesn’t mean a slavish, literal reading of the Bible: that was completely alien to the Church until the last two or three hundred years, since when it’s caught on in some circles (leading down some very strange alleyways). Nor does it mean going to the opposite extreme of treating the Bible as 'an interesting product of the ancient world', as if we were an outsider. The authentic Christian tradition is both more challenging and richer than either of these pale imitations.
No specialist knowledge required, bring a Bible if you can, and if you can just make one of the sessions it’ll be fine.

Start Christmas in style with this enormously popular service!
The celebration is named after the Christingles that are lit during the service. Christingles are made from an orange decorated with red tape, sweets and a candle. With your help, Christingle raises vital funds to help children who are facing Christmas alone and are unable to cope. Our Christingle celebration is an opportunity to bring our whole community together, to share the Christian story and to experience the joy and wonder of this well-loved Christmas tradition.
Each element of a Christingle has a special meaning and helps to tell the Christian story:
• The orange represents the world
• The red ribbon (or tape) symbolises the love and blood of Christ
• The sweets and dried fruit represent all of God’s creations
• The lit candle represents Jesus’s light in the world, bringing hope to people living in darkness.
Christingle collections raise millions of pounds for The Children’s Society to support their work with young people who are experiencing a range of complex issues, and who feel alone. The hope is to bring love to the hearts of children who feel ignored, sanctuary to the lives of those who feel unsafe, and peace to the minds of young people who feel like they simply don’t matter.
Through Christingle, you can help give a child their first Christmas free from sadness and fear.

The celebration of Christ’s incarnation at Christmas is one of the two poles of the Christian year, but Christmas is much more then than simply the celebration of Jesus’ birth narratives and the joyful customs surrounding it.
It is the wonderful mystery of God’s dwelling among us in the fullness of humanity, the Word made flesh for our salvation.
You are welcome to celebrate this special day with us whether you are a once a year attender, a new enquirer into the Christian faith or in the area visiting relatives over the festive period.
Please note this is a united service along with our sister church in Goxhill