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THE HERALD • MID-JANUARY 2019 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@markfieldherald.co.uk
A very successful first Christmas Tree Festival at St. Peter’s, Thornton THANK YOU to everyone who came to visit! This year, the Friends of St. Peter’s (FOSP), Thornton, organised their first ever Christmas Tree Festival at the church, and the theme was “Christmas Carols and Songs”. Originally, the festival was due to take place only over the weekend of 15th/16th December, but the church looked so lovely – as pretty as a picture – the nineteen brightly-lit trees all stayed up until 5th January. The atmospheric and sparkling display made all the church services, and especially the Carol Service and Christingle, even better than ever. We are delighted to report that the Festival was both enjoyable and successful with about 90 people coming in to look at the trees and 60 visitors submitting voting slips for the competition. As part of this competition, prizes were awarded in three categories – the best adult’s tree, best child’s/children’s tree and the most imaginative tree. The results were as follows: • Best adult’s tree – won by Helen Crouch with her ‘Coming Home for Christmas’ theme • Best child’s/children’s tree - won by ‘The Little Angels’ church group for pre-school children, with their ‘Hark the Herald Angels’ theme • Most imaginative tree – won by ‘The Beta Group’, with ‘In the Bleak Midwinter’. The deceptively simple Nativity scene created by 6-year old Aston was so appropriate to the season, it was moved to the altar area to sit on top of the Bishop’s chair until Twelfth Night. We are also delighted to report the encouraging figures for church attendance in the month of December at St. Peter’s. Over those four Each evening will include simple reflective worship songs, silence, weeks 349 adults and 212 children came to celebrate the season. prayer, readings and responses and last up to an hour. Wonderful news! All are welcome. Come along and enjoy the peace. (All entry charges and visitor donations pertaining to the Tree Festival January 15th February 15th March will18th go towards the maintenance of this lovely 14th century listed building). 17th May 21st June 19th July 16th August
“Still Friday” 2019
October 15th and November A 20th fewSeptember words from18th Julie Wilson (16) No “StillGibbins Friday” in April Aston (6)or– December why the festival was Fridays to 8.00 important uspm at St. Michael & All Angels’ Church
THIS EVENT was special because it was where the families in Thornton and surrounding villages could come together to decorate a tree for our very own tree festival. This festival was held at St Peter’s church in Thornton in December 2018, where many families came into church to decorate a tree, which was their own tree. Everyone used their own decorations with the theme of Christmas Carols. Everyone got the choice of their carol, decorations and colours which made this event special to the families who took part. My little brother Aston Gibbins (aged 6) decorated his own little tree, but this wasn’t an ordinary Christmas tree - it was a white ‘twig tree’ which stood just 2ft tall. He decorated his tree himself with tiny white fairy lights and heart-shaped white balls. He chose the carol Away in a Manger himself and he had a little manger in a wooden stable at the side of his tree. Aston said to me: “My tree looks magical and my tree sat on the big chair at the front of the church”. He was very impressed with his tree, and proud that everyone could see it. Although it was not a winning one he said that decorating his tree had been great fun and it looked very pretty and sparkly. We hope there will be more things like this in church that families can take part in.
By Julie Wilson and Aston Gibbins
I’m so lonely, I bought a plane ticket just for the airport pat-down.