Dear Friends

If I were to begin this mailing by wishing you a happy new year, you might suppose that I had flipped my lid well in advance of the time at which those sentiments might appropriately be expressed.  In fact the season of ADVENT, which begins this coming Sunday, is the beginning of the new Church year when we begin to look forward with eager anticipation to the coming of Christ, both as a baby in the manger at Bethlehem and also his coming in glory at the end of time.

Advent is a beautiful season, when the Church is clad in purple and the coloured candles of the Advent wreath help us in our preparation.  As a way of celebrating the beginning of the season of Advent, in addition to our usual Sunday Services this coming week, we have our ADVENT CAROL SERVICE at 6.30 pm.  This will be a Choral Service, not with Christmas Carols, but with the magnificent choral tradition of anthems, congregational hymns and readings which witness to the eager longing of the people of God expressed from the time of the prophets onwards for the coming of Christ.

NEXT FAMILY EUCHARIST
Our next Family Eucharist is on DECEMBER 6th - THE SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT.  Our last Family Eucharist was really well attended and lasted exactly fifty minutes.  It is our aspiration that these services on the first Sunday of each month will be expressly aimed at our children and young people who also play a full part in reading, singing, leading the intercessions and serving at the altar.  On these Sundays we celebrate the Eucharist around a nave altar in the body of the Church, following the practice of the earliest Christians, and so that the children can see clearly all that is going on.  Above all a nave altar witnesses to Jesus, the origin and authenticator of our inclusive vocation - He who is in our midst as Emmanuel – God-with-us - and who assures us that ALL human life in its great and amazing diversity is infinitely valued and hallowed by God.

CHORAL EVENSONG
On the first Sunday of the month the Family Eucharist is balanced by more traditional worship in Choral Evensong at 6.30 pm, according to the 1662 Book of Common Prayer.  We are seeking to publicize this service far and wide and always greatly value new members to the Choir if you enjoying singing.  Please tell your friends and neighbours about this service and join us if you can.

CONFIRMATION – SUNDAY 13th DECEMBER
At 10 o’clock on Sunday 13th December we warmly welcome Bishop Peter for the annual service of Confirmation for our School and Church.  We have fifteen candidates this year and it would be great if you could join us to support them in this important step in their Christian journey.  As a way of making this Sunday extra special we are having a bring and share lunch after the service when there will be an opportunity to meet the Bishop informally.  The catering and domestic committee have a list at the back of Church for offers of food and drink which will be very gratefully received and which may also be emailed to Casey Hammett at cemcdh@yahoo.co.uk.  It would be lovely to have as large a congregation as possible that day so that Bishop Peter can see how alive, active and full of energy Emmanuel Church is.

CHURCH CLEAN UP
In order to make the Church look as beautiful as possible for the Confirmation (and in readiness for Christmas) we are having one of our regular Church cleaning mornings on Saturday 12th December from 10.30 am.  Many hands make light work, so if you could join us for this, we’d love to see you.

EMMANUEL SCHOOL CHRISTINGLE
One of the highlights of the School year is the annual Christingle Service , which this year will be on Thursday 10th December at 5 pm.  Join the children, staff and parents of the School in celebration of Christ as the light of the world.

EMMANUEL SCHOOL EXPANSION
We are currently working towards submitting a planning application for the School expansion.  As part of this visionary process a Development Control Forum meeting is taking place in the School hall on Tuesday 8th December from 6.30 to 8.30 pm. Parents, friends and neighbours are all invited to attend to give further views on the detailed design issues raised by the development project.  Planning officers from Camden will be present.   Further details may be found on line at:

www.emmanuel.camden.sch.uk/School%20Development_page5.htm <http://www.emmanuel.camden.sch.uk/School%20Development_page5.htm>

THE TRAVELLING CRIB
The Travelling Crib begins its journey around the parish this coming Sunday. The idea is that each household would give hospitality to this small crib for 24 hours as it journeys around the parish before taking it on to the next household, where festive refreshments may be shared, the candle accompanying the crib lit, and a short prayer said.  There are still four spaces on the list if you would like the crib to come to your home.  I will email the final list to the households who have signed up on Sunday afternoon.

CHARITY CONCERT
A Christmas Charity Concert in support of Christian Aid will be given by the ‘Can’t Sing Choir’, directed by Alison Denza on Friday 18th December at 8 pm.

CAROLS ON THE GREEN
Christmas really gets off to good start in West Hampstead with Carols on the Green, which this year will be on Saturday 19th December at 4 pm, when we shall gather around the tree on West End Green for joyful and festive singing, followed by a warming cup of hot chocolate in Church afterwards.  Please spread the message of this really enjoyable annual event far and wide.

SUNDAY SCHOOL NATIVITY PLAY
The Sunday School Nativity Play takes places after the 10 am Sung Eucharist on Sunday 20th December when we much look forward to the Christmas story being re-told in an imaginative and dramatic way by our youngest members.

CHRISTMAS SERVICES

CHRISTMAS EVE
6.00 pm  CHRISTMAS CAROL SERVICE – a joyful and festive service for all the family
11.00 pm  - MIDNIGHT MASS with blessing of the Crib

CHRISTMAS DAY
10.00 am  FAMILY EUCHARIST
At the family Eucharist the children are invited to bring an un-opened present, as we all open our presents together and celebrate the birth of Christ, the greatest gift the world has ever received.

With my continued thanks for all that each and every one of you brings to our life together Emmanuel. I hope that you have very happy and blessed Christmas and wish you every blessing for 2010,

With my love and prayers, as always,

Fr Jonathan