Churches and services in England at Christmas --- 2013

Dear family and friends,

This blog entry features photos from churches or church-related events which I have visited or taken part in here in England with my friend Debbie, and once also with Debbie's husband and my friend Tim, from Sunday to Sunday, December 15th to the 22nd, 2013, although I am going to work backwards chronologically.  Debbie gave me permission to share some of her photos too, and I've given her credit below for the ones which are hers.

The picture above is of Canterbury Cathedral, where Deb, Tim, and I attended the 11:00 Sung Eucharist service this past Sunday, the 22nd. Directly below is a picture of Deb and Tim outside the cathedral, and a shot that did not come out very well of part of the nativity scene.  I was moved by the service, including the sermon, the chorale music, and especially the Eucharist. The one surprising event was at the end, when the priest very slightly, and without any real damage, singed the hairs on his forehead, when he lent down to talk to the children after he had lit the fourth Advent candle.  He made light of it (pun intended!), but it was a scary moment because we could not quite tell what was happening.

Last Thursday, the 19th, Deb and I were in London for the afternoon to meet up with and have lunch with a friend of mine from my theological network, which we very much enjoyed.  Deb and I also attended the 5:00 PM Evensong Service at Westminster Abbey, and below is a photo she took.  We were not allowed to take pictures inside, but the abbey was stately and beautiful, and we loved the service, for which a chorus of young boys and a few men sang.

Next is a picture Debbie took of Bath Abbey, taken from the Roman Baths on Monday, the 16th.  We did not tour the abbey, but I liked this photo.

And below are three photos from the two events Debbie and I attended in Exeter beginning late in the afternoon on Sunday, the 15th, my last Sunday in Exeter.  The first two are from the Exeter Nativity Processional, which began down the main street of the city (called the High Street), and ended inside the Cathedral.  I took the photo of Mary, Joseph, and the donkey, with city folks following in procession, and Deb took the photo of one of the two llamas, which were dressed to look like camels.  This photo was taken inside the Cathedral.  The third and last photo is of two Christingles, which Deb and I brought home from the service that we went on to attend that same evening, at the United Reformed Church I attended while I was in Exeter.  We loved that service, which was filled with light and warmth.

I wish you all a blessed and happy Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.  May the true Light of the World, which came into the world as a tiny baby, shine on us and on all people.

Love to all,
Jane