Benefice Christmas Services 2024
Benefice News & Events
Advent Retreat 17th - 23rd December
Advent at Home
This Advent, you are invited to join with others throughout the Benefice in prayer and reflection – but from home. At 7pm (if you are able), I invite you to sit somewhere quiet, light a candle, and use the simple form of prayer in this booklet. For each day of the retreat, a Psalm and a Reading from the Bible are given. There is also the opportunity to hear a reflection from the Ministry Team on the Antiphon for that day – simply scroll to the bottom of this page to find links to each YouTube reflection.
Our prayer is that, as we draw close to the celebration of our Lord and Saviour being born among us, we will each have little moments of quiet and stillness to reflect on his coming among us; in the manger at Bethlehem, 2000 years ago; at the end of all things, when he shall return in glory; and in every single moment of our lives, as he seeks to be born within the lives of those he loves and calls to hope.
An antiphon is a short verse that is used like a refrain, either repeated at points through another text or to begin and end it. Antiphons are often used in Christian worship, for example, during the singing of psalms.
The ‘O Antiphons’ are the antiphons that are said or sung before and after the Magnificat on the seven days preceding Christmas Eve (17–23 December). They all begin ‘O...’ hence their name. They are known by their Latin titles, for example, ‘O Sapientia...’, is ‘O Wisdom...’
The antiphons use texts from the Bible, both Old and New Testament, that Christians understand to refer to Jesus Christ, the coming Messiah. People who do not know the antiphons from Evening Prayer may well know them from the Advent hymn ‘O come, O come, Emmanuel’.
Resources
To download the full prayer booklet, please click here.
17th December 'O Sapientia' - https://youtu.be/lNdzQdnJxfU
18th December 'O Adonai' - https://youtu.be/V7B49hkkJyo
19th December 'O Radix Jesse' - https://youtu.be/C4B7FGP8ys8
20th December 'O Clavis David' - https://youtu.be/1lUW8fDiacU
21st December ' O Oriens' - https://youtu.be/Pzd5bqCn_U0
22nd December ' O Rex Gentium' - https://youtu.be/Fn9GK94sVB4
23rd December 'O Emmanuel' - https://youtu.be/t9KhTpa5J3g
Light Party
Do join us for lots of fun and games. For more details please see below.
Fish and Chip Supper
Everyone is welcome to our charity Fish and Chip Supper. For all the details please see below.
Christmas Tree Festival 2024
We are proud to announce that our Christmas Tree Festival this year will be officially opened by Bishop Ian, the Bishop of Thetford, on Friday 13th December at 6pm.
Everyone is welcome. There'll be lots of magic and sparkle on display. Please spread the word. For details of all dates and times for visiting the festival, please see below.
Brettenham Harvest Festival
Do join Peter and Mary for their Harvest Festival, where you will receive a warm welcome.
Loving Earth
Join us as we celebrate Creationtide through a series of worships around the Loving Earth Project which will be on display in East Harling Parish Church. Contact Revd Lynn Fry or Revd Simon Richardson for more information.
Six Inches of Soil
Join us to watch a special screening of Six Inches of Soil - a film exploring bio-diversity. The film will be followed by a Q&A session with the Bishop of Norwich.
Choir Open Evening
If you love to sing and think you might like to join our choir please come along to our Choir Open Evening. For more details please see below.
Teddy Bear's Picnic and Coffee Morning
We are excited to announce this upcoming dual event on Saturday, September 7th. Everyone is welcome as we'd love to see lots of beloved teddy bears zooming down our zip wire, as well as joining in our Teddy Bear's Picnic. There's also a chance to win this amazing oil painting by renowned local artist Maz Jackson. For more details please see below.
