East Garston

Inside the church, the traditional service of lessons and carols took place with the choir of St Michael and All Angels Church, Lambourn and their Organist and Choir Master, Stephen Holmes, joining us. The choir’s solo item “A child is born in Bethlehem” by Malcolm Archer was particularly pleasing. We were very happy to welcome a relative newcomer to the parish, David Comyn, to give us the penultimate reading. A selection of people who contributed to the church during 2011 read the other six lessons including husband and wife team Freddie and Sue Tulloch.

Despite the weather we had a full church with an enthusiastic congregation, who after the service enjoyed mulled wine and hot mince pies thanks to Mrs Widge Lamplough. Thank you also to all who came and those that helped to make this service such an enjoyable start to our Christmas festivities.

CHRISTMAS MORNING

On Christmas morning, with the Archdeacon of Berkshire’s blessing we held a Christmas Family Worship service. People responded magnificently to the letter which we sent to every household in the parish explaining that though we were unable to have a Holy Communion Service, there would be an emphasis on all children in the parish participating in the family service. We had 120 people in church with 40 of these being children and young persons (some from Norway, USA and Belgium! ), who needed no persuasion when their turn came to take part.

The service began with a message from The Revd Tony Cumberlidge, who also designed the service and had previously written his address, based on the origin of the carol Silent Night. Very fittingly Susan Holmes, home on vacation from university, was our organist. Susan has been involved with all our family services since 2005.

Pat Glover’s Active Music Club young pupils (all under 13) again delighted us with their playing. The String Ensemble – Hannah and David Glover, Sophie Pannett-Smith and Toby Locke, provided the accompaniment to Away in a Manger. Rachel Glover and Jonathan Pannett-Smith were soloists and all the children present then joined them to sing a verse together.

In the address, David Glover as the organist Franz Gruber, played a haunting version of Silent Night on his violin and Libby Pannett-Smith a mother from our Young Families Group sang the first verse solo. The congregation then joined in. The collection was taken by Billie, Oliver, Poppy and Jemima Tulloch. Jemima, the youngest, is just three and a half. The children undertook their task reverently and immaculately, having rehearsed dutifully as Tony Cumberlidge had taught them. PCC Treasurer – Rachel Brown and husband Robert gave the two bible readings.

This was a very happy occasion for adults as well as children and it was very marked, that despite being Christmas morning, all the children were dedicated to taking part in the service and this was the uppermost thought in their minds. It was an example of the theme of Tony’s message: that Christmas is about giving, not just receiving.