WELCOME
Christmas - 2025 The last couple of months have been a busy time on our run-up to Christmas. We were delighted to host Brown Clee School for their Christmas service, it was lovely to welcome them to worship in church, with such wonderful singing and prayers. As always their enthusiasm, passion and joy was infectious. Now a regular event in our benefice, we hosted carols with Brown Clee Young Farmers. It was great to spend time in worship and prayer but also to exercise our vocal cords singing carols in the street. The mulled wine and mince pies were a fitting addition and once again made for a memorable evening. Every year we are getting better and better at the ‘Twelve days of Christmas.’ Carol services took place across all of our churches. A huge thank you to our choir, and their leader Ragni, for the varied repertoire and staying power. We had a choir at all of the services across our seven churches! We should also thank all of those that read so beautifully the Christian story leading up to the birth of Christ. It was a time of reflection, joy and bonhomie. We had our Christingle and Crib Services at St John the Baptist, Ditton Priors once again this year, a huge thank you to Marjorie and Carole. The transition from sweets to fruit for the Christingle’s was without incident with the children, eating healthily and remembering Jesus at the same time! Christmas would not be complete without our Christmas Festival service at Aston Botterell. Once again we had a fantastic turn out, and as promised Father Christmas made a surprise appearance!! The light show and decorations were brilliant setting the scene on a wonderful evening. A huge thank you to Anne, Tim, Ben and all the Aston Botterell team for such a lovely event. Across all of our churches so much effort went into getting them decorated to look their best and we know this doesn’t just happen without a lot of hard work, so thanks to all of you. Finally, a huge thank you for all who came, young and old, it would be great to see you again and do please get in touch with Revd Joe or Emma if you would like a chat.
Remembrance and New Votive Stand
Many thanks to both Charles Hunter and Joe Steele for fabricating a votive stand for our church in Ditton. Remembrance and reflection are important to all of us, memories become even more sharp at Christmas and at All Souls and the stand provides great comfort and support with a time to sit, think and recall those that we miss.
Funerals
Throughout 2025 we have held a number of funerals across our churches, during this time we have lost a number of people who were heavily involved in the community where they lived and served.
This year we are looking at ways we as the church can provide further help and support, beyond our All Souls service in November, so we will be in touch with you to share our thoughts in due course.
Do please get in touch with Revd Joe or our benefice administrator Emma if you would like a chat or you need support.
Baptisms
It always such a joy and privilege to welcome a new person into the family of Christ and we are thrilled to hold baptisms across our churches each year. Please do let us know how we can support you going forward.
We are looking at a number of options for us to get together as a group and we will be sharing details with all of our baptismal families over the next couple of months.
If you have any thoughts or ideas about activities or opportunities to grow in faith do please
get in touch with Revd Joe or our benefice administrator Emma if you would like a chat or you need any support.
Other Activities
We are really keen to grow our links with the community to show that we are outward facing in our work. Our special focus is on working with children and young families.
It has been fun working with Little Explores in Ditton Priors; we have held a Teddy Bears Picnic and a Pirates and Pumpkins event which was brilliant.
We are looking at a number of new events in 2026 and we will be sharing details in the weeks and months to come.
If you have any thoughts or ideas about things we could do together do please let
Revd Joe or our benefice administrator Emma know so that we can have chat and try and make it happen.