December 2025
All Saints Church, Earls Barton
Christmas and Community
by Simon Elvin
This is the first article for our Church NOT written by Jenny! I’m Simon Elvin, a Reader at All Saints, and like many others, I’m braced to take up the tasks and keep our Church moving forward while Baby Bland gets up and running (well, crawling, hopefully! Good luck, Jenny and Chris!).
I wonder, what’s your memory of the best Christmas you’ve had? I have two. One was when my three children were all under five – it was so much fun, and they were incredibly excited! The other was more recent - when we were all back together for the first time after the twins started at University.
That word “together” is key; whether you believe Jesus defeated death and is our Saviour or whether you think he was just a good man. Scrooge was a miserable old codger at Christmas till he was shown his isolation and discovered community. Why do so, so many people come to Carols on the Square each year? (7.15pm on 24th, by the way). It’s because there is a huge, warm feeling of community, of enjoying just being together to celebrate, and of sharing the experience of singing Carols, hearing the age-old story, and pausing to remember those whose Christmas won’t be so “merry”. Maybe you can share something with a lonely or sad neighbour somehow? Another keyword that: “sharing”. Sharing great, once-a-year food (and drink!), sharing presents not because we must but because we want to show that we care, and sharing enjoyment (children are especially good at this, until they get too tired!). The shepherds shared a lamb; the Wise Men shared precious and portentous gifts. I love the Christian image handed down to us over the years, of that little group made up of mixed races and from the top and bottom of society, clustered as a community around the baby Jesus and sharing joy and presents. If YOU feel you need to tap into more warmth of community, if you’re going to be alone or depleted as a family, or if you know someone who wonders what it’s all about, why don’t you drop into one of the Christmas services at All Saints or the Methodist Chapel? I promise you’ll feel welcomed, included, cared about, and warm in every sense!
Good News
With great love and joy, Jenny and Chris welcomed Joseph Benjamin Bland born on 18.11.25 at 7:25pm at Northampton General Hospital weighing 6lb14oz. Everyone doing well, very in love and very grateful to God.
I'm sure you will join us in congratulating the Bland family on this wonderful occasion and keep them in your thoughts and prayers as they start this exciting new chapter of their lives together.
Our Services this Month
Every Day
We are open every day 10am - 4pm* for everyone in our parish to make use of their parish church. So pop in, have a look around, make time to pray, read from the Bible or enjoy a pit stop with your little ones as they play with the toys. We’re open for you.
*Subject to occasional offices (weddings, funerals, baptisms) and special events/circumstances. Please note the church will be closed to the public from 7th December to 10th December inclusive and from 12pm on 17th December for private events.
Midweek Worship
Every Wednesday - 9:30am Holy Communion.
On the first Wednesday of the month there is a short service of Holy Communion in the Church Hall at 3pm followed by refreshments - everyone is welcome, we often have new people joining us.
December Sunday Services
7th (Advent 2) - 9am Holy Communion, 10am Christingle, 6pm Evensong
14th (Advent 3) - 10am Holy Communion (With Experience Christmas) 2:30pm Messy Church with Youth Group, 6pm Lessons and Carols
21st (Advent 4) - 10am Holy Communion, 4pm - The Longest Night
28th (Christmas 1) - Church open only - No formal service
Everyone is welcome to join us for our services, and we warmly encourage children. JaM is our ‘Jesus and Me’ group for children that runs in the Church Hall if they’d like to attend or they are welcome to stay in the service. We have an area with books and toys for families and a toilet a short walk away in our Hall. Refreshments follow most 10am services in the Church Hall and again, everyone is welcome!
Prayer Requests
If anyone has friends or family whom they would like the church to pray for, for whatever reason, we do need their permission. To add them to the prayer list:
Please contact: Carol Coleman
Lay Pastoral Minister Carolcoleman@hotmail.co.uk 07706797216
This Month’s Events
All Saints Christmas Bazaar on Saturday, 6th December – 10am to 1pm in the Church Hall. Stalls are £10 each. Lee's Butchers are doing a BBQ. Tea, coffee and cakes will be available. We would like to collect items for a tombola and offers of cakes would be appreciated.
FAIRTRADE NEWS
It’s the All Saints Indoor Christmas Market from 10am on 6th December & then of course please join us for our Christmas café morning.
FAIRTRADE CHRISTMAS CAFÉ & BOOKSALE on SATURDAY 13th DECEMBER Our shop will be open for beautifully ethical Christmas gifts & cards. Enjoy chatting, browsing our products & secondhand books, & fresh coffee & yummy homemade cakes… Everyone welcome! Happy Christmas!
And please note our last shopping day is 20th December 10 – 1 & then we close until 10th January.
Email: nicky_smithseb@yahoo.co.uk 07812 686944
Amicorum Christmas Concert – Saturday, 6th December in All Saints Church.
An evening of Christmas music including A Ceremony of Carols by Benjamin Britten with harpist, Holly-Alice Morton and traditional carols and songs. Doors open at 6.30pm with the concert starting at 7pm.