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Christmas celebrations in North Norfolk

Sheringham Xmas tree fest 20122016: The hundreds of Christmas events at North Norfolk churches this year included a community carol concert in Aylsham, Christingle service and crib festival in Sheringham, and a Christmas tree festival in Stalham.

 
It was standing room only for Aylsham’s annual community carol concert at St Michael’s Parish Church which was organised with the town’s Rotary club - with some visitors queuing for up to 45 minutes beforehand to secure their seat.
 
Choirs from John of Gaunt School, Aylsham Parish Church and Bure Valley School took part in the concert, along with The Vocalights, Little Stars and Blue Notes all led by Claire Lawrence, who also performed a solo. Aylsham Town Band also performed and Henry Macey led a community singalong on the church organ.
 
After the concert, volunteers from the Rotary served mulled wine with mince pies, and the retiring collection raised over £500 to be split equally between Hana’s Gift and the Matthew Project.
 
For more on this story, with pictures, visit NNN24/Aylsham.

 
More than 100 members of North Norfolk Division Guiding and their families attended a special Christingle service at St Peter’s Church in Sheringham to celebrate the start of the festive season.
 
Led by the Rev Christian Heycocks, the specially written service reminded everyone of the true meaning of Christmas with some traditional carols and a rendition of ‘This Little Guiding Light of Mine’. Prayers were also read out by a member from each section of the Guiding movement - Rainbows, Brownies, Guides, Senior Section and Trefoil Guild.
 
The flags of the units present were paraded around the church and the flagbearers were joined by others members of Girl Guiding carrying Christingle oranges to create a circle of light, after which the lights in the church were lowered for the hymn ‘Away in a Manger’. A retiring collection was made for The Children’s Society.
 
For more on this story, with pictures, visit NNN24/Sheringham Christingle.

 
When artist Jenny Comper decided to make an exhibit for a crib festival, also at St Peter’s Church in Sheringham, she was keen to create something traditional, but ‘a bit different’. Searching for inspiration, she hit on the idea of raiding her six-year-old grandson James’s toy box and created an illuminated nativity scene made entirely from Lego.
 
Complete with stable, wise men, sheep, a donkey and a Bethlehem backdrop, the scene became a talking point among visitors to the crib festival, which ran at the church over the weekend. As well as coffee, cakes and crafts, the event included a display of more than 20 nativity scenes, ranging from knitted and ceramic versions, to a miniature nativity from South America, a 1950s Woolworth’s scene and a holy family carved from olive wood from Bethlehem.
 
For more on this story, with pictures, visit NNN24/Sheringham nativity.

 
The 11th Christmas Tree Festival at Mary’s Church in Stalham was believed to be ‘the biggest ever’, with over 60 decorated trees and a unique display of nativity sets from around the world, owned by Elizabeth Jackson.
 
Businesses, Local clubs, uniformed organisations, garages and all the local schools gave their support and sponsored the decorated trees, which filled the well decorated church with “a magnificent display” that attracted a consistent flow of visitors. Home-made cakes and savouries were also on offer.
 
The event ran from December 3 to 11 and raised funds for church improvements and maintenance.

For more on this story, with pictures, visit NNN24/Stalham.

 
All stories are courtesy of North Norfolk News.



TonyRothe150Do you have a news story or forthcoming event relating to Christians or a church in North Norfolk?  

If so, e-mail tony.rothe@networknorwich.co.uk with details and, if possible a suitable picture. 


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