Festivals and special worship opportunities
2008
November 30 1st Sunday in Advent
December 25 Christmas Day
At Advent and Christmas we celebrate the wonderful gift of God's love to us in and through Jesus: God "in human terms". Epiphany is celebrated on 6th January. See more information below.
Advent (Click here for more information about Advent)
The word "Advent" means "coming towards" or "approaching". The Christian season of Advent begins 4 Sundays before Christmas (this year on 2 December) as we prepare for God coming to us in Jesus. So Advent is a time of self-examination and prayerful listening to God.
But Advent is also a time of looking forward to Jesus being gloriously revealed and recognised as our Lord. Then, Christians believe, all people will live God's Way of justice, peace, love and care for others - as God showed use in Jesus.
Advent candles and Advent calendars help keep us focused. Each day we may burn down a section of an Advent candle, or open the next window in our Advent calendar, behind which may be a picture or a Bible verse about the coming of Jesus.
CHRISTMAS
The word "Christmas" means "the festival of Christ", and the word "Christ" means "the anointed one" ie. the one specially chosen and commissioned by God. So Christmas is the time when Christians celebrate the coming into the world of the Christ. In other words, we celebrate the birth of the one through whom, as his name, Jesus, says: "God saves" (Matthew 1.21; Luke 1.31).
We speak of Jesus as Son of God, ie. the one who perfectly shows us what our heavenly Father is like. Because Jesus so perfectly does God's will and lives God's Way, we speak of him as the embodiment of God: "the Word (of God) made flesh", or "the Word incarnate" (John 1.14)
In Jesus, Christians believe, God our heavenly Father gives himself in a costly, sacrificial way to the world he has created. So Christmas is a time of giving: sharing with others God's love and self-giving to us. In many ways Christmas has become commercialised, but Christians make it a time for giving to those in need.
EPIPHANY
The majority of Christians in the west celebrate Christmas Day on 25 December. The majority of Christians in the east celebrate on 6 January. For most western Christians 6 January is the feast of Epiphany ie. "shining upon". We speak of Jesus as the "Light of the World". We believe his life and teaching shed light on our sinfulness and also shines light on the way God wants us to live. It is why early Christians began celebrating his birth when this part of the world is at its darkest. It is also why we celebrate with lights and candles.
Epiphany is when we celebrate the journey of the Wise Men from lands to the east to find the baby Jesus (Matthew 2.1) The Bible does not say how many Wise Men there were, nor that they were kings: nor does it give them names - these things got added in legends. Epiphany is celebrated as the day when Jesus shines not just as Saviour of his own Jewish people but shines as Saviour on all people.
There are twelve days from 25 December to 6 January. Epiphany therefore comes as the climax of the "twelve days of Christmas".
Lent
Lent begins 40 days (excluding Sundays - click here for more detail) before Easter. It is a time of meditation & preparation for Easter, recalling the 40 days Jesus spent in the wilderness preparing for his ministry.
Easter (Click here for more info.)
Holy Week
The most important time of the Christian year is Holy Week, when we celebrate Jesus' death (Good Friday) and resurrection (Easter Day). Jesus is the one in whom God's loving, creative and life-giving power is made clear to us.
Pentecost
At Pentecost ("Whitsunday") we celebrate the gift of the Holy Spirit to the followers of Jesus.
Harvest Festival
At the morning Harvest Festival service for all ages, we give thanks to God for creation, and especially for the food and water which sustains life. We commit ourselves to care for the earth. We remember those who have grown the food we enjoy. We bring gifts of food (fresh and tinned/packeted) to share with elderly and housebound people known to us, and to support Slough Refugee Support. Gifts of money in 2008 were used to support Seeds For Africa.