Christmas 2024

Here’s your guide to all that’s happening at All Saints’, Ockbrook and St. Stephen’s, Borrowash from Advent to Christmas Day. 

Sunday, December 1st 

Advent begins 

Many children (and adults!) will have an Advent calendar to help them count the days to Christmas. It’s also a special time for the church. Everybody’s welcome at either of these services (click on the headings to find out more):

Christingle Service All Saints’, Ockbrook, 11am 

This popular all-age service explains God’s great love for the world using a treat called a Christingle. Every child attending will receive one – it’s made with a whole fresh orange decorated with a candle, sweets and raisins. The full meaning of the Christingle will be explained during the service. 

NB. Although there is no obligation, there will be an opportunity to donate to The Children’s Society during this service. 

Sunday, December 8th

Here for you 

This Sunday is dedicated to supporting those who may be finding Christmas difficult this year, due to bereavement, family problems, or other sadness. 

‘Blue Christmas’ Service All Saints’, Ockbrook, 4pm

Lasting about an hour, this service encourages you to bring any sadness in your life to God through prayer.  It’s a time to acknowledge pain and emptiness, but with a message of God’s hope and light in times of darkness. 

There will be quiet worship, reflection and space to light a candle.

Light refreshments will be served afterwards, and the church’s Prayer Team will be on hand to listen or chat, and perhaps pray for you if you’d like that. 

Saturday, December 14th

Meet Santa! 

Santa will be popping in to meet local families at this festive café:

All Saints’, Ockbrook, 2-4pm – Christmas Café

Come and join others in the community for crafts, chat, carol music, coffee, tea and cake. Santa will drop in to mingle and chat, and of course to meet children and hear what their hopes are for Christmas gifts

There will be no charge for the refreshments or crafts, but if you’d like to make a contribution, there are places in the church where you’ll be able to. 

Sunday, December 15th

Carols by Candlelight

All are welcome to this traditional Christmas service:

All Saints’, Ockbrook, 6pm – Nine Lessons and Carols by Candlelight

This is one of the church’s most popular services. With just ten sleeps until Christmas Day, it’s a chance to take a break from all the busyness and feel close to what lies at the heart of the Christmas celebrations. Come and hear the amazing Christmas story through Bible readings and familiar carols. The Rt Revd Malcolm Macnaughton, Bishop of Repton, will be preaching. 

Sunday, December 22nd

St Stephen’s, Borrowash, 10am – Congregations from both churches will join for a service of Holy Communion. 

Christmas Eve

One more sleep to go!

There’ll be more Christingles to enjoy if you missed the first one on December 1^st, plus a Midnight Holy Communion:

St Stephen’s, Borrowash, 3pm and 6pm – Christingle Carols Round the Tree

The 3pm afternoon service time may be particularly suitable if there are under 5’s in your family. There’ll be Christingle treats, popular carols and songs.

To ensure everyone can join in this will be a repeat of the 3pm service at 6pm.

Christmas Day

Something for everyone – it’s time to celebrate the best gift of all!

All Saints’, Ockbrook, 10am – Christmas Day Celebration

All the build-up, preparations and waiting are over. Join in this joyful all-age service of celebration.

There’ll be music and songs, prayers, a short nativity performance and a message about the comfort and joy that Jesus brings for all. 

The service will last no longer than hour.

And there’s more

Throughout December, Mary and Joseph will be travelling around the parish. Spot them around our villages and on social media!

Posada in Ockbrook and Borrowash

Originating in Hispanic countries to help celebrate the Christmas story, ‘Posada’ is a period of time during Advent when toy figures from the nativity story travel around the community and stay somewhere for a night or two. The figures are then passed on to the next host. It’s a fun way to share the Christmas story around a community and to send messages of goodwill between hosts.

To learn more about all that’s happening in our villages over Christmas and early next year, contact us, we’d love to hear from you.