Following our Advent journey, our Christmas activities included a number of events to mark this special and traditional event of the celebration of the Nativity of our Lord. At the Rosary parish in Brixton, London a large number of children and parents too joined us for the Carol Singing service we do every year in Brixton Centre. This was a time to show everyone who passed by on foot, cycling, car or public transport, the true meaning of Christmas in this city environment which is largely secular.
Our traditional presentation of gifts to children in catechism classes took place over two sessions on the last weekend before Christmas. Children were presented with our handmade gifts for Christmas such as the statue of baby Jesus in the manger or a Nativity set to take home. Children in our RCIC group at St Andrew’s parish in Thornton Heath were also presented with similar gifts earlier at one of their sessions.
The SDC Juniors group met for other activities to reflect on the Advent season and then the coming of the Lord Jesus among us. On the day after Christmas they also met at the SDC House in Upper Norwood to mark the feast of St Stephen.
In our SDC Bible Study group we also reflected on the Advent and Christmas events through reflections which also included two of the School of Bethlehem reflections we use as meditations at this time in SDC every year. The other daily meditations were then sent to members of this group through Social Media.