A Service of Advent Hope
A Dorset church has held a special service that gives those attending an insight into the emotions felt by Mary and Joseph.
Building on the appreciation their community feels for our annual service of remembrance for All Soulstide, St Mary’s Parish Church in West Moors adapted their usual Advent programme of Sunday evening services to include ‘A Service of Hope for Christmas’.
The service included a mixture of Bible readings, prose and poetry to bring out the voices and bittersweet emotions of both Mary and Joseph.
The service has been devised by Vicar Andy Muckle and Assistant Curate Ruth Wells, and focused on hearing the voices of Mary and Joseph in both Gospel readings and reflective material interspersed with some gentle carols.
Andy said:
"40 people came along and many were visibly moved by the service.
"We hope the silence and space of the service will give the opportunity to acknowledge the complicated emotions we can carry at this time, and give space to offer those feelings to God’s love and hear the message of Christ’s hope for all that is at the heart of Renewing Hope in our Diocese."
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