OK, so the Christingle service will be fab (course it will, I’m involved!) - but for me, it’s not Christmas without a midnight service.

So Flag Man and I plan on going to St Mary’s for their First Communion of Christmas service. This starts at 11.30 pm, so that we have communion as close after midnight as possible.

At my dad’s church this has always been my favourite service since I was first allowed to attend (aged about 9). To see the church so full you had to get there half an hour early to get a seat; to have a building full of light, life and excitement; to see people who never went to church any other time (one time we had 4 men in pyjamas turn up!) and to race around afterwards hugging everyone and exchanging cards. And that moment just after midnight when dad would say ‘May I be the first to wish you a Happy Christmas’ and cheers would break out. Oh, and singing the ‘Yea, Lord we greet Thee, born this happy morning’ verse of ‘O Come All Ye Faithful’ for the first time that year. (Singing it before Christmas Day is Just Wrong!)

I don’t know if St Mary’s is like that on Christmas Eve - but I do know that it will be a wonderful way to celebrate the birth of Jesus. Anyone who wants to come with us is welcome!

For those of you who can’t stay up that long in case you miss Santa, they do also have several services on Christmas Day. Maybe it’s growing up in a vicarage household that’s done it, where we had 2 services on Christmas Eve and 2 on Christmas Day (and one on Boxing Day) but I can’t cope with a Christmas Day which doesn’t involve being in church. So this is a great opportunity to get out there and celebrate with our neighbour churches.

There is definately an atmosphere about them! However - I think I’m too old now!!