With the festive season fast approaching, carol services, Christmas trees, mulled wine, minced pies and buying presents are at the front of everyone’s minds. There is a whole host of events going on in the Jesmond community to get those festive juices flowing, and remind people of the reason for the season.

Jesmond URC starts its festive season with a Christmas Coffee Morning with live Christmas Music and stalls on the 4^th December between 10.30am-12.00pm. On the 9^th December between 5 – 8pm at West Jesmond Metro Station the local churches come together for a Jesmond carol-singing event. On 11^th December between 10.30am-midday,  the Branding Village Pre-School Playgroup Christmas Fayre takes place in the hall, while at 7.30pm the Christmas with Cappella annual candle-lit concert of seasonal music and readings will be hosted in the church.  On the 12^th December at 6pm the church is hosting its Second Sunday at Six, Taizé-style worship for advent. On the 19^th December at 10.45am the service led by Rev Peter Moth will include baptism, admission of new members and nativity presentation. On the 24^th December at 6pm there is a joint Christmas Eve service with Newcastle Korean Church. Finally on Christmas Day at 10.45am there is a service led by Moth and on the 26^th December at 10.45am there is a service led by Rev Rowena Francis.

St. Georges Parish Church is putting on a vast array of events during the festive season starting with a Christmas Fair on the 4^th December at 2pm. On the 8^th December Mencap is hosting a concert, Carols by Candlelight with traditional Christmas songs and readings. Newcastle Concert Band and St George’s Choir host a Christmas Concert in aid of Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre on the 17^th December at 7.30pm. In the last day before Christmas, Christmas Eve Christingle takes place at 3pm, there is Family Carols and the Blessing of the Crib at 6pm and Midnight Mass at 11.30pm. On Christmas Day, Holy Communion is at 8am and Parish Communion is at 9.30am. Finally on Boxing Day there is a Parish Communion at 10am.

Jesmond Methodist Church festive season kicks off with Messy Church on 4th December, allowing kids to come together to have fun with Christmas themed activities and crafts. The church family has been collecting money since September in the hope of raising £750 between us to send a cow to Africa. Folk are bringing in their milk bottles full of money on 5th December. Finally on the 9^th December, JMC is having Christmas cheer event, full of mince pies and mulled fruit wine (non-alcoholic, of course, as it will be done on Methodist property) from 5pm-6pm.

Holy Trinity Church will be holding Christmas carols services, Christingle at 11am on 19th December and Candlelight Carols at 6.30pm, followed by mulled wine and mincepies. Finally Christmas Eve family carols are taking place at 4pm and Christmas Day communion is at 10am.

With the 150^th Birthday of Jesmond Parish Church fast approaching this Advent and Christmas season will be filled with celebrations. Carols by Candlelight takes place with a choir, thousands of candles and speaker David Holloway on the 12^th December at 4pm, 6pm and 8pm, 14^th December at 8pm, 15^th December at 8pm, 16^th December at 8pm, 18^th December at 5pm and 19^th December at 4pm, 6pm and 8pm.

Last but by no means least, St.Hilda’s Parish Church starts the festive season with a Festival of Decorated Christmas Trees – the theme can be your choice, with a prize for the best decorated Christmas tree. This takes place on the 4^th December between 11am-4.30pm with carol singing around the Christmas Tree at 5pm where the winning tree with be announced.  After that, its Light in the Darkness services will take place at 6pm on the 5^th, 12^th and 19^th December.