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Welcome to #SouthwarkAdvent

Last year, instead of opening the doors to a cardboard calendar, we opened the very real doors to churches across our Diocese, and collectively told the nativity story. This year, we’re shining a light on the work of our Church of England schools, and sharing some of the ways children engage in Advent, Christmas and Christian faith in our diocese.

Wishing you a blessed Advent, and a Happy Christmas when it comes

The Dean of Southwark Cathedral, The Very Reverend Dr Mark Oakley, wishes you a Happy Christmas in this blessing video alongside children from schools across our diocese.

Take me to…

Watch our #SouthwarkAdvent 2024 films

Christingles at Christ Church School, Purley


In our first video for this year’s #SouthwarkAdvent we visited Christ Church School in Purley to join their Year 1s as they made Christingles and learned about Jesus. Find out more in our blog

Steel pan at Immanuel and St Andrews School in Lambeth

In our second Advent film we visited Immanuel and St Andrew’s school to watch the children perform  “Carol of the Bells.” Find out more in this blog

Archbishop Tenison’s School choir at St Matthew’s Church, Croydon

In our third film for #SouthwarkAdvent, the choir from Archbishop Tenison’s School performed at St Matthew’s Church, Croydon’s Christmas Tree Festival Concert

Read more in our blog

‘Star Carol’ at St Saviour’s and St Olave’s School, Southwark

In our fourth film for this year’s schools-themed #SouthwarkAdvent we visited St Saviour’s and St Olave’s in Southwark to hear their students perform Star Carol in front of the school Christmas tree.

Read more in our blog

King’s School Kew take part in Journey to the Manger at Southwark Cathedral

Our final video of #SouthwarkAdvent follows the children at King’s School in Kew as they decorate large cardboard models of wise men for this year’s Journey to the Manger at Southwark Cathedral.

Find out more about Journey to the Manger here

Giving and Stewardship during Advent: A Christian Reflection

Advent, a season of anticipation and hope, as Christians prepare for the birth of Christ. Although Advent is often associated with spiritual preparation, it should also be an opportunity to reflect on our giving and stewardship. Advent calls us to examine what we treasure and to direct our resources toward what matters most. The nativity story is steeped in generosity: wise men bearing gifts, and Mary and Joseph opening their lives to a divine call.

The Giving Team at Southwark have pulled together useful resources to share and encourage a spirit of generosity and gratitude as we move through Advent, inspiring us to embrace the spirit of giving as we prepare to celebrate the arrival of Jesus and the joy we share together at Christmas.

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”  Matthew 6:21

Looking for your local church this Christmas?

We hope you will join your local church’s local Advent and Christmas events and services this year. If it’s your first time visiting a church, or first time in a long time, you will be very welcome! You can find answers for common questions here.

You can also find your local church on A Church Near You or, if you live in our Diocese, here on our website.

Follow the Star: Calm and Bright

The Church of England’s theme for Advent and Christmas 2024, Follow the Star: Calm and Bright, draws on the world-famous carol, Silent Night:

“Silent Night! Holy Night!
All is calm, all is bright…”

One of the reasons that this carol is so universally loved is the way it invites us into the still centre of the Christmas story, to contemplate Mary holding the new-born Jesus, the Light of the World.

The angelic messages we encounter in the biblical story of Jesus’ birth typically hold together the need for calm in the present (“Do not be afraid” … “Fear not”) with the hope of a bright future (“for you have found favour with God” … “for behold I bring you tidings of great joy”).

Throughout Advent, we will focus primarily on how to find Calm during this busy period, with reflections offering people a chance to pause during the busy season and tips on how to prepare for a calm Christmas.

Then through Christmas, we will focus particularly on Bright, with a series of daily reflections from Christmas Day to the Eve of Epiphany (5 January) by Sammi Tooze, Discipleship Adviser for the Diocese of York, both in digital form and as a full-colour booklet to share locally.

The Church of England will also share reflective content throughout Advent and Christmas for those who find this time of year difficult, with some Blue Christmas resources.

Discover Church of England Advent resources and webinars for churches, schools and individuals

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