For the fourth year running, Parklands Community Church has organised Advent Windows in both the Flowerdown Park and Locking Parklands communities. Every evening from 1st to 24th December, a different home will unveil a Christmas-themed window display that will stay up until after Christmas. See if you can find all 48 windows!
You can pick up a hard copy of the maps at our Advent Service on 5th December, Parklands Pop-Up Cafe on 11th December, or at the Christmas Trail on 12th December.
Alternatively, you can download an electronic version of the maps here:
As Andy Williams sang – it’s the most wonderful time of the year – as we count down to Christmas Day when we celebrate the birth of Jesus. This Christmas, our theme reminds us that – for all of the other gifts we may give or receive this year – the greatest gift of all is Jesus, whom God gave to us all.
Having spent most of last December in lockdown, we have a number of ways to enjoy the festive season this year, suitable for all ages.
Wednesday 1st-Friday 24th December Advent Windows, various locations
For the fourth year running, Parklands Community Church has organised Advent Windows in both the Flowerdown Park and Locking Parklands communities. Every evening from 1st to 24th December, a different home will unveil a Christmas-themed window display that will stay up until after Christmas. See if you can find all 48 windows! Download the maps from the event’s news page (when posted nearer the 1st), or pick up a paper copy at any of our other Christmas events.
An advent window from 2020
Sunday 5th December, 11am-Noon Advent Service, Parklands Educate Together
As always, we will be holding our monthly gathering at Parklands Educate Together on the first Sunday of the month. There is an all-age mix of craft, singing, prayer and Bible stories from 11am, with refreshments available in the community room on arrival from 10.30am. In December, this will have an Advent theme.
Thursday 9th December Christmas Craft-Bombing, various locations
Some of you may remember crochet stars being hung on the fences at Parklands Educate Together or the Chamberlain Road MUGA last Christmas. This year, we will be hanging crafted Christmas presents up across Parklands on Thursday 9th December (weather permitting). Please feel free to help yourself to one.
Last year’s “Craft Bombing” at the Parklands Educate Together Primary School
Saturday 11th December, 10am-Noon Pop-Up Cafe, Parklands Educate Together
The Parklands Pop-Up Cafe returns to Parklands Educate Together on Saturday 11th December, from 10am til Noon. The monthly cafe offers a place for the community to meet up over a coffee and cake, with free Christmas-themed crafts available for children.
Sunday 12th December, 1-4pm Family Christmas Trail, Flowerdown Park
We are running a Family Christmas Trail on Sunday 12th December from 1-4pm. Hidden in safe, outdoor spaces across Flowerdown Park will be pictures of Christmas Presents, all of which will be numbered. You need to look for the Christmas Present picture that has your map number on it. If you want to take part, you must buy a trail map from Parklands Community Church before 11th December so enough prizes can be bought and enough maps printed.
Some of you may remember we ‘craft bombed’ the school and park with Christmas Stars last year. Well, we are planning a similar activity this year (not stars!), so if you enjoy knitting, crochet, cross stitch, felt, any craft really we’d love you to get involved in making this year. They are small and simple, even if you only make a couple, they all count! Contact us for more info or join the special Facebook group. https://www.facebook.com/groups/4316056878513555/?ref=share
Sadly, due to the ongoing circumstances with Covid, we can’t host our usual Christmas celebrations in person this year, so we’ll be doing things a little differently. Here are the things we’re able to do this year, and keep your eyes peeled for a starry surprise in the next week or so.
1st-24th December Advent Windows, Flowerdown and Parklands
Still acceptable in a socially-distanced world, for the third year running we have organised Advent Window trails in the communities of Flowerdown Park and Locking Parklands. Check our Facebook Event for the latest.
Sunday 13th December, 4pm Online Christingle Service, Facebook Live
Join us online as we make our Christingles and reflect on Jesus as light of the world. We’ll have Christingle packs ready to be collected on Saturday 12th December for anyone who’d like to join in. Please send an email to parklandscommunity@gmail.com to request a pack.
Sunday 20th December, 4pm Family Christmas Quiz, Facebook Live
Join us for a family friendly Christmas quiz on Facebook Live. There’ll be a prize for the best team name and the winners!
December is always an exciting time at Parklands Community Church, and this year is no different. There are a number of different ways to enjoy this festive season with us, suitable for all ages.
1st-24th December
Advent Windows
In Flowerdown Park and Locking Parklands, a new festive window will be revealed every evening until Christmas Eve. See if you can find all 48 windows! Download the maps from the news story, or pick up a paper copy at any of the following events.
Saturday 7th December, 10am
Parklands Pop-Up Cafe – Christmas Special
Join us at The Radio Wing from 10am to noon for the Christmas Special edition of the monthly Parklands Pop Up Cafe. As well as the usual hot and cold drinks, we’ll also have tasty Christmassy treats on offer. There’ll be Christmas craft for the kids plus a stall selling homemade gifts.
A free family film night at The Radio Wing, open to all. Send us your suggestions for a family friendly Christmas film and we’ll open a vote for the favourite! Free drinks and popcorn provided or feel free to bring your own snacks. Christmas jumpers and onesies welcome too! Doors open at 6.15pm, film starts at 6.30pm.
Saturday 21st December, 4pm
Carols and Christingle
Join us at The Radio Wing on the last Saturday before Christmas for our more traditional carol and Christingle service. Enjoy a good sing-song, mutilate an orange, and then wash it down with festive refreshments. All welcome.
December 1st marks the start of Advent – the time in the church calendar where we prepare for the coming of Jesus at Christmas! To celebrate this time, we have again organised Advent Windows for Flowerdown Park and Locking Parklands.
Every evening from December 1st to the 24th, a new window will be revealed, just like a real-life advent calendar only without the chocolate (or cheese, gin, or makeup if you have one of those fancy advent calendars), and they will stay up until after Christmas.
You can pick up a hard copy of the maps at our Parklands Pop-Up Cafe on 7th December, the Family Film Night on 13th December, or at the Carol and Christingle Service on 21st December.
Alternatively, you can download an electronic version of the maps here:
Parklands Community Church 