Community carols, church seating, Christmas safety

Latest news of interest to the Catholic community across the Diocese of East Anglia includes a first-ever ecumenical carol service, new seating for a Peterborough church and the opportunity to stay safer this Christmas.

The village of Harston, Cambridgeshire, marked the beginning of Advent on December 1 with the joyful sound of festive music as over 120 people gathered for a first-ever community carol-singing event  reports Charlanne Ward.

Organized by representatives from Our Lady of Lourdes, Sawston, All Saints C of E Church, Harston and Harston Baptist Church, this inaugural ecumenical initiative brought together villagers of all ages in a spirit of unity and celebration.

The Harston community came out in force to enjoy seasonal singing, playing and poetry while supporting two vital local charities: Harston Community Food Hub and WinterComfort. The atmosphere was truly special, thanks to the delightful performances by the village school choir and the uplifting accompaniment of a local brass ensemble.

The success of the event was a testament to the power of collaboration among local faith groups and the enthusiastic participation of the wider community. Many attendees expressed their hope that this enjoyable gathering would become an annual tradition, continuing to bring people together in song and service.

During December, the National Crime Agency’s CEOP Education team will be posting a series of tips across X and Facebook called #SaferByChristmas.

#SaferByChristmas starts on December 9 and will share 12 days of quick, easy actions for parents and carers to take to better protect their children online.

Each post will share actions that can be taken both for the 4 to 10 year old age range and 11 to 17 year olds.

#SaferByChristmas aims to increase the protective capabilities of parents and carers, particularly at a time of year when many children and young people are gifted new devices and when online usage increases with schools closed for the festive break.

How can I support?

You can help reach more parents and carers by liking and sharing #SaferByChristmas posts from X @CEOPEducation and Facebook facebook.com/CEOPEducation

After 35 years of service the old stacking chairs in use at St Luke’s, Peterborough, were nearing the end of their life. Worn, tired and beginning to break, they also failed to meet modern safety standards.

Parish priest Fr Jeffrey Downie said: “After exploring options and consulting with parishioners it was decided to fundraise for wood-framed church chairs with drop-down kneelers. After just a few short months the £29,200 needed for 200 chairs was raised. Most came from parishioners sponsoring individual seats, with plaques commemorating events or loved ones fixed to the back.

“This has been an amazing achievement in a short space of time and we are very grateful to all who have supported the project. These new chairs should give many decades of service on into the next generation.”

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