FOR the last three years Week St Mary Church has held a series of events throughout the month of Advent to encourage parishioners to reflect upon the period of waiting and preparing for the coming of Christ at Christmas.

This year's events have included an Advent family service, a children's Christmas tree party and an evening of Tudor Christmas music — as well as a 'grand tour' of the parish by three groups of Crib figures, which were passed from house to house from Advent Sunday until Christmas Eve.

The figures included the Holy family, the three kings and the shepherds. Each group spends an evening in the window of a different house every night lit by a single candle.

'The Journey' as it is called, involves 90 families in and around the parish and culminates in their arrival at the Crib Gift Service at 5pm on Christmas Eve.

On November 27 the ecumenical 'Messy Church' group held an 'Advent Messy Church' in Week St Mary Chapel, where more than 20 children had the opportunity to make a wise man's crown, a sparkly star, a biscuit manger with a jelly baby, a sheep collage or badge and a journey game while they learned about the Christmas story.

For the full report, and a round up of the area news and sport, please see this week's edition of the 'Post'.