Christmas is coming! And boy are we looking forward to it! With last year’s lockdowns and having all festivities basically cancelled last minute, this year lets go bigger and better right? Maybe not. As we have learnt through our blog series reflecting on John Mark Comer’s “The Ruthless Elimination Of Hurry”, wanting more and focusing on more, doesn’t always help our soul or get us closer to God. In fact it does the total opposite and distracts us from, not only what we really want, but most importantly, what we really need.

We all know the first Christmas happened in a stable, with Jesus having the most humblest of beginnings. Therefore, likewise, we don’t need all the presents, a massive turkey, all the trimmings etc. (though admittedly it is nice), especially if we can’t afford it. What we should be focused on is who we are surrounded by, the hope baby Jesus gives us for a brighter future and the amazing love and sacrifice of the Lord that he would send us His only Son to die for our sins.

To help you, your nearest and dearest and neighbours get into the Christmas spirit, we have a few events across the next month, to be excited about:

Christmas Cards

We’ll be sharing Christmas cards again this year, from all at Church At Barking Riverside. So keep an eye out in your letter box.

Street Trees

Following the success of last year’s Street Trees, we’re bringing them back! Locations are TBD but keep an eye out for one near you. They will be up from around the 1st December and a few will be dotted around the Rivergate area and one by Little Bees Park in the Northgate area. The current locations are in the Rivergate area are pencilled as the below, but we’ll keep you posted:

• Crossness Road
• Lawes Way/McAllister
• Chilworth Gardens
• Mallard Road
• Sackett Road
• Schooner Close

Like last year, we will be providing free, plain wooden decorations handed out by our street hosts for you to decorate and add to your nearest tree. We’ll be sharing info on how to contact your nearest street tree host on our site soon. 

Christmas Carols

There’s nothing more festive than singing carols by a lit and decorated Christmas tree, with a nice hot mulled wine/hot chocolate.

So, we have two dates for your diary:

1. 18th December: we’ll be touring the trees in the Rivergate area, ending at the Rivergate Centre
2. 19th December: we’ll have carols by the tree in Little Bees Park, potentially ending at The Wilds

Christmas Eve Celebrations

For the first time ever, we’ll be joining together with other Rivergate churches, House Of Bread & Salem Church, for a special time to pause in the festive hurry and worship our Saviour being born on the 24th December at the Rivergate Centre (time TBC).

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We will make sure our Christmas page is updated once we get things more firmed up but if you’d like to get involved in any of the above, Get In Touch:

• help spread the love by distributing Christmas cards to your part of the estate
• co-host a Street Tree
• help provide refreshments/shelter, if it rains, singing, or simply share your favourite carol for the Carols
• help shape the Christmas Eve celebration

In the meantime, we hope to see you over festive period and I pray that this Christmas, you’re able to spend it with your loved ones, and trimmings or not, you look to 2022 with hope and love in your heart.

We know that for some, Christmas can be a difficult time, so if you need to speak to anyone or have any prayer requests please Get In Touch.