01.12.2017
Christ Church Bray Invites You to Walk in a Winter Wonderland This Week
Walking in a Winter Wonderland continues in Christ Church Bray until December 7.
The spirit of Advent and Christmas has already taken hold in Bray with the launch of Walking in a Winter Wonderland, a Christmas Tree Festival in Christ Church, Bray. The festival reflects the local community and the church has been filled with over 50 Christmas trees which have been decorated by schools, community groups and businesses. The themes focus on hymns and carols of Advent and Christmas.
The festival was launched last night (Thursday November 30) with a wonderful ‘Sing a Song of Christmas’ songs of praise service, compared by former Archdeacon of Dublin, the Ven Gordon Linney and sung by the Parish Choirs. It continues daily until Thursday December 7 from 10am until 9pm.
Rector of Christ Church, Bray, the Revd Baden Stanley, said the festival aims to encourage and inspire visitors as they step aside from their busy lives at this time of year. He said the trees remind people of the themes of Advent and Christmas as well as the stories of those who designed them.
“Advent is very much a time of preparation. We look forward to the celebration of Christmas, but we do so conscious that for so many people these coming weeks are difficult and even dangerous. Our Christmas story reminds us that Jesus himself was both homeless and a refugee, that his arrival among us was the greatest expression of unconditional love in the history of humanity,” he said.
Entrance to Walking in a Winter Wonderland is free but donations are invited towards costs. On Sunday December 3 the parish’s now famous Classics by Candlelight returns starting at 7pm. Tickets for the Classics concert are €10 and are available from Parish Office, Fleurtique and The Travel Boutique. A cafe and craft shop open daily throughout the festival.
In this video the Revd Baden Stanley talks about building community and finding space in Advent:
Walking in a Winter Wonderland Christmas Tree Festival at Christ Church Bray from Dublin & Glendalough on Vimeo.