Excitement growing for Glen Church’s Christmas Tree Festival
With the arrival of November, the excitement levels are off the scales in the Glen estate, Newtownards, as Glen Community Church, one of our church plants, puts the final touches to its forthcoming major fundraising weekend.
From Friday 8 to Sunday 10 December they’ve planned a stunning Christmas Tree Festival, an Outdoor Christmas Market, Christmas Worship for All and a Community Carol Service – all in the local Londonderry Primary School.
Church leader, Stephen Doherty says: “The school will be totally transformed into a remarkable festive feast of colour and light. It’s going to be the backdrop to 40+ Christmas trees which have been individually designed and decorated by members of our church family, pupils from the school, local community groups and sponsoring businesses. It promises to be something very special in and around our theme from Ephesians 4:16, ‘together…growing and building up in love’.”
In addition to unique and colourful Christmas trees, refreshments will be served throughout the weekend in a specially designed bistro. Eats and treats will include morning and afternoon teas, lunches and delicious tray bakes!
Programme
The event kicks off on the Friday evening with an Opening Reception from 8.00 pm with lots of special guests. Bishop Harold and Liz Miller will be present alongside other local clergy and Church leaders; representatives from local community groups and associations; as well as Councillors, MLAs and the local MP. The Trees will be on view until 10.00 pm and again on Saturday from 10.00 am–10.00 pm.
From 10.00 am – 4.00 pm on Saturday there’ll be an Outdoor Christmas Market in the school playgrounds with a variety of stalls housed in a large marquee and individual gazebos. Santa will be present in his very own Grotto sited at the top of the school orchard which will be lit up to help follow the path to find the man himself!
The church’s worship schedule won’t be affected by the Christmas Trees and at 11.00 am on Sunday morning Tim Burns will be the speaker at the Christmas Worship for All Service.
The Christmas Tree Festival will be open again from 2.00 pm–5.00 pm, and at 7.00 pm the celebrations will finish with a Community Carol Service with some of the members of the New Irish Brass ensemble leading the praise.
Come along and support
Stephen says: “Supporting this event will mean that our much–appreciated engagement with the local community will continue for some time.
“Currently our church family serves somewhere in the region of 70 children and young people weekly through the provision of a safe spaces. We’re catering for 4 year olds, right up to 17 year olds.
“Beyond this, we organise a weekly Community Café to which the whole community is invited and where folk can enjoy lunch together and have the opportunity to seek support and advice on parenting, debt, social issues, and so on.
“Our weekly Bible study continues; Alpha features on our discipleship programme; and we are striving towards engaging better with local men.
“So how about making a visit to our festival a part of a Christmas Day out to Newtownards?”
Contact details
If you’re bringing a group, the church would love to be able to host you in the best way possible which can include a catered tea or lunch. For bookings, please contact Gemma on 07512 828 498.
If you are interested in organising a stall for the Outdoor Christmas Market, please call Lisa on 07539 357 364. And for more information on the event, or Glen Community Church Church Plant please get in touch with Stephen on 07933 236 544.
The Christmas Tree Festival hosted by Glen Community Church is part of St Marks, Newtownards Bicentenary Celebrations in 2017.
Venue:
Londonderry Primary School
Glenbrook Road
Newtownards
Co Down
BT23 4EY