• 09 December 2017

Don’t miss the Glen Christmas Tree Festival this weekend!

Don’t miss the Glen Community Church Christmas Tree Festival in Londonderry Primary School, Glenbrook Road, Newtownards.

The magnificent collection of trees went on display on Friday evening and on Saturday 9 December, from 10.00 am–4.00 pm, there will be an outdoor Christmas Market, where many crafters and sellers will gather to bring a unique blend of seasonal gifts.

The team at GCC will also be serving hot food and refreshments throughout the weekend. 

Pictured above with Glen Church Leader, Stephen Doherty, Emma Hunter, Community Development Officer for Ards and North Down Borough Council, was one of the first through the doors on Friday. She said: “This is a fabulous event. I think it’s one of a kind. I go to all the community festivals at Christmas time and there’s been some fabulous ones, but nothing has come close to this so far.”

Trees
Trees
Bishop Harold congratulated the team, not only for the beautiful display but for involving so many in the community. “My prayer, he said, “is that there’ll be people who come in to see these trees who will want to be part of this community of Glen Community Church.”

The festival has as its theme, The Word moved into the neighbourhood*, and the neighbourhood has certainly been central to the whole event.

Stephen said: “This is the result of weeks and months of incredibly hard work and really the whole community coming together – businesses, community groups, our own church family, the school – everybody pulling together to make this possible. I’m very impressed with them and I’m very impressed with the display they’ve put on.”

Sunday worship and carols

The church meets in the primary school for worship but the trees won’t stop that happening. 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.

Looking at tree
Looking at tree
Support

The Christmas Tree Festival is part of the bi–centenary celebrations of St Mark’s, Newtownards, the Glen’s ‘sending’ church.

This event will support the sustainability of St Mark’s church family in the Glen, as well as being a blessing to the school community. Please do come along if you can.

See a photo gallery here.