Winter Spiral - Advent Festival

Acorns invites all Parent and Child groups, Drop off Playgroup families and
Kindergarten children to the

ADVENT FESTIVAL
on FRIDAY 4th DECEMBER at 13.30-15.00

at Church of Ascension,
Dartmouth Row SE10 8AW

Please arrive from 13.30, for a prompt start at 14.00


Advent Story - Puppet play

Music and Songs - Carols by Candlelight

Chai tea and biscuits


A very special Festival celebrated in a simplified way for our little Acorns children


It is through the darkness of the Earth we await the birth of a new inner light to warm our hearts and strengthen our thoughts and deeds. This is manifested in the Christ Child of light born on the night of Christmas. All the kingdoms of nature – Mineral, Plant, Animal and Human – from beneath to above – await the coming birth.
Advent is a journey inward to the soul, where we become aware of the eternal light that lightens our way.It is also so beautifully entwined in the northern hemisphere with Winter Solstice and the return of the Sun, and in the southern hemisphere with Summer– celebrating the Sun.
Advent is a fun, joyous time for children especially.
A time that will forever be etched in their memories.
 
For those celebrating the Advent festival, and to all spiritual beliefs and traditions, this time of year has something special for everyone – the Season of Light on so many levels.
 
It is a time of seeking and keeping that light aglow and sharing the light.

This Festival is an opportunity to give our children – and ourselves – the rare chance to experience peace and stillness in our modern world of noise and chaos, enabling us to experience an inner mood of awe and reverence.


Winter festivals of light are common around the world. As the days get shorter we move through a time of darkness towards the longest night at the winter solstice, and when Christmas arrives, a turning point is reached, the light increases, days grow longer and nature reawakens. The advent spiral reflects winter's dark growing to a close and the renewed promise that spring light and life will begin again.




​Deep Mid-Winter drawing near,
Darkness in our Garden here – –
One small flame yet bravely burns
To show a path which ever turns.
Earth, please bear us as we go,
Seeking Light to send a-glow:
Branches green and moss and fern,
Mark our path to trace each turn.
Brother animals, teach us too
To serve with patience as you do.
We walk with candle toward the Light
While Earth awaits with hope so bright:
In the Light which finds new birth
Love may spread o’er all the Earth.
Deep Mid-Winter drawing near – –
May Light arise in our Garden here.


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When Mary goes walking
The autumn winds blow
The poplars they curtsy
The larches bend low­--
The oaks and the beeches
Their gold they fling down
To make her a carpet
To make her a crown.


When Mary goes wand’ring
The sun shines like gold
The wheat and the barley
Their goodness unfold--
The larks in the meadow
Praise her from the sky
And sing her a glad song
Till evening is nigh.


When Mary is sleeping
The autumn stars shine
They twinkle and shimmer
In darkest night time--
The moon with its waxing
And waning on high
Whispers its secrets
For Mary’s delight.


For Mary is golden,
For Mary is true,
For she bears the Christ Child
For me and for you.