Advent & Decememe; Shopping.

[curiouswombat]

Today, after work, I did go shopping at M&S - mostly for yoghurt and fruit juice. But it was mainly to fill in time before going to The Catholic Women's League Advent Service. Yes, I know, I am a traditional protestant. But about 10 years ago the CWL decided to have an advent service for women - and invited the women from other churches. We are big on joining with other Christians and so a small group of women from my church went along. And we have continued to go every year.

Nowadays there are a few men there, too - but the service is almost all led by women; a big thing in a Catholic Church, too.

D-d always comes with me when able - and was really happy to come this year. The weather was atrocious; cold, wet and windy, but there were still maybe 50 people there - and after the service we get a cup of tea and a mincepie. It is another marker on the countdown to Christmas for us.

But, at lunchtime, I briefly called in at the garden centre - and did a tiny bit of shopping there - and our garden centre at Christmas is much more photogenic than M&S....

So - shopping!

Comments

[clodia-metelli.livejournal.com]

Ooooh, SPARKLE. I know it's traditional to complain about Christmas getting earlier and earlier each year, but this year I decided I didn't care at all and am glad to have a whole month's worth of it. All the shiny sparkleness brightens up these dark, unending nights, I think. Give me more tinsel, say I! MORE!

... *cough* I mean, thank you for sharing the sparkle!

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

I'm with you on this - let's have lots of lights, and shiny stuff, to drive the cold winter away... and our garden centre do it very, very, well!

[lindahoyland.livejournal.com]

Your garden centre looks as pretty as ours.

The Advent service sounded nice.

[pondhopper.livejournal.com]

I think echumenical church events can be lovely. There is a movement by Catholic nuns towards having women being counted on for more important issues in the church than what the Male Hierarchy mandates. I hope that more and more women will stand up for themselves in the Catholic Church. They cannot keep suppressing them much longer.

Beautifully festive garden centre!
:)

[shirebound]

What a beautiful place to browse.

[kortirion.livejournal.com]

I am such a sucker for Christmas decorations, I buy more every year, and now we have to label the boxes 'pink', 'purple', 'gold' etc.... But it is nice to contemplate 'now what combination shall we have this year...?' *g*

[kazzy-cee.livejournal.com]

So like my local garden centre!

[spikereader.livejournal.com]

I was in a garden centre which looked very much like that yesterday (though I think yours has a bit more tinsel going on). Got distracted by the Yankee Candles, but managed to resist the temptation to buy.

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

Garden centres seem to be THE place for decorations!

The Advent service is a lovely little oasis of peace - it is in town, on a late shopping night.

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

I absolutely think the nuns are correct. To refuse to allow the women to minister shows a lack of faith; the call goes out to the congregations to pray that people are called to the priesthood, they pray, someone comes forward and says they feel called to the priesthood - and they are told they are wrong, that God can't possibly have called them because they are female...

The Advent service is rather nice though - the priest welcomes everyone and then thanks everyone for coming at the end, and all the readings and prayers are led by women from not only the CWL but also the Townswomen's Guild (non-religious), and the Mothers' Union (Anglican).

Garden Centres seem to be THE place for Christmas decorations - I guess because winter would see them rather empty otherwise!

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

It is - that is just a tiny corner of it.

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

I'm a sucker for them too - with a daughter who, at 24, still doesn't like the idea of any of them being left in the box for a year or two!!

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

They really are THE places for Christmas decorations - I guess because otherwise at this time of year they would be very quiet.

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

There was just tinsel and glitter in every direction - well, apart from the Candle area... all garden centres are very much alike!

[debris4spike]

That is lovely - gets you in a Christmas mood

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

Garden Centres really do do festive in a big way!

[chaotic-binky.livejournal.com]

I like the garden centres at Christmas time - they seem overdone but at least they look Christmassy. Our city centre is looking very restrained this year - everywhere, apart from Fenwick's window, is in full austerity mode.

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

Oh dear - but as long as there is Fenwick's there will be Christmas...

I remember being disappointed the first time I saw Harrod's windows at Christmas as they weren't as good as Fenwick's!

[cairistiona7.livejournal.com]

I want to shop there!

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

Thank you! The garden centre really does shine at Christmas.

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

That is just a tiny corner - the whole place shines and glistens for Christmas.