Advent and Christmas at St Michael & All Angels
Christmas comes early at St Michael's, with the opening of the Cards for Good Causes shop in the church in the first week of November. Cards and Advent Calendars are sold on behalf of more than 35 charities, with at least 79 per cent of the proceeds going to the charities themselves.
Then, on Advent Sunday, November 30th, we see the opening of the first door of St Michael's Advent Calendar, which acts as the focus for our Christmas Charity Appeal, in aid of charities with local links. Last year, the pictures were created by local artists and sold by silent auction: a third of the price went to the Appeal. This year they have been created by children from St Michael's. You can see the Advent Calendar in the Church, or here online.
The children will also be performing at St Michael's Junior Choir Christmas Concert, at 7pm on Tuesday December 9th. All are welcome.
Later,
St Michael’s Christmas Crib (right) will be displayed in the High Altar until the Three Kings arrive on Epiphany Sunday (January 4th). Everyone is welcome to visit it before and after services. Children, in particular, love the large beautifully carved wooden figures and the excitement of “following the stars” through the church to find where the baby Jesus was born.
Christmas is a very special time at St Michael’s writes Cathie James: The rich greens and reds of its interior and its atmospheric lights, reflected against gleaming brass and darkened windows echo the traditional seasonal images.
The bustle of Christmas preparation is there, as everywhere - and the church is packed out for its services on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, particularly the Children's Crib Service (below).
But there are also quiet places where it’s possible to take time out from self-focused pursuits to reflect on the true message of Christmas; to remember those who need our 
help and support and those for whom Christmas can be a sad or lonely time, particularly in these difficult economic circumstances.
Our Christmas season begins on Sunday December 21st with the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols — this candlelit service in traditional format mixes the much loved readings that tell the Christmas story with favourite carols and some fine music from the St Michael’s choir. All this is then rounded off by mince pies and mulled wine.
As Christmas approaches our first visitors come to the St Michael’s Crib, which is displayed in front of the High Altar until the Three Kings arrive on Epiphany Sunday (January 4th).
Christ’s Crib is also the central focus of the Children’s Service that is held at 4pm on Christmas Eve. For many people in Chiswick, this is the real start of Christmas! We have a congregation of more than 700 - including youngsters (many dressed magnificently as angels, shepherds or kings), parents, visitors and friends - as we tell the Nativity story.
For the “grown ups” Christmas Eve continues with Midnight Mass, richly celebrated with words, music and ”bells and smells” in the full Anglo Catholic tradition. This is preceded by Carol singing in the church porch from 11 p.m. at which all are welcome.
Our Christmas services conclude on Christmas Day with a Family Service — a chance to sing out again all those familiar tunes that are so much an essential part of the festivities—and with fun and games instead of a sermon!
Christmas is a time when we look forward to welcoming many new faces to St Michael’s. We warmly invite you to join our celebrations and know you’ll find at St Michael’s something special to enrich your Christmas. And with your help and generosity we can also “make a real difference” to those on whose behalf we make our Christmas Appeal.