The Advent and Christmas #GodWithUs campaign from the Church of England has launched with the first of three new videos.
The first video focuses on the Nine Lessons and Carols and is part of a campaign to encourage people across the country to experience the love of God at this special moment in the Christian year.
In addition, there are resources and messages in print and on social media.
You can sign up to ‘Your Christmas Journey’, a series of reflections
by texting GodWithUs to 88802
or filling in short form here
via email following the Church on social media;
or buying a copy from Church House Publishing.
The relaunched A Church Near You will point tens of thousands to services across the country by simply typing in the local postcode. This site receives more than 13 million page views throughout the year, with a spike in traffic in December. All parish incumbents now have access to the church’s page to update the information with details of Christmas services, and they can allow up to five more people to edit the pages. A Church Near You website. More information for editors.
Archbishop Justin Welby writes:
“#GodWithUs: Your Christmas Journey seeks to help you explore what the Christmas story might mean in your life. The constant refrain of Christmas, in carols and readings, is that God is with us. In whatever situations you find yourself this Christmas, God is with you – you need only turn to him and ask to know his presence.”
The second video shares the joy of children enjoying a Christingle service:
and the final one a Christmas service: The videos will reach millions through social media advertising throughout December. They were all filmed at All Saints Church in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire.
Steven Croft, Bishop of Oxford, said:
“December is a very hectic month for many, but we know that millions of people across the country go to their local church for an Advent or Christmas service.
"This year’s #GodWithUs campaign seeks to share a Christian message from the national Church through three videos and a series of short, open and accessible reflections. We’ve been really encouraged with the response to the printed booklet and the digital resources will help us reach even more people.”