Amid the annual whirlwind of shopping lists and festive stress, it's easy to feel like the true meaning of Christmas has been lost to commercialism.
In the Diocese of Leicester, a different story is unfolding, where community, creativity, and connection are taking centre stage in the most heart warming ways.
A wonderful initiative called WasteNotR, a group with over 18,000 members dedicated to environmental care, hosted a unique "Secret Santa" at the Syston St Peter and St Paul's Church Christmas Tree Festival. The concept was beautifully simple: a stall where anyone could choose a pre-loved item to take home for free. The group is known for exchanging everything from toy cars to a real car, and this spirit of generosity was on full display. Connection over consumption is encouraged with recipients selecting one item, sharing about it in the group, then promoting the initiative onto a friend. This powerful idea brings home Jesus's message of generosity. The project is an act of care for our global community who are adversly affected by climate change, while building genuine local community bonds through simple acts of sharing. You may request to join the group by following this link.
Everywhere you look, the language of music is bringing diverse groups of people together in celebration. In one beautiful collaboration, worshippers from The Martyrs Church, Leicester joined students from De-Montfort University and the University of Leicester for a delightful session of carol singing on Bede Park. See drone footage of them on facebook here.
Beyond rethinking gift-giving, our diocesan community is also transforming how they celebrate together, turning traditional events into interactive experiences to create lasting, joyful memories. At Sheepy Church, a nativity photo booth, complete with outfits and props was set up for families to dress up and capture candid moments of fun. The booth is open daily, between 9am-4pm. Photos can be uploaded to the facebook page @The Benefice of Sheepy
Over at Hallaton church, preparations for the "Notes of Joy" concert was an event in itself. If you heard mysterious thuds, bursts of laughter, or the faint sound of someone saying ‘Pass me the glue gun - carefully!’, you were listening to volunteers joyfully transforming the space.
At the parish centre of All Saints, Blaby, families gathered for crafting and learning about Advent, using resources called “Advent in a bag”, made freely available by St Clare’s at the Cathedral, Coventry. Time was spent discussing what is being awaited at Christmas. Four different crafts were enjoyed with assistance from some great helpers. Midway through the session, refreshments were served by the wonderful hospitality team.
Each youngster took away a leaflet as a memento of their experience, including a puzzle booklet or storybook about Christmas and their crafts.These shared moments can empower and move us all towards contributing to festive atmosphere.
At Emmanuel Loughborough, carols on the green convinced nearly 180 people to sing along with the Loughborough Singers and the Kids Choir, reminding us that a shared song can create community.
While joy and celebration are abundant, our communities are also making space for quiet reflection. At St James the Greater Church, post-16 students performed at the The Mead Educational Trust Christmas Concert, filling the beautiful venue with their voices. A "longing for peace" was also centered during the service, with a moment of contemplation during a reading of the poem “Peace on Earth” by Patricia Souder.
Two thousand years ago
Angels sang Messiah’s birth
And with it, peace on earth.
Yet young and old of every race
In every place
Still shout and cry,
Still bleed and die,
Held hostage by hostility.
Two thousand years?
Were angels wrong to sing that song
Since evil thrives and hate’s still strong?
Young and old of every race
In every place
Take heart! Arise!
Emmanuel’s cries
Shout peace for all eternity.
These events are more than just items on the Christmas calendar; they allow space for us to be more present and lead us to create more of a meaningful season. From gifting a former stranger, now neighbour, a car instead of a shop-bought gift, to finding a message of ultimate hope in a poem about peace, this community shows how focusing on connection and conscious action can transform Christmas. In the Diocese of Leicester, the most memorable gifts are not things we buy, but the moments we create together while remembering the birth of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.