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Edinburgh Church's Christmas Tree Festival Opens on Friday

Tuesday December 4 2018

Over 40 Christmas trees will provide a haven of peace in Edinburgh City Centre for the next three weeks.

The ninth annual Christmas Tree Festival at St Andrew’s and St George’s West Church will be launched on Friday night, and open daily from then until Christmas Eve.

Trees have been sponsored and decorated by businesses, charities and groups from across the city, will provide a haven of peace. You can take part by adding a star to a tree for a baby born in 2018, children can make a decoration and hang it on the Children’s Tree, you can remember someone dear to you on the Tree of Remembrance, and there are interactive trees for Amnesty and for prayer. There will be live Christmas music at various times, and always a chance to sit and enjoy the peace.

The theme for this year’s festival is New Life!, a theme echoed in the sponsored charities: Birthlink provides support after adoption, Blood Bikes provide free courier service for blood products in the NHS and The Welcoming supports refugees in Edinburgh.

The Very Rev Dr John Chalmers, locum minister of the church, says: “You will remember that the Christmas story ends with Mary, Joseph and the new born baby fleeing for their lives. The place where God is with us is the place where God’s vulnerable people are given refuge and hope.

“That is why we are privileged to be able to open our church to everyone, and to do something, however small, towards helping children who have lost homes or family, babies and mothers who need health care, and people who need to find a new place to live.”

Also an annual part of the festival, the ‘Carols at Six’ service this year stars Andrea Baker, international mezzo, alongside the Church Choir and the Cantilena Orchestra.

The church is open from 10am-6pm from December 8 until Christmas Eve, with late opening on Thursdays. On Friday December 15 it will shut at 2pm to prepare for the carol service, which starts at 6pm.


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