What a joy it was to celebrate the First Sunday of Advent with you all today!

The season began beautifully at Mass, with one of our own altar servers stepping forward to light the first candle on the Advent wreath - a symbol of hope that set the tone for the morning. It was truly impressive to see the vast majority of our serving team present on the sanctuary, standing together in prayer and duty.

But what happened after Mass was just as inspiring.

Once the final hymn was sung, the team didn't just head home. Instead, they headed straight for the Medway to continue serving our community at the coffee morning. It was a seamless transition from serving at the Altar to serving the people.

The teamwork was brilliant to watch:

• The Senior Servers took charge of the hot drinks, staffing the tea and coffee station like pros.

• The Younger Servers did an amazing job offering a delicious assortment of homemade food to everyone who came in.

As the morning went on, they didn't stop. They were constantly moving through the Medway - checking on parishioners, offering support, tidying away empty cups, and replenishing the food. There was a real, tangible sense of service in the room.

It is so wonderful - and frankly, quite moving - to see such young people truly understanding what it means to serve their community. They offered their time and their smiles with such generosity.

A huge thank you to our Altar Servers for making the start of Advent so warm and welcoming. We are incredibly proud of you!