Parish Pump - Guy Fleming's Church News and Susanne Gauntlett's Goring news

Fr Gary Ingram feels that this is marked by "excessive eating and drinking, present-buying for people who already have everything; rushing to get everything done." However, he suggests that "rather than just rolling our eyes in horror, perhaps we can gently mould the madness to reflect a little more accurately what God was rather hoping for." And he puts forward a set of remedies for the rampant consumerism.

Instead of the usual dishing-out of expensive presents to all and sundry, he suggests sending gifts to someone in need living in a deprived community, seeking out cards that reflect the true meaning of the season, and "be ready to do random acts of kindness."

Fr Ingram, priest-in-charge at St Andrew's Church, suggests offering lifts and baby-sitting for a neighbour as possibilities, or "take a little something to a lonely soul. And smile more." Bracing him against predictable criticism of being a killjoy, he concluded in his current parish magazine, "Don't be afraid to enjoy yourself. I am certain God wants us to have a good time and celebrate the season".

A Christmas Nativity will be enacted around the town hall's seasonal tree on Tuesday. There will be an authentic Nativity stable to include a pen of sheep/pygmy goats and "Mary" arriving at the scene on a donkey.

Children will be enacting and narrating the Christmas story. Worthing's mayor, Noel Atkins, and other councillors will attend the event, which is presented by members of Worthing Tabernacle. Its pastor, Mark Weeden, will bring a short message to conclude proceedings, which start at 10.30am.

Events in the life of Mary, the mother of Jesus, as depicted by art through the ages are being shown at Maybridge Community Church tomorrow (Friday), from 6.30pm to 9pm. Tickets are 3. Phone 01903 600541 for more details.

The church has disbursed more than 12,000 to eight mission agencies in the last nine months or so. They include Worthing-based Arab World Ministries and the Feba organisation.

The busy local Salvation Army band will perform a carol concert at St Botolph's Church, Heene Road, on Saturday at 7.30pm. On Monday, they are doing likewise at Lancing College, also at 7.30pm.

Why does suffering exist? That's a frequently asked question which Tim Ross will try to deal with in the last of his weekly Advent lectures, with the theme of Christianity in a cynical age. Want to know how to bring about a perfect world? Tim will tackle that one, too. The retired Methodist minister is a skilled communicator. And he doesn't do all the talking, relying also on film clips and DVDs as well as robust talk-back from his audiences. The venue is Offington Park Methodist Church on Monday at 7.30pm.

GORING

Father Christmas will visit the miniature steam railway at Field Place, The Boulevard, on Sunday. Rides will be available from 10am until 2.30pm, weather permitting, and the event is organised by the Worthing and District Society of Model engineers. All welcome.

Anyone who appreciates Christmas lights displays should visit 3 Melbourne Way, where the lights have now been switched on. All donations go to St Barnabas House hospice.

Goring United Reformed Church held its first "Messy Church" last week, which was a great success. Around 50 adults and children from local families took part in a variety of Christmas-themed activities, followed by a short church service and a hot meal together.

Christians Together in Goring will perform carol singing outside the Mulberry shops, opposite the library, from 11am until noon on Saturday. All welcome to join them and enjoy hot mince pies.

A festival of lessons and carols by candlelight will be held at St Mary's Church, Ilex Way, on Sunday at 6pm, followed by festive refreshments in the church hall. On Christmas Eve, at 3pm and 5pm, there is the blessing of the crib and children's Nativity. Midnight Mass will start at 11.30pm.

St Laurence's Church, Sea Place, will hold carols by candlelight at 7pm on Christmas Eve.

On Sunday, Goring Methodist Church, Bury Drive, will hold a Nativity service at 10am and a carol service at 6pm. On Wednesday, December 23, there will be a festival of light between 10am and noon, where people can light a candle for a loved one, and a Christingle service at 4pm.

Goring United Reformed Church, Shaftesbury Avenue, will hold a carols by candlelight service on Sunday at 6pm and, on December 24, it will hold a carol and Nativity story evening at 5.30pm. Adults and children very welcome. There will be mince pies and refreshments afterwards and midnight holy communion at 11.30pm.