5pm Sunday 14th December at Brooking Church, Dartington – Join us for silence, traditional hymns and inspirational, inter-spiritual words for Advent and this winter season. All welcome. This Sunday also marks the beginning of the festival of Hanukkah. So in solidarity with our Jewish members and friends in these difficult times, we will be lighting the first candle of our wild Hanukkiah.

In Christian tradition, Advent is a sacred time of preparation as we approach the coming of the light of Christ at Christmas. It resonates with other winter festivals that embrace the restful potential of darker, longer nights and celebrate the return of the sun and lengthening days from the Winter Solstice. Traditionally Advent was a time for deepening spiritual practices such as fasting and it mirrored the Lent fast leading up to Easter. In this spirit Wild Monastery is reclaiming Advent as a quiet season of reflection and hope. As such we will not be celebrating Christmas or singing carols until Christmas Eve onwards. So we invite you to join us for a time of peaceful silence and beautiful Advent music by candlelight.

Jan, Liz and Sam have crafted an early evening gathering (5-6.30pm) as the final retreat in our second Sunday series, weaving together short periods of silence and thoughtful reflections, with beautiful, old, Advent hymns, which we can all sing together or simply enjoy listening to. Brooking Church is very lovely by candlelight and yet also largely unheated, so please come very warmly dressed! There will be hot, spicy local apple juice afterwards for those who would like to linger… and a campfire to gather around in the churchyard (weather permitting).

Brooking Church is on the Number 80 bus route, with a request stop ‘Tigley Cross’ at the end of church drive. There is free car parking in front of the church for drivers. Please note, this is a rural church and there is very little artificial light (great for bats & star gazing!) So please bring a torch… and a hot water bottle and a blanket!