A festive call out for trees!

ALTHOUGH most of us have just celebrated harvests safely brought home and the children are excitedly awaiting Halloween activities, in one corner of Tyrone, they have jumped a season and Christmas plans are well ahead!

This November, Holy Trinity Church, Lislimnaghan, Omagh, are planning the Christian story-based Christmas tree event, and they are asking for the support of businesses and community organisations to help realise this project.

Their aim is to use The Light Still Shines Christmas Tree Festival as a time of giving and support, for four very worthy community charities in the process, three local and one overseas aid.

Indeed, at morning harvest service, the guest speaker, Hilary McClay, Education Officer from Church of Ireland’s Bishops Appeal, one of the charities we aim to support, spoke on the ongoing overseas activities they support. This charity, working in conjunction with the likes of Christian Aid and Tear Fund, offers relief to the families in third world countries suffering drought conditions, the effects of climate change. Supporting the development programmes for drought resistance crop systems to increase food production while educating their young people.

"The Christmas tree Festival The Light still Shines opens Thursday, November 27, to Sunday, November 30, which is just six weeks' time. We will see Lislimnaghan Church premises transformed into a spectacular forest of dazzling, decorated Christmas trees, open to everyone to visit and enjoy," said a spokesperson.

"Our appeal at this time is to ask retailers/business people to use this opportunity to promote their work by providing a ‘tree’ that displays their business. We are accepting Christmas Tree proposals up to Friday, October 24, to allow us time to formalise the programme. Visitors to the festival have the opportunity to see their products / creative designs on display over the four days of the festival.

"Anyone seeking more information or who would like to participate is asked to contact Sharon McFarland by email at sha.ron41@hotmail.co.uk."