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This is a text-only version of an article first published on Tuesday, 11 April 2017. Information shown on this page may no longer be current.
Fr Dag is visiting the parish of St Paul, Wokingham during October and November, as part of his sabbatical, and the service celebrating St Lucy will be part of a cultural exchange between his Swedish traditions and those of the parish.
;Sankta Lucia is a Swedish national festival - a Christian feast day normally celebrated on 13 December commemorating St Lucy, a Third Century martyr who, according to legend, brought food and aid to Christians hiding in the catacombs, wearing a candle-lit wreath on her head to light her way and leave her hands free to carry as much food as possible.
Today, the food is represented by a special baked bun, Lussekatt (St. Lucy Bun), made with saffron, and gingerbread. Like our own seasonal delicacies, Lussekatt is often in use as early as November, and is a very popular Christmas tradition. There will be an opportunity to make gingerbread from 4. 45pm in the Parish Rooms and volunteers, who have been busy learning to make this Swedish delicacy, will be bring their own home-made Lussekatt to be served with lemonade and Swedish refreshments after the service, which starts at 6.15pm.
Fr Dag serves the city-and-cathedral parish of Vaxjo city as a komminster in a team, working mostly with adult education and development, with respect both to growth in faith and opening up the faith for newcomers. He finds using meditative services, pilgrimages, retreats and dialogue groups very helpful.
The Diocese of Vaxjo is linked with the Diocese of Oxford. To find out more about what else is happening at St Paul's, go to spauls.org.uk or call the Parish Office on 0118 979 2122.