OUR bishop will share his Christmas sermon via Twitter for the first time as part of a national Church of England campaign.

Four-year-old Charlie Cater and his mum Susannah at Carols by Candlelight, in St Jude's Church, Southsea

Bishop Christopher is preaching in our cathedral at 11.15am on Christmas Day. He’ll ensure that extracts of his sermon are released at that time via @CofEPortsmouth.

It’s part of a joint project between the national Church and Twitter, which is already seeing hundreds of churches share the good news about Jesus via the hashtag #ChristmasStartsWithChrist. Christmas Day sermons by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams (@lambethpalace), the Archbishop of York (@johnsentamu) and the Archbishop Designate Justin Welby (@bishopofdurham) will also be tweeted for the first time this year.

Hundreds of clergy and worshippers from across the Church of England (@c_of_e) will also tweet before, during and after their carol services and Christmas activities. They’ve been encouraged to get out their smartphones and livetweet the joy and meaning of Christmas during services on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Photos of Christmas events and details of forthcoming services across south-east Hampshire and the Isle of Wight have already been shared by @CofEPortsmouth, using the hashtag #ChristmasStartsWithChrist.

"This is a brilliant opportunity for parishes to take the good news of the first Christmas out of churches and into people's lives and homes," said the Rev Arun Arora (@RevArun), director of communications at the Archbishops’ Council. "It is the first time that the joy and excitement of Christmas will have been broadcast widely on Twitter. There are large numbers of social media enthusiasts to be found in pews and pulpits across the country. This is an invitation for them to join together to celebrate the joy of the Christ child coming into the world, taking the real meaning of Christmas to a new digital audience. Churches from all denominations will be invited to broadcast their services via Twitter."

And a Twitter spokesperson said: "Twitter brings you closer to the things you are passionate about - and for millions of people across the globe that is faith. It is fantastic to see the Church of England embracing Twitter and using it to share their Christmas message with new audiences."

Meanwhile, churches across south-east Hampshire and the Isle of Wight are expecting thousands of extra worshippers to join them for carol services, crib services and Christmas services.

The congregation at St Francis Church, Riders Lane, Leigh Park, will welcome two live donkeys for a family service on Christmas Eve. Hundreds of visitors are expected to pack the church for the Crib Service at 5pm on Monday (Dec 24). Hayling Island donkeys Rusty and Ollie will make a reappearance after their star turn in last year’s crib service, and will be there from 4.30pm.

The service is a traditional re-telling of the Nativity story, with all the characters represented, and includes carols sung by candlelight to help worshippers remember the birth of Jesus. The church will be filled with gold and silver glittered stars, and the theme will be Jesus as God’s gift to us.

The vicar, the Rev Jonathan Jeffery, said: “It’s a hectic time of year for most people, but it’s really good to take some time out to think about what we receive from the Christmas story, to reflect on what the characters in the story give and to think about Jesus. After all, he’s God’s gift! We want to remind people that the greatest gift at Christmas is God’s son, born as a baby.”

Hundreds of worshippers are expected at Portsmouth Cathedral for two carol services starting at 6pm on Saturday (Dec 22) and 6pm on Sunday (Dec 23), and for two children’s crib services, at 3pm and 4.30pm on Christmas Eve. The cathedral runs two identical carol services and two identical crib services to fit in the number of worshippers who want to be there.

The dean of Portsmouth Cathedral, the Very Rev David Brindley, will be preaching at the 11.30pm Midnight Eucharist on Christmas Eve, and there are three Communion services on Christmas morning – at 8am, 9.30am and 11.15am. The 11.15am service will also feature Haydn’s Missa Sancti Nicolae with trumpets and drums, sung by Portsmouth Cathedral Choir and the Cantate youth choir.

The Churches Homeless Action carol service will happen at 12noon on Friday 21 December at St Mary’s Church, Fratton Road, Fratton. This is the annual opportunity for agencies who work with the homeless, asylum seekers and vulnerable families to be given thousands of pounds in gift vouchers, to share with their clients who would otherwise not receive any Christmas gifts. Generous worshippers from across south-east Hampshire and the Isle of Wight have been buying £5 gift vouchers from shops to be handed over at this service.

Click here to see a gallery of stunning photos showing Christmas events around our diocese.

Holy Trinity Church, West Street, Fareham, will hold the following services over Christmas:

• Festival of Readings and Carols at 6pm for 6.30pm on Friday 21 December;

• Crib service at 3pm on Christmas Eve;

• Carols by candlelight at 7pm on Christmas Eve;

• Midnight Eucharist at 11.30pm on Christmas Eve;

• Communion services at 8am and 9.30pm on Christmas Day.

St Edmund’s Church, Lychgate Green, Stubbington, will hold these services:

• Nine Lessons and Carols at 4pm on Sunday 23 December;

• Nativity services for children at 4pm and 6pm on Christmas Eve;

• Communion at 8am on Christmas Day.

St Peter’s Church, Petersfield, will host:

• Nine Lessons and Carols at 6pm on Sunday 23 December;

• Nativity services at 3pm and 4.30pm on Christmas Eve;

• Midnight Mass at 11.15pm on Christmas Eve;

• Communion at 8am and Family Communion at 9.30am on Christmas Day.

St Mary’s Church, Fratton, in Portsmouth, will hold;

• Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols at 6.30pm on Sunday 23 December;

• Nativity service at 5pm on Christmas Eve;

• Midnight mass at 11.30pm on Christmas Eve

• Communion services at 9am and 10am on Christmas Day.

All Saints Church, Godshill, on the Isle of Wight, will host:

• Advent carol service at 7pm on December 23;

• Midnight mass at 12midnight on Christmas Eve;

• Christmas Day Eucharist at 11am on Christmas Day.

St Columba Church, Fareham, will host:

• Crib service at 3pm on Christmas Eve;

• Carols by candlelight at 7pm on Christmas Eve;

• Midnight mass at 11.30pm on Christmas Eve;

• Family Communion at 9.30am on Christmas Day.

St Faith’s Church, Havant, will hold:

• Carols by candlelight at 4pm and 6pm on Christmas Eve;

• Midnight mass at 11.30pm on Christmas Eve.

• Family Communion at 9.30am on Christmas Day.

St Peter’s Church, Bishop’s Waltham, are to host:

• Crib service at 5pm on Christmas Eve;

• Midnight Communion at 11pm on Christmas Eve;

• Christmas Day service at 9.30am on Christmas Day.

Holy Rood Church, Stubbington, will hold:

• Midnight Communion at 11pm on Christmas Eve;

• Christmas celebration at 10am on Christmas Day.

and Newport Minster on the Isle of Wight, will have the following services:

• Family Communion at Nativity play at 11am on Sunday 23 December;

• Christmas carol service at 4pm on Sunday 23 December;

• Christingle service at 3pm on Christmas Eve;

• Midnight mass at 11.30p on Christmas Eve;

• Communion services at 8am and 11am on Christmas Day.

To find details of other carol services, using a postcode search to find your nearest Christmas events, see: www.achristmasnearyou.com