December 2005
Services
Thursday 1st
December
10.00am Holy Communion
Sunday 4th December
Advent
2
9.45am Holy Communion
3pm Evensong
Thursday 8th
December
10.00am Holy Communion
Sunday 11th December
Advent
3
9.45am Holy Communion with Baptisms
3.30pm Christingle Service
Thursday 15th
December
10.00am Holy Communion
Sunday 18th December
Advent
4
9.45am Holy Communion with Sunday School Nativity
11.30am Carols at Newhey Manor
6.30pm Service of Nine Carols and Lessons
Tuesday 20th
December
2pm St Thomas C of E School
Christmas Service in Church
Thursday 22nd December
10.00am Holy Communion
Saturday 24th December
Christmas
Eve
11.30pm Holy Communion
Sunday 25th December
Christmas
Day
9.45am Holy Communion
Thursday 29th
December 10.00am
Holy Communion
Sunday 1st January
2nd Sunday of
Christmas 9.45am Holy
Communion
Readings
December 4th 2nd Sunday of
Advent
Isaiah
40.1-11
Mark 1.1-8
December 11th 3rd Sunday of
Advent
Isaiah 61:1-4,
8-11
John 1:6-8,19-28
December 18th 4th Sunday of
Advent
2 Samuel
7:1-11,16
Luke 1:26-38
December 25th Christmas
Day
Isaiah
9:2-7
Luke 2:1-14
January 1st
2nd Sunday of Christmas Isaiah
61:10-62:3
Luke 15-21
Dear friends,
Christmas – the risk of giving..
Offering a gift to someone is a dangerous thing to do
We spend a lot of time and money on Christmas gifts. We
choose and wrap them carefully to give away to others – family and friends.
Much of the joy of Christmas is about surprises, the unexpected nature of a gift
when it comes.
Presents are hidden away in the days before Christmas and
then mysteriously appear on Christmas Day! We hope that our family and friends
will like them – but what if someone doesn’t like their present? Do we take
that risk?
We hope that they will be really pleased, that they will say,
‘It’s what I’ve always wanted, thank you!’. We hope that they will look
after their gift, that they will use it, love it, and think of us whenever they
see it. We hope that they will use it, not break it or lose it.
Offering a
gift to someone is a dangerous thing to do.
That is the risk taken by God in creation and in the gift of
the Christ-child.
To create the world was a supreme act of trust and giving on
the part of God. To entrust creation to human beings is also a demonstration of
loving enough to take that risk.
The Christ-child shows us not a God whose concern is to remain aloof and
untouched, but one whose love leads to the giving of his very self for the sake
of the world and the people he created. Not God the ‘superman’ but God in
the small, God in the ordinary, God in the vulnerable.
God gives his Son, Jesus to us at Christmas. A surprising,
unexpected gift – who would have thought that the Messiah would be so small,
not to mention helpless, a tiny baby…..
how will we receive this gift?
how will we use this gift?
And will we remember that Jesus
isn’t just for Christmas?
As a church our greatest
collective act of monetary giving this Christmas will be to the Children’s
Society through the Christingle collecting candles, and the Christingle Service
itself.
You can be absolutely certain that
the children they support will appreciate your gift.
Have a happy and blessed Christmastide,
Graham
Sunday School Nativity Play
This is to be held during the morning Communion Service on Sunday 18th December and is something not to be missed!
In past years we have heard how Christmas is celebrated in various countries around the world and seen the Nativity story brought into modern day.
This year?
Well, under the direction of Debbie Ellidge and all the Sunday School teachers, the cast of thousands have been busily practising the play on Sunday mornings for quite a number of weeks. I have tried bribery but so far all my spies have managed to find out is that the play centres around a door and lots of live sound effects ...... very interesting!
There you have it - no scoop this year...... despite all my best efforts there is nothing more I can tell you so you will just have to come along early to ensure that you get a good seat in church on the 18th and see for yourself!!!
Village Fair
The Village Christmas Fair was held on Saturday 26th November.
This year there was a good variety of stalls selling home made produce, flowers, table decorations, crafts and books. In the children’s room we had face painting, games and a busy hot dog stall organised by the Brigade.
All the stalls did a roaring trade and the queue of children wanting to visit Father Christmas in his grotto at one time stretched right outside the room!
The bottle stall and the Guides & Brownies stall soon sold out and, thanks to all those who kindly donated prizes, the Grand Raffle was quite sucessful.
There is one unclaimed prize - yellow 229 - please contact Sandra Fell if you have that ticket.
Thanks go to all who helped out and to those who attended.
Christingle Service
Our Christingle Service in aid of the Children’s Society is to be held on Sunday 11th December at 3.30pm.
This popular Service uses the Christingle to convey the message of Christmas and the money from collecting candles goes to further the work of the Society.
Volunteers are requested to come along in the morning on Saturday 10th to make up the
Christingles.
The Church Lads and Girls Brigades
Jeannette Baker has recently had to advise the Parochial Church Council that in the New Year she may have to once again suspend the Church Lads and Girls Brigades due to a lack of leaders.
This is really sad news as presently there is no shortage of children wishing to be in the organisations but, for the Brigade to be allowed to operate, there has to be a certain number of leaders in proportion to the children attending.
It would be a great loss to the village if the Brigade, which has helped and been enjoyed by all the children who have passed through its ranks over a great many years, has to be disbanded.
If you feel that you might be able to volunteer to give a little of your time on Friday evenings to ensure that the Brigade keeps running then, as soon as possible, please have a word with either Graham or Jeanette Baker.
Vandalism
Our church building and graveyard like a number of other parts of the village is currently suffering from an increase in mindless vandalism. If you see or know who might be carrying out these acts, please report them to the police.
Real Christmas
Our church is once again taking part in the regions ‘Real Christmas’ campaign. You may remember that in past years campaigns you were asked to invite a friend or neighbour to come along to our Carol Service and to ‘Sing Your Heart out for the Lad’.
This year there is to be a special Real Christmas Carol Service which is being broadcast on BBC GMR commencing at 6pm on the 18th December. We have decided that, for those who arrive early, we will linkup to this Service until the start of our own Carol Service which will commence at 6.30pm...................
Service of Nine Lessons and Carols
This will be held at 6.30pm on the 18th when we will come together to hear the Christmas story as told in the nine lessons and to sing some popular Carols. Please invite all your friends to come along with you to this Service.
New Year's Eve Party and Dance
All those who attended last year’s party will agree that we had a great night! We have recently been asked to organise another one this year and tickets have just gone on sale. These are priced at just £5 for adults and £2.50 for accompanied children.
The party is to be held in the school and the entertainment is planned to be music, dancing, maybe a game or two of bingo, other party games - in fact something for everyone!
On this occasion, those attending are asked to bring their own supper and also they can bring along their own drinks.
If you are going to attend can you please ensure that you obtain a ticket from Jennifer Barker so that we know how many are actually attending to enable us to make all the necessary arrangements.
We look forward to yet another successful evening.
Parish Prayers
Mary treasured all these things and pondered them in her heart.
Luke 2:19
Lord Jesus, child of Mary, born into a human family,
be present in the homes of our village,
bless all children and family life as they
make preparations for Christmas.
We pray for parents, give them gladness of heart to make Christmas time special to their children. Help them to fill young hearts with joy, thanksgiving and
wonderment and to give their children the security and love that they need.
As carols are sung, unfold the true spiritual meaning of Christmas to grow within young persons alongside all the secular excitements of Christmas.
Put into all our hearts the joy of sharing and of making others happy, and fill us with a new and deeper sense of what the Christmas message is about.
That we may understand more about your great love for us and reflect that love by showing love, care and understanding to others in the service of you.
Parish Concerns
* The celebrations in our own homes and amongst our family,
* Our special church services and worship this Christmas,
* Our neighbours and those near to us, and our loved ones who are away from us,
Wider Concerns
* For those involved in caring for children at Christmas time,
* For disadvantaged, neglected and unloved children,
* For young lives overshadowed - the homeless, orphans, handicapped,
those suffering cruelty and violence.
Our Priest in Charge, Graham
June and Ted, the Churchwardens,
the members of the Parochial Church Council
and everyone here at St Thomas’, Newhey
wish all our on-line readers a
Happy Christmas
and every good wish for the New Year
© St Thomas' Church, Newhey 2005
