Sunday 1st January
2nd Sunday of Christmas
9.45am Holy Communion

Thursday 5th January 10.00am Holy Communion

Sunday 8th January
Baptism of Christ/ 1st Sunday of Epiphany
9.45am Holy Communion
3pm Evensong

Sunday 15th January
2nd Sunday of Epiphany
9.45am Holy Communion with Baptism
3pm Holy Communion

Thursday 19th January 10.00am Holy Communion

Sunday 22nd January
3rd Sunday of Epiphany
9.45am Holy Communion
3pm Evensong

Sunday 29th January
4th Sunday of Epiphany
9.45am Holy Communion
3pm Evensong

Sunday 5th February
4th Sunday before Lent
9.45am Holy Communion
3pm Evensong

Dear friends,

For those of my generation, the concept of cut and paste revives memories of Blue Peter, and the efforts of various presenters to make all sorts of cards, calendars and toys using paper, cardboard, cotton wool, paint and glue etc

Whilst programmes of that ilk still exist – the popular understanding of cut and paste now lies elsewhere – viz in the wonderful world of computing. This IT tool is extremely useful and hence its popularity. The ability to copy chunks of text from one document and insert it into another saves lots of time and effort.

However if the text that you insert into your document is someone else’s creation, then you may be heading for trouble. Apart from the problems of plaguerism and copyright, the difficulty I refer to is that of the clash of writing styles.

The combination of two sources distorts the integrity of a document and the imported text can be seen for what it is – an attachment, rather than an integrated part.

For many people, the message of Christmas is a seasonal attachment. Like the imported text, the message can jar against our usual selves and priorities.

Unless the message is allowed to penetrate our hearts and souls, it remains for only a short time, and is eventually replaced as other attractions and seasons take its place.

We need to dwell on the Word, and allow it access to our real selves – to let it take root, to nourish it and respond to it.

We regularly chuckle at our young children as they take more interest in the wrapping paper than the Christmas present itself. Is this a habit they get from us!!!

Are we guilty of not unwrapping THE gift – the divine gift. Do we just play with the wrapping paper without allowing ourselves to experience the contents?

As we move into January, we will continue to celebrate Christmastide and Epiphany, kneeling in adoration at the wonderful gift of the God-child.

As Christians we pray that the Christmas message gets pasted in our hearts such that it isn’t a seasonal attachment, but rather a permanent reminder of God’s love.

With every good wish and blessing for 2006,

Graham

The School Concerts
On Monday the 12th December 2005 St Thomas’ C.E Primary School gave their first performance of their Annual Christmas Concerts.
To start off Classes 2&3 began the show with ‘THE SMALLEST ANGEL’. Following that the Reception class did ‘THE NATIVITY’. After that the ‘ELVES AND THE SHOEMAKER’ was performed by class 4. Then the last, but not least we watched ‘RUMPELSTILTSKIN’ performed by Class 5.
The performances were carried out over three days.
Everyone who took part in each play tried their very best and performed at an excellent standard and most of all everyone who acted and observed had a wonderful time!

Christingle Service
Our popular Christingle Service was held in church at 3.30pm on Sunday 12th December and as usual it was quite well attended.
Some parts of the Christingles were made up in peoples homes before they were brought to church and assembled by a small number of people on the Saturday morning - no mean feat when there were over 250 of them!
The Service followed the usual format with everyone forming a circle to sing ‘Away in a Manger’, their lighted candles being the only source of illumination.
Thanks go to all who took part and especially those who made the Christingles.
A donation of £256.22 was sent to the Church of England’s Childrens Society.

The Sunday School Play
This year’s Sunday School Nativity play which was in two parts was held during the morning Service on Sunday 18th December.
The younger children were dressed as Nativity figures and processed down the aisle to a narration of the Christmas story, accompanied by Olivia Kelland playing ‘Away in a manger’ on the keyboard.
The older children’s mammouth production involved a large door (kindly made by the contractors working on the church!!) and a grumpy innkeeper who couldn’t get to sleep because people kept coming to his inn and knocking on the door. Eventually all the visitors were in the stable and the innkeeper could finally get some sleep after meeting baby Jesus and realising just how special he was.

The Sunday School Christmas Parties
On Saturday the 21st December the older children chose to go to the cinema at Sandbrook Park to see the film ‘The Chronicles of Narnia’. Unfortunately because they weree unable to advance-book seats the cinema was full and so instead they all went ten-pin bowling. Thanks go to all he Sunday School teachers who took them
The under sevens held their own Christmas party at the home of Sue and Steve Fairweather on the Wednesday before Christmas.
They played ‘Pass the Parcel’, ‘Pin the star on the Christmas Tree’, ‘Hunt the Santa’ before sitting down to a lovely party tea.
Thanks go to Sue and Steve for opening their home to the children and to Joanne and Gillian for helping out on the day. 

New Year's Eve
Those who attended our New Year’s Eve Party and Dance had a good time with something for everyone.
The evening commenced with music for dancing provided by our resident DJ, Graham, followed by a Christmas Quiz devised by Noleen Adshead, a picture quiz provided by Jennifer Barker and a game of Beetle plus a different form of Bingo using playing cards organised by Sandra Fell.
All too soon it was midnight and after listening to the chimes of Big Ben on the radio we all sang Auld Lang Syne before rushing outside to watch the fireworks and listen to the church bells as they rang in the new year.
Our thanks go to all who helped to organise the evening and to all those who attended. 

Burn's Night
This year we are once again celebrating Burns’ Night with a dance in the school.
There will be music for Scottish dancing with a caller to lead us and a potato pie supper. There is to be a licenced bar and we hope that the piper will once again be attendance to pipe in the Haggis.
Because of the catering requirements, admission will be by ticket only and these are now available and can initially be reserved by calling Jennifer Barker on 01706 844153.

Parish Prayers

Bible Sentence
For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; 
and he is named Wonderful Councillor, 
Mighty God, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6

Our Prayer
In this new year may we come to know better, the “Child that was born for us”,
May we make the “Son that was given to us” ,better known to others,
May all people come to acknowledge the “Authority that lies upon His shoulders”, 
May the wisdom of the “Wonderful councillor” direct us,
May the protection of the “Mighty God” shelter us,
May the “Everlasting Father” never let us be parted from Him
And may the “Prince of peace” bring peace to all the world.

Parish Concerns
* All our hopes and concerns for the coming year,
* Our PCC’s financial concerns for the restoration and maintenance of our church.

Wider Concerns
* For those who face the new year in poor health, poor housing, unemployment or in financial difficulty,
* For a peaceful year, without unrest, war or terrorism.