This week's prayer:Eternal God, as Mary waited for the birth of your Son, so we wait for his coming in glory; bring us through the birth pangs of this present age to see, with her, our great salvation in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. SERVICESSUNDAY 22nd DecemberSt Andrew's: 10.00 am Morning Prayer AND 4pm Carol ServiceSt Thomas': 10.00 am Carol ServiceSt James': 11.15 am Holy Communion with the knitted nativity serviceSt Peter's: 11.15 Holy Communion AND 4.00 pm Church for All: nativity plus Christmas jumpers and carolsTUESDAY 24th December Christmas Eve St Andrew’s: 2pm & 4pm Christingle Services (repeated service) St Andrew’s: 11.30pm Team ‘Midnight’ Holy Communion ServiceWEDNESDAY 25th December Christmas Day St Andrew’s: 10am Morning Prayer St James': 10am Morning Prayer St Peter’s: 10am Morning PrayerSUNDAY 29th December Team Service of Holy Communion at St James at 10.30amSt Peter’s: 4pm Church 4 All - Social, ‘Games & leftovers’.Please note there will be no midweek Holy Communion service on New Year's Day, and this service will resume again as normal on Wednesday 8th January.And remember: do come along to anything you can & bring a friend or 2 as we celebrate this special time of year!Bible Readings Sunday 22nd December Micah 5:2-5a, Luke 1:39-45Sunday 29th December Colossians 3:12-17, Luke 2:41-52TEAM PRAYERSTeam Prayers will now be taking place ahead of our monthly team service on the 4th Sunday of each month at whichever church is hosting that month’s service, at 9.45am. So the next one will be at St James Sunday 29th December at 9.55am. All welcome.We’re also going to be intentional now about having a short informal time of prayer at each church before the Sunday services each week - so the person leading the service will pray with others who are there for 10 mins or so half an hour before the start of the service, so 9.40 ahead of 10am services and 10.55 ahead of 11.15am services. Everyone is very welcome to join in with this. St James usually has a time of individual prayer and reflection helped by two worship songs from about 5 minutes before the actual start of the service. News Church 4 All Advent and Christmas Time Details on the services and events page - all welcome 4pm Sundays at St Peter’s Moorhey Road unless stated otherwise. Do let us know if you'd like any more information.The Children’s Society Box Collection The headquarters have asked that we arrange to open the boxes and send the money to them. If possible could you please bring your box into church for us and hand to a warden if we are not there. Our telephone number is 526 8035 if you need to arrange for your box to be collected from you. This will be our last year in charge of this as we hand over to new volunteers to take over from us in 2025. Thank you for your continued support Chris and John Barnett. Request for Wool Donations - also stuffing material for toys & pillows Wool donations for our craft and chat group would be very gratefully received! Whether whole or part balls of wool, any colour etc. Also, at the moment, donations of stuffing material for toys & pillows would be much appreciated. If you are able to drop off to the craft & chat group between 12.30 and 2pm on Thursdays at St James’ Church Green Lane, that would be great, but collection can easily be arranged. Please contact Pat Dunbar by text message on 07795147109 or email at patcol@blueyonder.co.uk Thank you!And an advance date for your diaries:The Blessings Course: ‘Discovering blessing, mission and the presence of God together’This will run for seven weeks on a Saturday morning, 11.00 – 12.15 at St James Church, Green Lane The first session will be on Saturday 11th January – you don’t have to have been to the taster session to come along! If you would like to join us, please contact Claire Sherman: shermanclaire33@yahoo.co.uk or call 07427 616030 WEEKLY EVENTSCraft and Chat: every Thursday 12.30pm until 2pm at St James in the fellowship room. Knitting, crocheting or any craft, you are assured of a very warm welcome so please do come and join us. This is now having a Christmas and New Year break, and we will be meeting again on Thursday 9th January. PatHot lunch, tea and cakes every Thursday afternoon at Melling Tithebarn……12.00pm to 2.00pm. A plate for donations will be available. You are assured of a very warm welcome so please do come and join us.Bible Study: After our Bible Course through October and November, this will now take a break through Advent and Christmas, and begin again on Thursday evenings in January - date to be confirmed.MONTHLY EVENTSSt Peter's Tea and Scones: everyone is welcome to join us for tea and scones on the first Friday in every month from 2pm-3pm, the next one will be Friday 3rd January. Expect lots of friendly chats and live music by our resident Michael with his keyboard. Bereavement Support: at St Andrew’s Church. Further enquiries, and if there are any particular requests for bereavement support, from anywhere across our 4 parishes, please contact St Andrew’s Parish Office 0151 531 8972. Other noticesFoodbank: the Foodbank is based at St George's United Reformed Church on Northway opposite Iceland, on Tuesdays 10.00am-12.00 noon.Tins, packet foods and toiletries are always useful. They will gratefully receive donations from 10-12 on Tuesdays at St George’s URC on Northway (easiest access is via the car park on Larchwood Avenue). Alternatively please do drop any donations off before Tuesday on the vicarage doorstep at 23 Green Link. Thank you.CONTACT DETAILSPlease contact us…If you know anyone who would like to receive this emailIf there is anyone who needs prayer If you know anyone who needs a phone call Contact details:Revd. Ian Hopkins 07914 505437 or ianfee100@gmail.com Revd. Simon Elliott 07919 464348 or revsimonelliott76@gmail.com
Our next read is 'Blessed in the Mess' by Joyce Meyer. It's available on Kindle and in hardback or paperback via Amazon and other retailers. All are very welcome. If you would like to find out more and to get the link, please get in touch with Claire Sherman: shermanclaire33@yahoo.co.uk
