As we mark the beginning of Advent this Sunday: Heavenly Father, as we light the first candle of Advent,we welcome the hope of your promise.May this light remind us of your presence in our livesand ignite a steadfast trust in Your love.Guide us in this season of waiting,filling our hearts with anticipation and peace,as we look towards the coming of our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen. And some words that can be sung to the tune of ‘Angel voices ever singing’: Advent candles tell their story as we watch and pray, longing for the Day of Glory, ’Come, Lord, soon,’ we say. Pain and sorrow, tears and sadness, changed for gladness on that Day.And the alternative collect prayer for this Advent Sunday: Almighty God, as your kingdom dawns, turn us from the darkness of sin to the lightof holiness, that we may be ready to meetyou in our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen. SERVICESSUNDAY 30th November: Advent SundaySt Andrew's: 10.00 am Morning Prayer (likely to be in church hall due to ongoing heating situation) AND 12 midday BaptismSt Thomas': 10.00 am Morning PrayerSt James': 11.15 am Morning PrayerSt Peter's: 11.15 Morning Prayer AND 4.00 pm Church for All: A Christmas Surprise as we begin Advent!Wednesday 3rd DecemberSt Andrew’s: 10.30am Team Holy Communion Service (likely to be in church hall due to ongoing heating situation)SUNDAY 7th DecemberSt Andrew's: 10.00 am Holy Communion (likely to be in church hall due to ongoing heating situation) St Thomas': 10.00 am Holy CommunionSt James': 11.15 am Holy CommunionSt Peter's: 11.15 Holy Communion AND 4.00 pm Church for All: Christmas Craft weekBible Readings Sunday 30th November Advent Sunday: Romans 13:11-14; Matthew 24:36-44Sunday 7th December: Romans 15:4-13 Matthew 3:1-12 Sunday 14th December: Toy services preacher's choice Sunday 21st December: Isaiah 7:10-16 Matthew 1:18-end Christmas Eve: Preacher's choice Christmas Day: John 1:1-14 Sunday 28th December Team Service: preacher's choiceTEAM 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' on Sunday 28th December at 9.45am. 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 Christmas Carols with St John Bosco School Choir All very welcome to join us to kick off the Advent countdown to Christmas with the wonderful choir from St John Bosco, at St James church on Green Lane at 5pm on Monday 1st DecemberChristmas Coffee Morning in St Andrew’s Church HallSt Andrew’s Ladies Fellowship invite all to join them at this event they are running on Saturday 6th December 10am - 12 midday with a cake stall, Christmas arrangements, crafts and a raffle. So a morning visit to this and then chance to visit the Christmas Fayre at the Tithebarn in the afternoon (see next event)!St Thomas’ Melling Christmas Fayre Saturday 6th December at the Melling Tithebarn 1-4pm - stalls, refreshments, raffle, grotto etc, all the usual fun - do pop along!Christmas Craft Morning Thursday 11th December at St Andrew's Primary School St Andrew’s School have kindly invited any of us who are able to join them for a Christmas Craft morning with biscuits and mince pies with one of their classes in the school hall on Thursday 11th December at 10.45am. This was a lovely event last year and will be again, and we’d love people to come along if you are able. There will be a list for people to sign up on at St Andrew’s or you can just let Rev Simon know, so that we can give school a rough idea of how many to expect a few days beforehand. Thank you.Parish Giving Scheme The new system is now available to access. Should you at any time require information, please contact your parish representative, or contact PGS directly by Post: 76 Kingsholm Road, Gloucester, GL1 3BD; Phone: 0333 002 1260 or1271; Email: info@parishgiving.org.uk; Website: https://www.parishgiving.org.uk/St Andrew’s Heating Just a quick note to say that while efforts to get everything needed in place to replace our broken boiler continue and the colder weather really starts to kick in now, services are going to temporarily move into the church hall which can be heated still! We are working hard to get the boiler replaced and situation resolved as soon as we possibly can.Children’s Society Collection Boxes For those at St Andrew’s with these, its the time of year to bring them in to church to give to Jim Entwistle. Thank you.Stamps A request from St Thomas’ for your used stamps, as they are collecting them to support training guide dogs. Please do pass any you have in to your church, and the clergy will ensure they get to St Thomas’. Thank you.Request for Wool Donations - also stuffing material for toys & pillowsWool donations for our craft and chat group wld 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! 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. please note that this will have a break for Christmas and New Year after the session on Thursday 11th December (on as normal that day, but not on 18th December). 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.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 is on Friday 5th December with Christmas music. Expect lots of friendly chats and live music by our resident Michael with his keyboard. Prayer & Worship - monthly get together Each month we are going to be gathering for a time of prayer & worship together at St James Church, Green Lane. This will be a relaxed and informal time, but led and with songs, reflection on passages of scripture, pointers / themes for prayer etc. This is following on from the Prayer Course that a number of us did through Lent & Easter time, but is absolutely open to everyone, not just those who came to that course. The next of these will be on Wednesday 14th January, 7.30pm and we would be delighted to see you there. Please do speak to Rev. Simon or Claire Sherman for any further information.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 noticesBulletin items for inclusion Please send an email to revsimonelliott76@gmail.com stating ‘for bulletin’ in the email ‘subject’ box / email title by midday Thursday of the week you’d like items included.Foodbank: 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