Dear AllWith one week to go and 2 very successful Outdoor Carol services already taken….we are in the thick of it.This Sunday is the last of our Advent series before the Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services.We have two services on Sunday:-9.30 am at St James, High Wych11.15 am at St Botolph’s, Eastwick (see attached flyer)And following on from that we will be making up the Christingles at the Rectory on Monday 23rd December from 10.00 am.We can offer Christmas music, mince pies, mulled wine if you can face it at 10.00 am and many hands make light work. We had a really good system last year and great fun being together round our dining room table. If you could let me know if you are coming that would be great, so I make sure I have enough chairs!!Every blessingAlison
Dear FriendsIf you are counting down to Christmas using your Advent calendar or candle or study guide we have 2 weeks to go to Christmas Day as I write this, even less by the time we meet again perhaps.This weekend sees our normal Sunday communion service at 9.30 am on Sunday 15th December at St James but we also have 2 Pop-Up Outdoor Community Carol events over the weekend.On Saturday 14th December we have the Terling Park Community Carols at 4.00 pm (see ad)And we also have ‘Light Up High Wych at 3.45 pm followed by our Outdoor Carol Service at 4.00 pm at St James, High Wych.Both these outdoor services will be followed with refreshments of mulled wine, mince pies etc and we hope you will be able to join us for some Christmas fun.I do notice looking back that in Christmas 2022 we were deep in snow and Janet, Paul and Rosemary did a marvellous job of playing in that freezing cold weather, I think even last year was extremely chilly. The forecast for this weekend is not snowy, or freezy,or rainy, or windy, it does not even look like it will be too cold. So, we look forward to welcoming you all as we gather to celebrate Christmas, singing with gusto our favourite carols.Every blessingAlison
Dear FriendsThis feels like the last week before all the excitement and extra services of Christmas 2024 and craziness begins, although we have already had our first Pop Up Nativity and we had a great Carol singing and homemade mince pies fest at Wednesday Welcome this week.I don’t know about you but Christmas seems to have crept up really quickly this year (always same date)😊😊. However, we cannot come to a full stop at Christmas. As a team we are still thinking about the year ahead in 2025. To give you as much notice as possible two things will be happening early in January…Messy Church and AlphaAt the back of church this Sunday you will find the sign up sheets for the teams for Messy Church in January (see note on Welcome Sheet).You will also see some flyers for the Alpha Course which will be running online again in January.Please promote these things amongst your families and friends and be thinking who you can ask to take part, attend etc.This Sunday we have a service of Communion at St James at 9.30 amWe also have a Communion service at St Mary’s at 11.15 am.Where I look forward to welcoming you.Don’t forget if you want to talk to me I am always available on the numbers below.Every blessingAlison
Dear AllLast week we celebrated Christ the King and I talked about the motifs of Jesus that can be found throughout the Bible and I have attached this if it will help you as you read your Bible.Advent will be celebrated in different ways tomorrow – at the first service BCP at 8.00 am we will be lighting Week 1 of the Advent Candle Wreath; at the second service at 9.30 am we will be starting with breakfast and then doing the Pop-Up Christmas Nativity – as we remember and tell the story of that very first Christmas and sing some Christmas Carols. You will also have the opportunity to donate Christmas food to the Pop Up shop as our Advent Challenge (see flyer).Later in the week you will also have the opportunity to take part in our Advent Bible Study on Wednesday 4th December at the Rectory from 7.30 pm.Advent is traditionally a season of self -reflection as we consider many things, I am very taken that at school the value they celebrate for December is compassion. My prayer for us all is that this will be a value we can look to this month. Compassion for each other, for those less fortunate than ourselves, compassion for our wider world – thinking deeply who we want to support this Christmas. Please remember that we are not sending each other Christmas cards this year but will have a large Christmas Card in church and are asking for donations to go to the Homeless Shelter in Bishop Stortford.Wishing you all joy, peace and hope as we journey through Advent together this year.Every blessingAlison
