Dear All

It suddenly feels like Christmas 2024 is hurtling towards us at a great pace.

Next week will be the start of Advent – how can this be ? It only seems like 2 minutes since the Scarecrow Festival!!

If you look at the attachment I have devised an Advent Challenge very like our Lent Challenge. I thought it would be a good idea if others who need our help will benefit by us celebrating the birth of our Saviour Lord Jesus Christ, please join me in helping the Pop-Up Shop this Advent if you are able to.

I also want to draw your attention to the Advent Course for this year – which is called Travelling Light. We will have to do this over a three week period as the 4th Wednesday will be Christmas Day and I doubt you will have the time or the inclination to do this on Christmas Day.

The first session is called – The Roads to Bethlehem – as we look at all the journeys people had to make.

The second session is called – Moving on – Joyful and Fearful as we look at what happens after that curious night when Jesus was born.

The third session is called – God comes to Us – what that meant then and for us now.

I hope you will be able to join me ‘travelling light’ through Advent. We will meet at 7.30 pm at the Rectory – there is a sign up sheet at the back of church so that I know how much mulled wine to get as we allow ourselves time to think about the real reason for Christmas through all our busyness.

There are still knitting patterns at the back of church if you would like to knit angels or ask a friend to knit some for us. At the moment, I have no idea how many are being knitted but we will need them for all the children who come to our Christingle services across the Benefice on Christmas Eve. The idea is that they receive an angel that will hang on their Christmas tree and remember that Christmas is not just about presents and chocolate. Our angels will go onto their Christmas trees for years to come and will hopefully create a special memory for them.

Can I also draw your attention to the Quiz Night that is taking place at Gilston and Eastwick Village Hall, which is a fundraiser to raise the last amount of money we need for the tree work at St Botolph’s. We still have some places available and I know Peter has been pulling together a highly enjoyable set of questions as last time. Hope to see you there with your friends on Saturday 30th November 7.00 – 7.30 pm start.

This weekend we have the 9.30 am service at St James which is a Communion service

And we also have the Family Service taking place at St Botolph’s, Eastwick at 11.15 am – which will have the theme of ‘Preparing for Christmas’.

I hope to see you over this weekend.

Every blessing

Alison