Well, we never planned for snow and ice when organising our first Christmas Tree Festival!We felt considering the circumstances the Christmas Tree festival was a great success despite its challenges. On the Wednesday – set up day many members of community groups enjoyed the atmosphere and excitement of setting up their display and taking much delight in being creative, socialising, listening to Christmas music and admiring each other’s displays.We opened our doors on Thursday morning to a steady flow of people visiting from the parish and neighbouring parishes. Thursday evening, we hosted the Wreckers Coast Choir for their first performance outside the parish hall to the public and what a treat it was. It was a wonderful atmosphere, and the church was packed, twinkling lights and lit candles all added to the wonderful Christmassy mood. We had an interval which allowed people to mingle, drink mulled wine and admire the trees and of course let the choir rest their voices before the second half.The songs we sung were:1. Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree2. It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas3. Hark the Herald Angels Sing.4. Please Mr Postman5. One More Sleep6. All I Have to Do Is Dream7. California Dreamin'8. Jingle Bell Rock9. O Holy Night10 Take Me Home Country Roads11. Thank You for The Music12. Merry Christmas Everyone.13 We Wish You a Merry ChristmasOn Friday, the primary school classes came up to view the Christmas Tree Festival and admire their decorations which they did in the school colours of red and blue.Everyone had been so creative and imaginative in the festival from Tiny Tots using lots of glitter and paint to the Woolsery YFC tree covered in photos of themselves at YFC events and farming life. Val from the little pantry was checking her gingerbread men on a daily basis, and Andrea Ark less from Overleigh plants and cream teas had scones, teacups and jugs covered on her tree. The social club tree was plastered in pictures of their customers who had been popping in to have their photo of the tree. Have I mentioned the French Twinning talking Christmas tree? We may have given Brian further ideas for his next interactive tree!Saturday and Sunday we had snow to contend with and we thank our willing volunteers and passers by for helping us to clear and grit the church path and a pathway down to the chapel.People walking around enjoying the wintery scene or out sledging took it as an opportunity to pop in afterwards to enjoy the festival and then visit the chapel to view more trees and warm up with hot drinks and cakes. Children enjoyed the activities that Shirley and Annette provided and added them to the tree. Our food tree to raise awareness of the Harbour Project, was a great success and we are happily passing on the donations to them. We always have a collection box at both Church/Chapel and this is emptied on a regular basis and sent to the project to help those in need.With much disappointment it was decided to cancel the carol service on Sunday evening, the conditions had got extremely icy underfoot.The Bradworthy Glass Christmas Tree exhibit that has kindly been donated to go up for auction to be shared between the churches and the Devon Air Ambulance, is still up for silent auction until 20th December, the winning bid will be announced at the Wednesday 21st December Coffee Morning 10.30am. You can enter by visiting the church and pop a bid into the pot. We would like to say a massive thank you to everyone that helped in every way, from exhibitors, to those helping to set up the bases, to the volunteers manning the church and chapel, to the cake bakers, and of course Sam Gist Electrical and CEF electrical for their time and help in supplies to ensure everything was all safe and to give us least amount of sockets to turn off every night!We loved organising this festival, it brought so much happiness and joy to peoples faces, we’d love to do it again one day and hope it doesn’t snow so those who couldn’t make it this year can do so another year.Thank you everyone x
Can you remember our last pudding night last Autumn, it was a real success and we had so many puddings to choose from, a real delight. Join us on Saturday 8th October for Harvest Ploughman’s and Pudding Night at Woolsery Community HallSunday 8th October 6.45pm for 7.00pm.For all ages, for families, for friends, for singles .... for you!An <a></a>evening to enjoy good company and good food. so bring a friend.£10 per head, Pay on the door, but please book by Thursday 6th October with Christina Leonard (431254) or Barbara Stevens (431325) or Faith Butler (451627).
A big THANK YOU to the bell ringers who met to ring the bells to mark the significant moments during the period of mourning for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Opened the windows yesterday to hear the bells before the funeral, I thought you had stopped at 10.40 but no, you rang some more marking the whole hour. Proud to have joined with towers across the nation in ringing the muffled bells from 10am. Extra thanks to Martin, Roger & Tim for managing the muffles. Much <a></a>appreciated and really added to the Woolsery experience of an historic day.
Evening Gathering Bring and Share Supper / Table TalkSunday 18 September 6.30pm to 8.30pm (events meant we extended the evening)This evening's get together was a good chance to catch up and chat, especially after all the events of the recent week which have been rather heavy. We started with a chance to chat then sing; Barbara shared one of 'Granfer's Bible stories in good old Devon dialect, and she and Val treated us to a humorous sketch followed by a thoughtful session with questions prompting discussion – followed by a bring and share supper. We held the one minutes silence in honour of Queen Elizabeth II at 8.00pm. After clearing up the crockery another session of singing took place, very light hearted. We finished with The Lost Words sung blessing and The Lord's my Shepherd. The next evening will be on Sunday October 18th, 6.30pm in Woolsery Chapel. All are welcome. (the photo with the empty chairs was when everyone moved for food!)This meet up is for all faiths; no faiths and those in between. Most sessions will be the second Sunday of the month but may be adjusted to fit in with other events. Keep an eye out for up-to-date details.
