St Giles Bulletin. 18 th December 2016 Fourth Sunday of Advent

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1 St Giles Bulletin 18 th December 2016 Fourth Sunday of Advent 9.00am Holy Communion Romans 1: 1-7 (p.1129) Matthew 1: (p.965) The birth of Jesus 7.00pm Carols by Candlelight followed by mulled wine & mince pies 10.00am Coffee and refreshments 10.30am Informal Worship Soon after the start of the service, our children & youth groups begin: Sunbeams (ages 2½ - 4½) & Junior Church (primary age) meet in the hall. Youth meet in the church welcome area and then go over to Lutterell Hall. At the rear of church is The Haven, a glazed room where parents can take babies or children who are too young to join the children s groups and need some space to wriggle, crawl or cry! There are toys and books in boxes underneath the seats to help keep babies and toddlers entertained, but please be aware that the room is not soundproof. The church hall can be found through the rear doors of the church. In the hall you will find toilets and baby changing facilities (in the disabled toilet). If you have a notice for the bulletin, please send details by 10am on Wednesday either admin@stgilesparish.com or call

2 Diary for the Week Monday 19 th December 6.00pm West Bridgford Juniors Carol Concert Tuesday 20 th December 9.15am Morning Prayer Wednesday 21 st 9.30am 12.30pm Advice Centre December 10.45am Midweek Communion Friday 23 rd December 10.00am Nativity dress rehearsal in church Saturday 24 th December 4.00pm The Nativity 11.30pm Christmas Eve Communion Sunday 25 th December 10.00am Holy Communion Monday 26 th December 2.00pm Boxing Day walk in Wollaton Park Sunday 1 st January 10.00am Methodist Communion Notices For our Prayers Don Robson Ken Nichol Jean Stevenson Trevor Rolt He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young. If you or someone you know at St Giles would appreciate some pastoral support do talk to Daphne Carter in confidence. Carols by Candlelight tonight! Come along tonight to join our Carols by Candlelight service at 7pm, a traditional service of 9 lessons and carols followed by mulled wine and mince pies. Car Parking Please be aware that there is also a service at the Rock Church in Lutterell Hall tonight at 5.30pm, so if you re arriving for Carols by Candlelight, it is unlikely that there will be parking spaces in the Lutterell Hall car park. The council have also let us know that Lutterell Hall car park will be closed from 24 th December until 3 rd January, so please bear this in mind if you are coming to church over this period. If you park in one of the council car parks, please read the signs carefully, as charges now apply on Sundays.

3 Junior Church Christmas Nativity Preparations are well underway for this year s Nativity. Our dress rehearsal will take place in church on Friday 23 rd December, 10am-12.30pm. The performance is at 4pm on Christmas Eve - please arrive between pm and help your child into their costume before leaving them with us in the hall to find your seats in church. Any questions, please speak to Sarah or Iain Moppett or Ellen Dann. Junior/Youth Choir for Christmas I am looking for singers for our junior/youth choir, to perform a song at Carol by Candlelight on Sunday 18 th December at 7pm, and at the Nativity at 4pm on Christmas Eve. We will be rehearsing straight after the morning service on December 18 th. I'm not just looking for junior singers, but as many youth to help and support too. Sign up on the sheet at the back of church. Thanks, Hannah Service Changes over the Christmas holidays Please note the following changes to our service pattern over Christmas. There will be just one service on Christmas Day All Age Worship at 10am, followed by coffee for those who don t need to rush off to check on the turkey! On the following Sunday 1 st January, we will also have just one service Holy Communion at 10.00am. There will be no Morning Prayer in church on 27 th December, no Midweek Communion service on Wednesday 28 th December and no Evensong on Sunday 1 st January. Sunday services are back to normal on Sunday 8 th January the 10.30am service will be January s All Age Worship. New Year s Day Service at 10am The service on Sunday 1 st January will include communion and aspects of the Methodist Covenant Service that ladies on the weekend away will have heard about. It is a rather special way to start the New Year by renewing our Covenant Commitment to serve the Lord Jesus Christ in Please ask Andrew or Claire Barker if you would like to know more. Safe Space our group for mutual support and encouragement for people living with anxiety and depression The next Safe Space meeting is on Wednesday 4 th January at 7.45pm in church. We meet in a relaxed atmosphere with refreshments where you can share as little or as much of your experiences as you wish in a safe environment. It s a good place to share successes and helpful tips as well as issues and problems but it s also OK if you prefer to listen rather than speak. Supporters and new members are always welcome. If you would like further information, please contact Daphne Carter ( ) or Maureen Morrell ( ) Thank You from Family Care On behalf of Family Care and all the families in Nottinghamshire that they support, thank you so much for all the toys and gifts donated at the Christingle service. They are very much appreciated and will help to make Christmas a happy time for children in difficult circumstances.

4 Boxing Day Walk All are welcome to join in with our now traditional family walk on Boxing Day. We meet at the top car park at Wollaton Hall at 2pm, for a chance to walk off that turkey and Christmas pudding everyone welcome, including dogs! Seniors Christmas Lunch A big thank you to all the Seniors' Committee members and to everyone else who came along to help either with setting up, front of house, cooking the spread, clearing away and in any other way. Also thanks to the children from West Bridgford Junior School for their festive singing. Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves and went away full of Christmas cheer. Happy Christmas to you all from Doreen Ottway. No Men s Social Evening in December Due to the Christmas break there will not be a men s social evening in December. The next meet up will be at the Willow Tree on Monday 29 th January.

5 St Giles Mission Partners From the Friends International Prayer Diary: Cardiff currently has two churches running brilliant weekly international cafés, as well as hospitality and Bible studies for international students. We thank God for these efficient initiatives and for what they are achieving, but pray that God would raise up more workers to reach more of the thousands of international students in the Welsh capital. Gifts that keep giving beyond Christmas Present Aid is a charity gift website that supports the work of Christian Aid. Find the perfect gift for family, friends, teachers and loved ones which could transform the lives of people living in poverty around the world. Take a look online at 9 to give a child in Bangladesh textbooks, stationery and school essentials 13 to give a struggling farmer the training and equipment to fish for a living 20 to feed a refugee family forced to flee to Myanmar for an entire month 22 for a nanny goat, to help give a family nourishing milk to drink and sell Share the Warmth 2016 Do you really need your Winter Fuel Payment or could you help a homeless person stay warm? If you feel comfortable to donate some or all of your winter fuel payments to the Friary please call , admin@the-friary.org.uk, send a cheque payable to The Friary 46 Musters Road, West Bridgford, NG2 7PR (please complete a Gift Aid Form if you can) or go to To share the warmth on social media please use #FriaryWarmth. Advent Boxes for the Friary Here s how you could make a difference to the Christmas experienced by the homeless people helped by the Friary. For each day of Advent put an item into a box: Non-perishable food (tinned meat, tinned fish, puddings, tinned fruit/custard, snack bars, drinks) Toiletries (razors/shaving foam, deodorant, soap/shower gel, shampoo, comb/hairbrush) Chocolate treats (it is Christmas!) Warm gloves, hat, scarf. Pen, small notebook. Small radio, batteries Please NO ALCOHOL Take your box to the Friary's depot on Ludlow Hill Road on Tuesday 20th or Thursday 22nd December, 10am 3pm (or even after Christmas if those dates are tricky you will continue to make a difference in people s lives in January!).

6 Changes to our Prayer Pattern for 2017 A New Year, a new pattern for prayer As a church there are a number of occasions each month where we gather together to prayer for one another, the church and the wider world. You are welcome to join at any or all of these. Tuesday Morning Prayer 9.15am - Lady Chapel of St Giles A short service of Morning prayer following the Common Worship Provision. Led by one of the staff team. This combines liturgy and intercession for personal and community needs, it normally last about 20 minutes. Early Morning Prayer 6.30am - 7am Tuesdays and Thursdays (term time only) - St Giles If you can t make Morning Prayer due to work, then there is another option. A small group have recently been gathering for half an hour of informal prayer between 6.30am - 7am. We d love to welcome some new members to join us. To find out more contact Kristine and Jonathan Mole on First Priority Prayer - once a month - George Chapel of St Giles An hour long prayer meeting. After a few of years of Monday evenings we are going to make the transition to Sunday evenings in 2017 and incorporate worship and resources for prayer alongside a focus on intercession. Watch this space for more news. To keep up to date of when we are meeting contact Sue Ferraro on

7 Christmas at St Giles Carols by Candlelight 18 th December at 7pm Traditional service of 9 lessons and carols Christmas Eve The Nativity at 4pm The Christmas story retold in drama and song by St Giles children Holy Communion at 11.30pm Christmas Day 10am A Christmas Celebration for all Ages

8 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. Monday 19 th Psalm 146; Isa 52:13 53:end; 2 Peter 1: 1-15 * Kimberley & Kuruman - (Southern Africa) The Rt Revd Oswald Swartz Tuesday 20 th Psalm 46; Isa 54; 2 Peter 1:16 2:3 * Kindu - (Congo) The Rt Revd Zacharie Masimango Katanda Wednesday 21 st Psalm 121; Isa 55; 2 Peter 2: 4-end * Kinkiizi - (Uganda) The Rt Revd Dan Zoreka Thursday 22 nd Psalm 124; Isa 56: 1-8; 2 Peter 3 * Kisangani - (Congo) The Rt Revd Lambert Botolome Friday 23 rd Psalm 130; Isa 63: 1-6; 2 John * Kirinyaga - (Kenya) The Rt Revd Joseph Kibuchua Saturday 24 th Psalm 45; Isa 58; 3 John * For the birth of Christ, we give thanks Rector: Rev Lee Proudlove Tel: rector@stgilesparish.com Children & Families Worker: Ellen Dann Tel: families@stgilesparish.com Administrator: Claire Sheard Tel: admin@stgilesparish.com Curate: Rev Tim Chambers Tel: curate@stgilesparish.com Youth Worker: Andy Wright Tel: youthworker@stgilesparish.com Pastoral Care Co-ordinator: Daphne Carter Tel: pastoral@stgilesparish.com