DECEMBER SUNDAY SERVICE a.m. ALL ARE WELCOME

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1 DECEMBER 2018 SUNDAY SERVICE a.m. ALL ARE WELCOME 50p Unitarians are a religious denomination that believe in a united world community and individual freedom.

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3 DECEMBER CALENDAR 2 nd Dec Sunday Worship (Toy Service) Followed by Christmas Lunch Film Club The Grinch! In the hall am 4.00pm 7 th Dec Film Club Elf in the hall 7.30pm 8 th Dec Christmas Tree Festival pm 8 th Dec Christmas Tree Festival Concert 7.00 pm 9 th Dec Christmas Tree Festival pm Please note there will be no morning worship, but the closing service is at 3pm 16 th Dec Sunday Worship (Carol Service) - Eccles Borough Band am 19 th Dec Blue Christmas Service 7.30 pm 23 rd Dec Sunday Worship am 24 th Dec Candlelight Service 9.00 pm 30 th Dec Sunday Worship am TUESDAY MORNING IS COFFEE MORNING! Our weekly coffee morning on Tuesdays in the church hall continues, with refreshments and companionship available from 10am till 12pm, do please tell your friends about it. There is no charge for the refreshments, though donations of cakes or biscuits to share on the day will always be welcome! CHRISTMAS CARDS Be environmentally friendly this year send just one card to the whole Church to go on the hall noticeboard, and donate the money saved! See Mavis for details

4 MINISTER S LETTER Dear Friends It s that time of year again! A time of celebrations, parties and presents. A time of cold days, colder nights, and maybe, just maybe, some snow. A time of grief, of longing, of loneliness. Of excitement and anticipation and fear and trepidation. A time of contrasts. Every year we discover that the myth of Christmas has so many different messages and themes running through it hope, fear, a journey into the unknown, tales of the ordinary and the miraculous within the ordinary. This year the theme that is resonating with me is that of community. In a society that has fallen victim to the cult of the individual, and a world where insularity and isolationism seems to be gaining ground, it seems more important than ever before to bring people together, to celebrate the connections that run from person to person, and to acknowledge the commonalities between us as much as we revel in our uniqueness. Community is also the way in which we support the people around us who are struggling whether it s through hugs and listening ears, or through the work of organisations who seek to alleviate the symptoms of poverty. We are doing both this year we are bringing people together for worship and fellowship, music and film and food; and we re also bringing people together to raise funds for our local food bank The Mustard Tree, collect Christmas presents for Mission Christmas, and donate money to our Unitarian charity Send a Child to Hucklow, which provides countryside holidays for children from deprived inner-city areas. We hope you will join us for some of our gatherings this Christmas you too are a much loved member of our Community, and we d love to see you. And whatever else you are given this Christmas, know that we are here to offer you our love and friendship for life, not just for Christmas! Blessings to you all Rev Anna - 4 -

5 WELCOMING AND COFFEE ROTA ON SUNDAYS Thank you so much to everyone who makes us tea and coffee, and provides us with biscuits and yummy cakes after our services. The fellowship we enjoy in our worship is made even more special by the fellowship we enjoy afterwards! If you want to become one of our brewers and servers, just sign up on the list on the hall noticeboard. All the other Christmas events!! Sunday 2 nd December 10.45am Toy Service and Christmas Lunch New, unwrapped toys and presents for children and young people are welcomed, and will be taken to Mission Christmas for distribution to families unable to afford Christmas presents this year. The service is followed by a shared Christmas lunch. Please contact Rev Anna on if you wish to attend. Double Film Club! Sunday 2 nd Dec and Friday 7 th Dec It s Christmas, so we re having two in one week! First of all: Sunday 2 nd December 4pm in the hall, we are showing How the Grinch Stole Christmas in collaboration with MVCA to celebrate the Monton Christmas Light Switch On. And on Friday 7 th December 7.30pm also in the hall it s ELF, that classic bundle of Christmas fun! Please note that both films are being shown in the hall, to keep the church clear for preparing for the Christmas Tree Festival! Do come and join us, there is no charge though donations are welcome to raise funds for our wheelchair ramp and easy access toilet, and refreshments are available throughout. Sunday 16 th December 10.30am Carol Service with Eccles Borough Band Everyone is welcome to join our Carol Service, accompanied by Eccles Borough Band, followed by a short performance by the band. Afterwards, mulled wine and mince pies in the hall! Wednesday 19 th December 7.30pm Blue Christmas Service While Christmas is a joyful time, there is also sadness as we miss loved ones who have died, whether recently or long ago. This is a sacred and safe space and time where we acknowledge our grief and pain, and pay tribute to those precious people who are no longer with us

6 Sunday 23 rd December 10.45am last Advent Service before Christmas Monday 24 th December 9pm Candlelight Christmas Eve Service A special, quiet service of reflection and preparation before the joy of Christmas Day bring a candle in a safe holder. Followed by refreshments and fellowship. Sunday 30 th December 10.45am Sunday Service A gentle service in the midst of festivities come and take some time just to breathe. DECEMBER FLOWERS 2 nd December Sylvia & Alan Williams in memory of Graham Williams. Mr K Jones in memory of his daughter Christine. 9 th December Helen Chapman lovely memories of Mum & Dad Rene & Roy Barton. Anna Jarvis in memory of her father Martin Dutson. 16 th December Mr & Mrs A Taylor in memory of Mrs V Meeghan. 23 rd December Mrs M Marchment in memory of Mr & Mrs J Chadwick. Alan Perks & Brothers for our Mother on this special day (24 th December) 30 th December In memory of late Church Members

7 Monton Unitarian Church Christmas Tree Festival Come and see the church, filled with over 30 Christmas Trees, and beautifully decorated! Saturday 8 th December 10am 4pm 10.30am Communal Carol Singing 11.30am Christmas Songs with Rev Anna 1.30pm Communal Carol Singing 2.30pm Monton Green Primary School Children Saturday 8 th December 7.00pm Concert by GMP Male Voice Choir Sunday 9 th December 10am 4pm 10.15am Christmas Songs with Rev Anna 11am Organ Music with Anthony Dawson 12.30pm Communal Carol Singing 1.30pm Monton Voices 3pm Closing Service Entrance to Tree Festival - Adults 2.50 Kids free GMP Male Voice Choir Concert 10 In support of The Mustard Tree and Monton Unitarian Church - 7 -

8 Monton Unitarian Church presents: GMP Male Voice Choir with Monton Unitarian Church Christmas Tree Festival Saturday 8 th December 7pm Tickets 10, including refreshment Luxury Christmas raffle Tickets available from Celebrations on Monton Road, or Rev Anna on , Or buy online via Eventbrite just search for GMP Monton! Proceeds to support The Mustard Tree, and for wheelchair easy access and toilets for the church. Monton Unitarian Church, Monton Green, Monton, M30 8AP - 8 -

9 WOMEN'S LEAGUE Thank you to everyone who helped set up the hall, prepare food and clear away after the Soup and Sandwich Lunch. There was a good turnout of people, some fancy dress, altogether an enjoyable occasion. The next meeting of the Women s League is Wednesday 6 th February 2019, at 2.00 pm in the hall. Thank you. Irene Hitchcock Women's League Secretary TEA AND TECH GRADUATES Inspiring Communities Together has been running a Tea and Tech course in our hall ever Friday morning in November, and we d like to give our congratulations to the church members who have completed, or nearly completed it Mavis Sumner, Rita Summers, Margaret Harwood, Colin Morse, and Neville Brown! VISITS FROM THE MINISTER I can be contacted throughout the week on for a chat. If you know of anyone else who might appreciate a call or visit, please do let me know so I can get in touch with them. MONTON UNITARIAN CHURCH ON THE INTERNET Website: Instagram: Facebook page: Facebook group:

10 RECIPE OF THE MONTH At our recent faith meal, I was asked for the recipe of the dessert I had made. So many delicious dishes were produced, it was suggested that it might be a good idea to print a recipe of the month in our church magazine. Consequently, I give below one of my favourites. 1 x 227g (8 oz) ginger cake sliced. 1 x 212g can pear halves or quarters. 5 tablespoons rum. 300 ml (1/2 pint) thick custard. 150 ml (1/4 pint) double cream. 1-2 teaspoons icing sugar. Flaked almonds toasted, to decorate. Ginger Rum Trifle Line a dish or glass bowl with half the sliced ginger cake. Drain the pears, reserving 2 tablespoons of juice. Mix the rum with reserved juice and sprinkle half over the cake. Place pears on top, then cover with remaining cake and pour over remaining rum mixture. Spoon custard over cake. Whip cream with icing sugar until it forms soft peaks then spoon over custard. Decorate with toasted almonds. ENJOY!! - Joy Dean MAGAZINE If anyone would like to contribute any articles for the magazine, please send them to the editor by the second weekend of the month by post or by . Please contact me by phone for address. Thank you to everyone who has contributed over Debbie

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12 MONTON CHURCH is open to all who wish to worship with an open mind, in a spirit of freedom, reason and tolerance. No doctrinal tests are imposed on anyone. Rather, each person is encouraged to develop his or her own faith. Our Congregation is affiliated to the General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches