Advent 3: some words that can be sung to the tune of ‘Angel voices ever singing’:
Advent candles tell their story
as we watch and pray,
longing for the Day of Glory,
’Come, Lord, soon,’ we say.
Pain and sorrow, tears and sadness,
changed for gladness
on that Day.
John the Baptist, by his preaching
and by water poured,
brought to those who heard his teaching
news of hope restored:
‘Keep your vision strong and steady,
and be ready
for the Lord.’
And the alternative collect prayer for this Advent Sunday:
God for whom we watch and wait, you sent John the Baptist to prepare the way of your Son: give us courage to speak the truth, to hunger for justice, and to suffer for the cause of right, with Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Christmas Coffee Morning & Christmas Fayre
Thanks to all who helped in anyway at or came along to these events at St Andrew’s and St Thomas’s, and helped them to go so well! Really appreciated!
SERVICES
SUNDAY 14th December
St Andrew's: 10.00 am Parade & Toy Service with donations of unwrapped toys for children / gifts for teenagers which will go to support the work of SWACA.
St Thomas': 10.00 am Morning Prayer and Toy Service with donations of unwrapped toys for children / gifts for teenagers which will go to support the work of SWACA.
St James': 11.15 am Morning Prayer with donations of unwrapped toys for children (ages 4-8 especially needed please) which will be collected by the Maghull Lions and distributed locally
St Peter's: 11.15 Morning Prayer with donations of unwrapped toys for children / gifts for teenagers which will go to support the work of SWACA
St Peter's: 4.00 pm Church for All: Family Christmas Quiz AND 6 -7.30pm Church 4 Teens. All welcome!
Tuesday 16th December
St Peter's: 6.00 pm Community Carols with Hudson Primary School choir & festive refreshments - turkey rolls, pigs in blankets, stuffing etc. etc. All welcome!
Wednesday 17th December
St Andrew’s: 10.30am Team Holy Communion Service (in church hall due to ongoing heating situation) followed by a visit from a class from St Andrew’s school to sing their Christmas songs to us during coffee after the service
SUNDAY 21st December
St Andrew's: 10.00 am Holy Communion (in church hall due to ongoing heating situation) AND 4.00 pm Carol Service (in Parish Hall)
St Thomas': 10.00 am Carol Service
St James': 11.15 am Knitted Nativity and Holy Communion
St Peter's: 11.15 Holy Communion AND 4.00 pm Church for All: Nativity, Carols & Christmas jumpers
Bible Readings
Sunday 14th December: Toy services preacher's choice
Sunday 21st December: Isaiah 7:10-16 Matthew 1:18-end
Christmas Eve: Preacher's choice
Christmas Day: John 1:1-14
Sunday 28th December Team Service: preacher's choice
TEAM PRAYERS
Team Prayers will now be taking place ahead of our monthly team service on the 4th Sunday of each month at whichever church is hosting that month’s service, at 9.45am. So the next one will be at St James' on Sunday 28th December at 9.45am. All welcome.
We’re also going to be intentional now about having a short informal time of prayer at each church before the Sunday services each week - so the person leading the service will pray with others who are there for 10 mins or so half an hour before the start of the service, so 9.40 ahead of 10am services and 10.55 ahead of 11.15am services. Everyone is very welcome to join in with this. St James usually has a time of individual prayer and reflection helped by two worship songs from about 5 minutes before the actual start of the service.
News
Carol Services
St Peter's 16th December (see above)
Next Sunday, 21st December. 10am at St Thomas Melling, 11.15am at St James (the Knitted Nativity) and 4pm at St Andrew’s Maghull (though in the Parish Hall across the road from the church). Do come along and join us and bring friends and family with you as we sing our favourite carols, hear the Bible readings and celebrate the wonder and joy of Christmas and the birth of Jesus.
Parish Giving Scheme
The new system is now available to access. Should you at any time require information, please contact your parish representative, or contact PGS directly by Post: 76 Kingsholm Road, Gloucester, GL1 3BD; Phone: 0333 002 1260 or
1271; Email: [email protected]; Website: https://www.parishgiving.org.uk/
Weekly Giving Envelopes at St Andrew’s Church:
For anyone who has Weekly Envelopes and is near to requiring a new box for 2026 please let Geoff Walker know 0151 526 5366 / 07724881207 Thank You.
St Andrew’s Heating
Just a quick note to say that while efforts to get everything needed in place to replace our broken boiler continue and the colder weather really starts to kick in now, services are going to temporarily move into the church hall which can be heated still! We are working hard to get the boiler replaced and situation resolved as soon as we possibly can.
Children’s Society Collection Boxes
For those at St Andrew’s with these, its the time of year to bring them in to church to give to Jim Entwistle. Thank you.
Stamps
A request from St Thomas’ for your used stamps, as they are collecting them to support training guide dogs. Please do pass any you have in to your church, and the clergy will ensure they get to St Thomas’. Thank you.
Request for Wool Donations - also stuffing material for toys & pillows
Wool donations for our craft and chat group wld be very gratefully received! Whether whole or part balls of wool, any colour etc. Also, at the moment, donations of stuffing material for toys & pillows would be much appreciated. If you are able to drop off to the craft & chat group between 12.30 and 2pm on Thursdays at St James’ Church Green Lane, that would be great, but collection can easily be arranged. Please contact Pat Dunbar by text message on 07795147109 or email at [email protected] Thank you!
WEEKLY EVENTS
Craft and Chat: every Thursday 12.30pm until 2pm at St James in the fellowship room. Knitting, crocheting or any craft, you are assured of a very warm welcome so please do come and join us. please note that this will have a break for Christmas and New Year after the session on Thursday 11th December (on as normal that day, but not on 18th December). Pat
Hot lunch, tea and cakes every Thursday afternoon at Melling Tithebarn……12.00pm to 2.00pm. A plate for donations will be available. You are assured of a very warm welcome so please do come and join us.
MONTHLY EVENTS
St Peter's Tea and Scones: everyone is welcome to join us for tea and scones on the first Friday in every month from 2pm-3pm. The next one is on Friday 6th February. Expect lots of friendly chats and live music by our resident Michael with his keyboard.
Prayer & Worship - monthly get together
Each month we are going to be gathering for a time of prayer & worship together at St James Church, Green Lane. This will be a relaxed and informal time, but led and with songs, reflection on passages of scripture, pointers / themes for prayer etc. This is following on from the Prayer Course that a number of us did through Lent & Easter time, but is absolutely open to everyone, not just those who came to that course. The next of these will be on Wednesday 14th January, 7.30pm and we would be delighted to see you there. Please do speak to Rev. Simon or Claire Sherman for any further information.
Bereavement Support: at St Andrew’s Church. Further enquiries, and if there are any particular requests for bereavement support, from anywhere across our 4 parishes, please contact St Andrew’s Parish Office 0151 531 8972.
Other notices
Bulletin items for inclusion
Please send an email to [email protected] stating ‘for bulletin’ in the email ‘subject’ box / email title by midday Thursday of the week you’d like items included.
Foodbank: the Foodbank is based at St George's United Reformed Church on Northway opposite Iceland, on Tuesdays 10.00am-12.00 noon.
Tins, packet foods and toiletries are always useful. They will gratefully receive donations from 10-12 on Tuesdays at St George’s URC on Northway (easiest access is via the car park on Larchwood Avenue). Alternatively please do drop any donations off before Tuesday on the vicarage doorstep at 23 Green Link. Thank you.
CONTACT DETAILS
Please contact us…
If you know anyone who would like to receive this email
If there is anyone who needs prayer
If you know anyone who needs a phone call
Contact details:
Revd. Ian Hopkins 07914 505437 or [email protected]
Revd. Simon Elliott 07919 464348 or [email protected]