St Nicholas Parish Church Fleetwood. Week beginning 17th December 2023

We seek to be a church that lives by faith, is known by love and

is a voice of hope to the community we serve.

Website https://www.achurchnearyou.com/church/11671

Sunday 17th December

8.30 am Holy Communion in Church

9.30 am Worship on Zoom

10.45 am Holy Communion in Church with baptism of Corey Connelly Sidespersons: Judith & Dorothy W

4.00 pm Family & Co in the Broadway Rooms

7.00 pm Nine Lessons and Carols with Thornton Cleveleys Brass Band in Church

Tuesday 19th December

Wednesday 20th December

10.00 am Funeral of Johnny Sumner in Church

Thursday 21st December

9.30 am Shakespeare School Carol Service in Church

10.00 am Christmas Coffee Morning in Jubilee Room

Friday 22nd December

9.00 am Little Gang in the Broadway Rooms

Sunday 24th December Christmas Eve

8.30 am Holy Communion in Church

9.30 am Worship on Zoom

10.45 am Holy Communion in Church

5.00 pm Crib Service in Church

11.30 pm First Communion of Christmas

Monday 25th December Christmas Day

10.45 am Family Communion in Church

Tuesday 26th December

2 pm Service cancelled. Returning on 2nd Jan 2024

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It might be hard to believe now that Christmas is so big, but for centuries the Church paid little attention to the stories of Jesus’ birth. There was more focus on his death and his rising from the dead, or on how he was one person of the Holy Trinity. It was Saint Francis who turned our attention to the Christmas story again - particularity to St Luke’s account. He wanted to show ordinary people that God had come to be with us. One Christmas he just set up a scene in a cave with animals, people and a manger and led the congregation out from church after the service to see it. He did not need words to say, “This is how God comes to you.”

Our hope is that through the readings and carols this coming week, through our being together breaking bread and drinking wine, we and those who we care for and those who join us, will know afresh that this is how God comes to us. When the days are short and the nights long, when our spirits are low and it’s cold, there is a deep need to find hope for a new year and for life itself. May Emmanuel, God with us, be that hope.

Thank you from the Vicar: Once again I have been blown away by the generosity and willingness of so many folk who have worked their socks of preparing for and delivering a host of events in these last weeks. It’s been a joy to see so many gifts being used in the ministry of hospitality and welcome. Alongside the joy of the season, we have also held several important funerals for families who we know and love. Our thoughts and prayers remain with them as they face Christmas without their loved ones.

Please remember in your prayers: Christine and John McLellan, Louise Clark, Rev Martin Keighley, Mark Price, Rebekah,  Jan Risely, Craig Abson, Dorothy Cox, Jeanette Norman and Maurice Roberts. Please also remember the families of David Newton, Beryl Lister, Anne Hood and John Sumner whose funerals are due to take place.

Regular weekly or monthly giving to St Nic’s really helps us budget and plan for the future.

If you would like to formalise your giving in 2024 either by setting up a standing order (which is preferable) or by a weekly envelope, please see Ruth who will be happy to assist you