Priest: Steve Whiting 01347 810251 revstevewhiting@gmail.comLay Minister: Margaret Price 01347 811262 pricehm870@gmail.comChurchwarden: Richard Mapletoft 01347 811854 rmapletoft@outlook.comCanon Emeritus: Robert Law 01347 810940 lrf43@kesonline.orgWorship in Church in DecemberSunday December 7th 10.00am. Service regarding St Nicholas, after whom the church is named.Sunday December 14th 10.00am. Morning Worship.Sunday December 21st 10.00am. Holy Communion.Sunday December 21st 4.00pm. Carols by Candlelight. Scratch choir rehearsal at 3.00pm.Tuesday December 23rd 4.00pm. Christingle and Nativity Service. Especially (but not only) for children.Wednesday December 24th 11.00pm. Midnight Mass.Sunday December 28th 10.00am. Holy Communion at Farlington. This is for all the villages nearby.Visiting the churchThe church is open every day, from nine or earlier until four.Advent GroupMeets on Mondays between 2.30 and 4.00pm until Monday, December 15th. Please contact Margaret Price (01347 811262; pricehm870@gmail.com) for details.Prayers for the villageThese take place every Thursday at 9am. If you would like to join us or if you would like prayers said for anyone or anything please contact Margaret Price (01347 811262; pricehm870@gmail.com) or leave a note in the side chapel of St Nicholas.Holy Communion at home Would you like to receive Holy Communion at home? If you are not able to come to Church on a Sunday morning would you like a visit at home? Do make a phone call to arrange a convenient time. Margaret Price 01347 811262.
The churchyard, being 'closed', is maintained by the Parish Council.The PCC has invoked the help of children from the Primary School to plant a new hedgerow between the half of the churchyard extension used for burials and the half not yet in use. In addition wild flower seeds have been planted in part of the unused section.Eco Top Tips from St Nicholas’ ChurchEvery month the Eco-Working Group at St Nicholas’ Church gives a few handy tips for every household to understand and control their carbon emissions, as an act of love for Christ’s creation and our fellow human beings. For December, then:December - Christmas Crackers1. Real Christmas trees have a much lower carbon footprint than artificial ones, especially if disposed of by wood-chipping. An artificial tree would need to be reused for ten years to be comparable.2. This Advent ponder on Jesus’ coming to be with us on earth. How are we preparing His creation for Him to live with us here? Pray for grace and wisdom to play your part in caring for creation. 3. Watch your shopping trolley. In the UK our food spend increases by 16% in December; make sure you are not over catering and that extras are not going to end up in the bin.4. Celebrate the joy of Jesus coming to be with us. Wonder at his incarnating, He embraced being human, vulnerable and very much part of the creation that He made to restore it all back into peace with God. 5. Calculate your carbon footprint for 2025 at Climate Stewards www.climatestewards.org. Did you make any reductions this year? Take responsibility for your 2025 emissions by carbon offsetting. Set a target for 2026.
