Dear Caroline,Here is a little Boxing Day bulletin to let you know about church services and opening hours this coming week....Tomorrow, 27th December, I shall lead Morning Prayer on Facebook at the usual time of 9.00am. There is no other church service from All Saints tomorrow as we all take a bit of a rest after a very full week. If you would like to tune in for worship you might like to watch the national Church of England service which features the Bishop of Loughborough, Guli Francis-Deqhani.https://www.churchofengland.org/news-and-media/join-us-church-online/weekly-online-services/worship-home-first-sunday-christmasThis is available from 9.00am tomorrow morning.I was very fortunate on Tuesday of this week to be joined by Bishop Guli on my weekly Ministers Muse with two other outstanding biblical scholars and preachers as we looked together at the biblical texts for Christmas and thought about how we might preach these texts this year. You can catch up with this Christmas special here: https://youtu.be/xnhZI7yIZ_A I have very much enjoyed taking this aspect of my sermon preparation online and plan to continue next year.Our church building will<strong> be open next week from Monday to Thursday 10-12 and if you haven't yet had the chance to come and look round it is well worth coming to see this year's small but beautiful Christmas Tree Festival. Church will also be open on Saturday 2nd January from 10 - 12 as usual for private prayer.Please only come in your own household or support bubble and observe social distancing when you are in the Church along with the wearing of a face covering at all times.</strong>It is our intention for there to be a service in Church on January 3rd but we shall of course be paying close attention to the covid situation in our area so please look out for emails from me and keep an eye on our social media pages. You can catch up with the carol services and Christmas Day on our YouTube channel. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNymtzHV8G_EfZprXch9RIgMidnight Mass and the Community Carol Service are available to view on our Facebook page:https://fb.watch/2DgwCM8Fef/ - Midnight Masshttps://fb.watch/2DgESb39DA/ - Mayor's Carol ServiceI am pleased to tell you that our Christmas Gift Appeal has reached an amazing £7860 so tomorrow I shall be running 7k dressed as Santa. The suit is getting a little frayed and so am I! But I am so grateful for every donation we have received towards this appeal. It is a great springboard for the funds we need to raise to upgrade our sound system and install cameras to make live streaming and recording a real long term option for us. Thank you for your gifts and for your encouragement with the running. The appeal will stay open until December 31st and I will keep running all the time people keep giving! https://givealittle.co/campaigns/37c0759e-edf2-4572-8276-e8e003489758Congratulations to Emma Pimm and Steve Mottram who were married amidst the Christmas trees on 23rd December. It was a lovely occasion and it was so good to be able to celebrate with them. We even managed to Zoom in some of their other guests who were unable to be at the service due to the restrictions on wedding numbers. And lastly a huge thank you to everyone who has worked so hard to enable us to celebrate Christmas services and events this year. Lots of people have contributed to helping us keep our doors open in a covid secure way and to our worship. A highlight for me was the outdoor Carols on the Green on Christmas Eve which we were able to put on in partnership with our local community. There was a great turn out and everyone was very responsible whilst enjoying the opportunity to sing together. The projection on to the side of the church was done by a local firm Event Engineering who gave their time and expertise for free to help make it a truly magical occasion. I think we might have just started a new tradition....!!Best WishesRevd Wendy
Dear Friends,Please forgive the lateness of my Saturday bulletin, I got a little bit distracted by the Strictly final which was just the tonic needed after the announcements this evening regarding covid and the Christmas holiday. I guess this evening we are all feeling just a little bit deflated as we take on board the reality of the situation and for me personally the joyous escapism of watching people dance was just what I needed to lift my mood. (And the fact the Bill Bailey won was the iciing on the cake or should I say glitter ball!)Looking ahead to these next couple of weeks we shall continue to monitor the situation but whilst we remain in Tier 3 the following will still be going ahead and I hope will bring some comfort and joy to all.....Christmas Trees in ChurchAll Saints has now been beautifully decorated with 40 trees from local organisations and businesses and as always people's creativity is out in force. We shall be open for you to come and walk round every morning from 10 - 12 from <strong>Monday 21st - Thursday 24th</strong> and <strong>Monday 28th - Thursday 31st.</strong> In addition, the church is open on Saturday mornings for private prayer including on Boxing Day.Carol and Christmas ServicesThe Mayor's Community Carol service is now full but can be viewed on the Charnwood Borough Facebook Page. There are still tickets available for the Folk Carol Service on Tuesday evening and for the Christmas Blues on Wednesday evening. Midnight Mass and Christmas Day also still have space. It is FREE to attend, with the option to make a donation, but you MUST GET A TICKET for these services. Click on this https://linktr.ee/ASwHTLboro and then choose the service you would like more information and tickets for. These services, apart from Midnight Mass are also available to view online here https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNymtzHV8G_EfZprXch9RIgA reminder that only the choirs will be able to sing and it's very important not only that we adhere to the guidance around face masks and social distancing but that we don't gather with people outside of our household when we attend the church building.Carols on the GreenTo give us the opportunity to sing together we shall be holding a half hour carol service on the Parish Green at 4pm on Christmas Eve. You DO NOT NEED A TICKET for this service but everyone attending will be asked to leave their details for track and trace, to wear a face covering and to be responsible for keeping 2 meters from those not in your own household or support bubble. This is an outdoor only event so please wrap up warm.Worship tomorrow for the fourth Sunday of Advent</strong>Emily will be leading Morning Prayer at 9.00am</strong> on https://www.facebook.com/allsaintsloughborough from her shed and I will be presiding at Communion at 10.30am in the church with Bob Edge preaching. This service is also live streamed on YouTube. At 6pm we have the last of our Advent reflections</strong> on zoom, to join please use the details below:https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88362102409?pwd=WnZxYVlDR3hrTlpXamYyVFVJT29NUT09Meeting ID: 883 6210 2409Passcode: 749201Dial in instead: 0203 901 7895 or 0131 460 1196 Using Meeting ID: 883 6210 2409Passcode: 749201Next Sunday 27th DecemberThere is no main service from All Saints next Sunday as we all take a bit of a rest after the business of this coming week. I will lead Morning Prayer at the usual time of 9.00am on Facebook.Christmas Gift AppealI am so pleased to tell you that our appeal has now reached £4292 which is amazing and meant I ran my fourth Santa run this morning. The suit is looking a little worn (as was I by the end of today's run!) but I'm all ready to do the next one as soon as we reach the next thousand pound mark. The appeal is staying open to the end of the month and my running companion this morning challenged me to extend the distance of my runs as the amounts increase. So, Graeme Smith challenge accepted!! From now on I shall match the number of kilometres I run to the amount in the appeal which means if we hit our target, I could be running a 10k on New Year's Eve!!Thank you to those who have already donated and here is the link for those who would like to:https://givealittle.co/campaigns/37c0759e-edf2-4572-8276-e8e003489758Donations can also be brought to the church. Rainbows Carol Concert Tomorrow 4pmBefore she went on maternity leave Emma Trounson worked with singers from All Saints and across the community to put together a virtual choir performance of Hark the Herald for an online Carol Concert in aid of Rainbow's Hospice. Details are attached. Do tune in to see some familiar faces.Midweek Muse Christmas SpecialLastly I am excited to tell you that this Tuesday at 12.15pm I shall be joined by amongst others, the Bishop of Loughborough in my weekly look at the scriptures on our Youtube channel. It was announced this week that Bishop Guli has been appointed BIshop of Chelmsford and so will be leaving our diocese in the spring so I feel very fortunate to have got her on the 'show' before she leaves. Do tune in live and join in the conversation as we reflect on the bible readings for the Christmas season.Yours in ChristWendy
Dear Friends,Below is the information you need for worship tomorrow with links to online services and zoom gatherings. Although it is wonderful to be able to offer worship in the church building and to be digesting the news of the potential roll out of a vaccine against covid-19 things are far from normal and it is very important we still take precautions and that no one puts themselves in a situation of unnecessary risk.Therefore, please remember when attending the church face coverings must be worn at all times (the exception is for those leading the service) follow the directions of the stewards and maintain social distancing, clean your hands on entry and exit of the building and be ready to sign in. Details of the special Carol and Christmas services are on the attached flier for which you must get a ticket to attend. These can be obtained free or a donation can be made. Click here https://linktr.ee/ASwHTLboro for easy access to the various services alternatively phone the parish office on 01509 217029.Sunday Worship for Third Sunday of Advent9.00am Morning Prayer on https://www.facebook.com/allsaintsloughborough10.30amParish Communion in the building and on https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNymtzHV8G_EfZprXch9RIg</strong>Our preacher is the Revd Lusa Nsenga-Ngoy, BAME Mission and Ministry Enabler for the Diocese of Leicester and music will be led by Kate and Will Burns. The readings are Isaiah 61.1-4, 8-end, 1 Thessalonians 5.16-24 and John 1.6-8, 19-28. You can find the order of service on our website https://allsaintsloughborough.org.uk/jml02/on-line After service 'coffee and chat'</strong> will be hosted by Revd Emily on zoom and can be accessed here:https://leccofe.zoom.us/j/91673570318?pwd=RWFvSWRmMG9qQmRRdUtVVTA3U2x6Zz09Meeting ID: 916 7357 0318 Passcode: 926286Alternatively you can phone in on your normal phone by calling 0330 088 5830 and entering the meeting ID.6.00pm Advent Worship</strong>A reflective service of readings and music on zoom led by Penny Pullan. This is not live streamed so you need to attend the zoom meeting to access this worship. https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88362102409?pwd=WnZxYVlDR3hrTlpXamYyVFVJT29NUT09Meeting ID: 883 6210 2409Passcode: 749201Dial in instead: 0203 901 7895 or 0131 460 1196 Using Meeting ID: 883 6210 2409Passcode: 7492016.45pm The Christmas Mystery bedtime story on Facebook</strong>The next chapter in the story of Joachim and the magic Advent CalendarChristmas Stars on the Parish Green</strong>The Wombles have been encouraging us to think about environmentally friendly gifts and decorations this year and there are now some beautiful willow stars on the parish green which you are welcome take home with you on your walk through the church grounds. A message from our Church Wardens, Angela and Gwyn</strong>"We are sure you will want to join with us in thanking Revd. Wendy, Revd. Emily and Revd. Mark (who was with us most of this year) for all they have done to keep us all together and spiritually motivated and supported throughout this difficult year. We are very happy to endorse Bishops Martyn and Guli's encouragement to our clergy, to not offer public worship on Sunday 27th December to ensure that they have a nice long weekend off to share time with their families. They surely deserve it. We have recommended this to the PCC and they have agreed that there will be no 1030 Communion service in church that day. Revd. Wendy will still say Morning Prayer on facebook at 9am that day.Bishop Guli is taking part in the national Church of England online service that day and Bishop Martyn will be leading the Cathedral online service and the bishops are encouraging everyone to engage in these services."Christmas Gift AppealAt the time of writing, we have just reached £2000 so as promised I will be doing another 5k Santa Run tomorrow after the morning service. Thank you to those who have already donated and here is the link for those who would like to:https://givealittle.co/campaigns/37c0759e-edf2-4572-8276-e8e003489758Donations can also be brought to the church. We are hoping to raise £10,000 so I am hoping to do a few more Santa Runs before the month is up - although I'm not sure my legs will thank me!Reverend Wendy Dalrymple
Dear Friends,I am pleased to be able to tell you that this evening we have reached £1000 in our Christmas Appeal so I shall be running the first of what I hope will be many 5k runs tomorrow dressed as Santa! If you have already donated thank you very much and if you can help by spreadng the word that would be fantastic. Remember I will run a Santa 5k for every thousand pounds we raise between now and December 31st. There will be photo evidence to share with you!I can also this evening invite you to a special <strong>online carol serivce this Saturday afternoon</strong> being run by our acting Director of Music Motje Wolf. Join Motje and Sara Wilander, pianist extraordinaire, for their third virtual concert of German music for Advent and Christmas, supporting Loughborough All Saints Church. We will be singing German and English Carols, exploring where our traditions overlap. Light a candle, get your Lebkuchen ready and either sing along or just enjoy listening. To have a taster of how this might sound, please visit https://youtu.be/9JWc-8FedNo' To book your ticket, please follow this link:<strong>https://tinyurl.com/carolconcertloughborough</strong>This will be a much more sedate way to raise money for our Christmas Appeal!And lastly don't forget if you would like to come to any of the special carol services the week of 21st December including Midnight Mass and Christmas Day you need to get a ticket. These can be obtained free or you can make a donation. All the details can be found by following this link https://linktr.ee/ASwHTLboro or you can phone the parish office to take the booking for you. 01509 217029.Best WishesRevd Wendy
