Dear FriendsHappy New Year to you all.As I write this we have just had our first Wednesday Welcome back at the start of the New Year.Our first Jimmy’s baby and toddler group this morning saw us welcome 16 children with many returning for another term and a couple of new families. Jim’s café will start back next Monday and our first Messy Church of the year will be on 19th January – its all go with so many lovely ways to connect with our community with faith and service at the heart of all that we do.I attach all the information about Messy Church for you to get involved, even if you can’t come along to the sessions it would be great to know that we are being prayed for as we meet at the sessions. The forms are at the back of church if you want to sign up for any of the teams or just ring or e-mail me or Janet if you want more information and there will be a meeting at the Rectory on Monday 13th January at 7.30 pm for all those who want to be involved.This Sunday we have our communion service at St James at 9.30 am and also a Communion service at St Mary’s, Gilston at 11.15 am.I am really looking forward to seeing you all again as our New Year gets underway.Every blessingAlison
Dear AllWith one week to go and 2 very successful Outdoor Carol services already taken….we are in the thick of it.This Sunday is the last of our Advent series before the Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services.We have two services on Sunday:-9.30 am at St James, High Wych11.15 am at St Botolph’s, Eastwick (see attached flyer)And following on from that we will be making up the Christingles at the Rectory on Monday 23rd December from 10.00 am.We can offer Christmas music, mince pies, mulled wine if you can face it at 10.00 am and many hands make light work. We had a really good system last year and great fun being together round our dining room table. If you could let me know if you are coming that would be great, so I make sure I have enough chairs!!Every blessingAlison
Dear FriendsIf you are counting down to Christmas using your Advent calendar or candle or study guide we have 2 weeks to go to Christmas Day as I write this, even less by the time we meet again perhaps.This weekend sees our normal Sunday communion service at 9.30 am on Sunday 15th December at St James but we also have 2 Pop-Up Outdoor Community Carol events over the weekend.On Saturday 14th December we have the Terling Park Community Carols at 4.00 pm (see ad)And we also have ‘Light Up High Wych at 3.45 pm followed by our Outdoor Carol Service at 4.00 pm at St James, High Wych.Both these outdoor services will be followed with refreshments of mulled wine, mince pies etc and we hope you will be able to join us for some Christmas fun.I do notice looking back that in Christmas 2022 we were deep in snow and Janet, Paul and Rosemary did a marvellous job of playing in that freezing cold weather, I think even last year was extremely chilly. The forecast for this weekend is not snowy, or freezy,or rainy, or windy, it does not even look like it will be too cold. So, we look forward to welcoming you all as we gather to celebrate Christmas, singing with gusto our favourite carols.Every blessingAlison
Dear FriendsThis feels like the last week before all the excitement and extra services of Christmas 2024 and craziness begins, although we have already had our first Pop Up Nativity and we had a great Carol singing and homemade mince pies fest at Wednesday Welcome this week.I don’t know about you but Christmas seems to have crept up really quickly this year (always same date)😊😊. However, we cannot come to a full stop at Christmas. As a team we are still thinking about the year ahead in 2025. To give you as much notice as possible two things will be happening early in January…Messy Church and AlphaAt the back of church this Sunday you will find the sign up sheets for the teams for Messy Church in January (see note on Welcome Sheet).You will also see some flyers for the Alpha Course which will be running online again in January.Please promote these things amongst your families and friends and be thinking who you can ask to take part, attend etc.This Sunday we have a service of Communion at St James at 9.30 amWe also have a Communion service at St Mary’s at 11.15 am.Where I look forward to welcoming you.Don’t forget if you want to talk to me I am always available on the numbers below.Every blessingAlison
