St Paul's Church and Centre: December 2013

notices

SUNDAY 4^th Sunday of Advent	22^nd	8.00 am 10.00 am 6.00 pm	Holy Communion Holy Communion (No Seekers – school holidays) St Paul’s Candle Lit Carol Service with Carfield Community Choir and mulled wine and mince pies afterwards
MONDAY	23^rd	3.30 pm	Please note: The office is now closed until 9.00 am on Monday 6^th January. If you have an urgent message to be read out with the notices next Sunday 29^th December, please give it to Murray in writing. Thanks Children’s Event at the Cross Scythes with Meersbrook Children’s Choir. Fancy Dress Nativity – Children can come dressed as a character from the Christmas bible story and we will act it out and sing
TUESDAY Christmas Eve	24^th	10.00 am 6.00 pm 11.30 pm	Holy Communion Service in the Meeting Place Family Carols for Christmas Midnight Communion in the Chancel
WEDNESDAY Christmas Day	25^th	10.00 am	Family Communion for Christmas Day
SUNDAY 1^st Sunday of Christmas	29^th	8.00 am 10.00 am	Holy Communion in the Meeting Place Family Communion in the Meeting Place
TUESDAY New Year’s Eve	31^st	10.00 am	Holy Communion in the Meeting Place
WEDNESDAY	1^st		Happy New Year everyone! For information: W.I. meetings resume on Wednesday 8^th January Similarly, 1^st Wednesday Group will also meet a week later on Wed 8^th
THURSDAY	2^nd	10.00 am 6.30 pm	Weight Watchers resumes in the Upper Hall No Chairobics until next week on Thursday 9^th January Weight Watchers in the Upper Hall
FRIDAY	3^rd	10.00 am	Mothers’ Union Coffee Morning at Sheffield Cathedral
SUNDAY Epiphany	5^th	8.00 am 10.00 am 6.00 pm	Holy Communion Baptism Service with Revd. Karen Cribb of St Mary’s, Bramall Lane A warm welcome to the families and friends of Willow Jay Murphy and Bella Michelle Whitehall who are being baptised at St Paul’s today Focus Service in the Nave and Meeting Place. Arrive 6.00 pm for 7.00 pm start Welcome back!

From Murray

I am just back from Holmwood Care Home where we had a lovely Carol Service, this time with people who come to TLC joining us. As ever, Konrad was very busy ferrying residents to and fro, and finding seats for us all. We filled the dining room and had to get some extra seating in as well. It all went very well as Konrad has been doing some carol singing rehearsals with the residents over the last few weeks in preparation.

The next big thing will be Thursday evening at the Cross Scythes when I am hoping that we are able to fill the pub with people come to sing carols! This year we have permission to relay David’s playing right round the pub using their PA system as last year people in the front bar complained that they could not hear the music in the back room.

Then on Sunday evening we have our own Carol Service which I am looking forward too very much. It is such a wonderful time of year when we can so easily share the joy of Jesus’ birth in the singing of carols!

CHRISTMAS SERVICES

We need a couple more people to welcome, read, and pray at services over Christmas. Please sign the list in church if you can help. Thank you

ROOM HIRE: 2014 DATES

Thanks to all those people who have already informed us of their return date for 2014. If you haven’t yet done this, it’s important you do. Please could you let us know this week by popping a note under the office door? To help us with programming the heating, it’s a great help if you can provide a list of dates when your group will be meeting in 2014 please. (Joan makes diary entries for the whole year for 25 groups in the church office diary, and it’s really useful if you can put your dates in writing for us. It saves Joan an awful lot of counting out!) If you host a house group and would like your meetings to go on the church notice sheet, please could you also put your dates in writing?

TAKING CARE OF ST PAUL’S

Following our wonderful Redevelopment Project we have tried very hard to take good care of our beautiful building. Visitors always comment positively on the work that’s been done. One of the new chairs has recently been damaged; please take care when moving them and be careful you do not drop the chairs as this will weaken the joints. May we also remind people about some of the “little things” like covering tables for craft activities. It saves us a lot of time scrubbing off PVA adhesive, Pritt stick, felt tip pen & cake icing etc. Art work, posters etc. should be put up on the gloss painted surfaces or glass with blutac and not sellotape. Please help us to keep St Paul’s in good order and thanks everyone for your co-operation.

OFFICE OPENING IN 2014

From the week commencing 19^th January, for a few months, the office will be manned from Tuesday to Thursday only, between 10.00 am and 12 noon (except exceptional circumstances). Church members should only call during these times, and encourage other enquirers to do the same. At other times please remember to bring your church key and use the side entrance please. For the Christmas Holiday closure dates, please see overleaf.

FROM CATHY

Many thanks to everyone who has supported the work of St Paul’s Centre throughout the year, and wishing you all a very Happy Christmas! Cathy

RAINBOWS & GUIDES

Please contact Liz Scott or Karen Stevenson if you are interested in helping out with Rainbows or Guides. Either leader can be contacted via the Centre Office on 2550144 or see “What’s on” for details. You would be supported by experienced members of our uniformed organisations, and the gift of your time would be of great benefit to the young people of Norton Lees. Thanks

BISHOPS BISTRO & COFFEE HOUSE

Please support your fantastic local bistro at 5 Lees Hall Ave, by Hollythorpe shops. Flyers in church for opening times and special offers.

Mike’s Ministry:

Sun 22^nd – St Paul’s 8.00 am & 10.00 am H.C. services

Tues 24^th – St Paul’s 10.00 am H.C.

St Paul’s 6.00 pm Family Carols

Sun 29^th – St Paul’s 10.00 am Family Communion

Sun 5^th Jan 2014 – St Paul’s 8.00 am H.C.

FROM MURRAY AND ANN

Thank you for your Christmas cards which we have enjoyed very much. We wish you all a happy and wholesome Christmas and a wonderful start to the New Year.

CHURCH CHRISTMAS CARDS

Do take time to look at the cards stuck on the sliding cupboard doors by the Font which are to all members of St Paul’s.

notices

SUNDAY 3^rd Sunday of Advent	15^th	8.00 am 10.00 am 2.00 pm 6.00 pm 7.00 pm	Holy Communion Family Worship (No Seekers today) Carol Singing at the Bishops’ House with mulled wine and mince pies! Free! “Vine Time” Service in the Old Vestry Focus Service in the Nave and Meeting Place (arrive 6.00 pm for a 7.00 pm start) Please note: Date change owing to our church Carol Service next week
MONDAY	16^th	12.30 pm	Last “Sunny Days” post natal support group this year – resumes Mon 6^th Jan No Rainbows – resumes Monday 13^th January
TUESDAY	17^th	10.00 am 2.00 pm 2.00 pm 6.15 pm 7.30 pm	Holy Communion Service in the Meeting Place Holmwood Christmas Service – Carol singers will be very welcome please! TLC will be meeting for the service at 2.00 pm at Holmwood then returning to St Paul’s (Last session this year, resumes 7^th January) Brownies in the UH. Guides has finished for this term – resumes Tues 7^th January Jenny & Dilesh’s Home Group
WEDNESDAY	18^th	10.00 am 10.30 am	Peekaboo for Parents, Carers, Babies and Toddlers in the Nave & Meeting Place Christmas Party – Santa’s Grotto in the Clergy Vestry Care4You Team Meeting with Lynne Ashmore in the Old Vestry Tai Chi and Yoga will resume on 8^th January For information: “Craft and Chat” with the W.I. is cancelled this evening – W.I. meetings resume on Wed 8^th January in preference to meeting on New Year’s Day. Similarly, 1^st Wednesday Group will also meet a week later on Wednesday 8^th.
THURSDAY	19^th	10.00 am 3 – 4 pm 6.30 pm 7.30 pm 7.30 pm	Weight Watchers in the Upper Hall St Paul’s Chairobics in the Meeting Place – new members welcome! Weight Watchers in the Upper Hall ‘Carols at the Cross Scythes’ – a warm and festive family evening with free glass of mulled wine and a mince pie. Come and join members of St Paul’s and Mount View Churches and meet the new landlords at the Cross Scythes pub too! Please bring raffle prizes – proceeds split between our three charities Thursday Prayer Group in the Meeting Place
FRIDAY	20^th	7.30 pm	Worship Group rehearsal in the Old Vestry
SUNDAY 4^th Sunday of Advent	22^nd	8.00 am 10.00 am 6.00 pm	Holy Communion Holy Communion (No Seekers – school holidays) St Paul’s Candle Lit Carol Service with mulled wine and mince pies to follow

From Murray As I write this on Tuesday evening I have just heard part of Barack Obama’s speech at the Thanksgiving Service for Nelson Mandela. With tears in my eyes I reflected that with the black President of the United States leading the tributes for such a man, nothing is truly impossible and the injustices of our world can be overcome. There is much still wrong amongst the nations but such events give us hope and fuel our prayer.

On Monday evening I attended the Scouts Sheaf District Carol Service at Greenhill Methodist Church which was led by the minister there, Jonathan Haig. It was a brilliant service and the young people really warmed to his enthusiasm, passion and humour. Next year I will be inviting the Scout District back to St Paul’s for the annual Carol Service in our Group’s Centenary year. Maureen Food who I work with in leading the Cub Pack is a Reader at St Mary’s, Bramall Lane , and we will be planning and leading the service together again, as we did a few years ago.

Speaking of the 46^th Sheffield Scout Groups Centenary, I am not sure if you know that we have a special service planned for Sunday 18^th May at 3.00 pm here at St Paul’s when Peter Burrows, Bishop of Doncaster will be speaking and many former members of our Group will attend. This follows an open day at the Scout Hall the day before.

CHRISTMAS SERVICES We need people to welcome, read, & pray at the services over Christmas. Just a few people have offered so far, and there are still spaces to be filled on the list in church. Please sign up to help if you can. Thank you

SHEAF SINGERS’ CONCERT Many thanks to all the people who came to “Songs for Christmas.” We raised £255 for “Help for Heroes” and a further £255 for St Paul’s charities that we support in Zimbabwe. Thanks to Ken for organising it and all those who helped with refreshments.

CHRISTMAS DATES:

· Church Carol Service (with Carfield Choir)

6.00 pm Sunday 22^nd December

· Children’s Event at the Cross Scythes – 3.30 pm Monday 23^rd December (Fancy Dress Nativity)

· Family Carols at St Paul’s

6.00 pm Tuesday 24th December

· Midnight Communion

11.30 pm Tuesday 24th December

· Christmas Day Family Communion

10.00 am Wednesday 25th December

CHRISTMAS TREE FESTIVAL AND FAYRE Thank you so much all those people who organised the day and to everyone who supported us. It was a hugely successful event; the total raised for the fabric fund is about £900, so with a further donation of £100 at the Autumn Memorial Service, we are well on our way to being able to repair more of the worst damaged church windows on the North side of church! Thank you everyone!

ROOM HIRE: 2014 DATES Thanks to all those people who have already let us know their last session this year, and their return date for 2014. If you haven’t yet done this, please could you let us know this week? To help us with programming the heating, it’s a great help if you can provide a list of dates when your group will be meeting in 2014 please. (Joan makes diary entries for the whole year for 25 groups in the church office diary, and it’s really useful if you can put your dates in writing for us, as it saves Joan an awful lot of counting out!) If you host a house group and would like your meetings to go on the church notice sheet, please could you also put your dates in writing?

RAINBOWS & GUIDES Please contact Liz Scott or Karen Stevenson if you are interested in helping out with Rainbows or Guides. Either leader can be contacted via the Centre Office on 2550144 or see “What’s on” for details. You would be supported by experienced members of our uniformed organisations, and the gift of your time would be of great benefit to the young people of Norton Lees. Thanks

BISHOPS BISTRO & COFFEE HOUSE Please support your fantastic local bistro at 5 Lees Hall Ave, by Hollythorpe shops. Flyers in church for opening times and special offers.

BELL RINGERS urgently needed to perform carols outside the Bistro. Please see Jacqui a.s.a.p.

TAKING CARE OF ST PAUL’S Following our wonderful Redevelopment Project we have tried very hard to take good care of our beautiful building. Visitors are always impressed and comment positively on the work that’s been done. Lately, there have been a few problems – nothing major, but can we remind people about some of the “little things” like covering tables for craft activities (wipeable PVC table cloths will be bought shortly, meanwhile if you could use a few sheets of newspaper please?) It saves us a lot of

time scrubbing PVA adhesive, Pritt stick, felt tip pen & cake icing etc. off the table tops. Art work, posters etc. should be put up on the gloss painted surfaces or glass with blutac and not sellotape. One of the new chairs has also been damaged; please take care when moving them and lift them rather than dragging them. Please help us to keep St Paul’s in good order and thanks everyone for your co-operation.

WOODHOUSE PRIZE BAND presents “A Christmas Celebration” this week on Mon 16^th Dec 7.00 pm for 7.30 pm at St James’ Church, Norton. Tickets £5.00 for adults & £2.00 for children, with refreshments included. Tickets from Lesley 0114 2373790 or Sally on 0114 2745259.

Mike’s Ministry:

Sun 15^th – St Paul’s 10.00 am Family Worship

Mon 16^th – Mundella Primary

Sun 22^nd – St Paul’s 8.00 am & 10.00 am H.C. services

From Murray

(From last week) You may have heard that I am going to Dubai again in the New Year though I have only recently made the final decision to go. The focus this year will be on the return of the wise men (and yes, that is why I have been leading an Advent course on the subject!). I will fly out on 1^st January so that I can preach at three services over the weekend of the Epiphany (the coming of the wise men). The following Friday (the main day for worship in Dubai) we will go out into the desert, walk, reflect and camp as we think of the wise men on their return journey. I hope that we will share in their journeying and see how our lives, like theirs, have been an

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Thursday, 26 December 2013

Notices 22nd December to 5th January 2013

Notices 15th to 22nd December 2013