Notices 8th to 15th December 2013

SUNDAY 2nd Sunday of Advent	8th	8.00 am 10.00 am  6.00 pm	Holy Communion Holy Communion, Keith Blinston preaching - with Seekers upstairs Focus Service in the Nave and Meeting Place (arrive 6.00 pm for a 7.00 pm start)
MONDAY	9th	10.00 am 12.30 pm      6.00 pm	Rehearsal in church for Meersbrook Bank School’s Carol Service on Wed 11th Dec “Sunny Days” post natal support in MP with Sarah McLean. Last Rainbows this term – Christmas Party (Liz is still interested to hear from people who can help please )
TUESDAY	10th	10.00 am 2.30 pm 6.15 pm 7.30 pm 7.30 pm	Holy Communion Service in the Meeting Place followed by The Advent Course, week  3.   TLC in the Meeting Place  Brownies in the Upper Hall Guides  in the Upper Hall Local History Group Christmas Quiz & Social with seasonal  refreshments in the OV N.B.  Jenny & Dilesh’s Home Group is postponed for a week until Tues 17th
WEDNESDAY	11th	10.00 am 10.30 am   2.00 pm   6.30 pm   7.30 pm        8.00 pm	Peekaboo for Parents, Carers, Babies and Toddlers in the Nave & Meeting Place Care4You Team Meeting with Lynne Ashmore in the Old Vestry M.U. Advent Service in the Nave and Meeting Place - Please join us and members from our Deanery, and some of our Peekaboo and Sunny Days families for a Pre-Christmas Carol Service followed by refreshments. Everyone welcome! Meersbrook Bank School Carol Service in the Nave  (The Band arrives 6 - 6.15pm) Wednesday Home Group at Liz and Mike’s Tai Chi with Gary Shaw in the Upper Hall   (No Yoga this evening)
THURSDAY	12th	10.00 am   2.00 pm  3 – 4 pm  6.30 pm  7.00 pm	Weight Watchers in the Upper Hall Carol Service at Norton Lees Hall Care Home – Singers welcome as usual please! St Paul’s Chairobics in the Meeting Place – new members welcome! Weight Watchers in the Upper Hall St Paul’s Music Listening Group in the Meeting Place
FRIDAY	13th	12.30 pm   7.00 pm	The Cathedral Archer Project Annual Carol Service with an address from the Rt. Revd. Peter Burrows, Bishop of Doncaster. Please note: You will need to come through the side entrance and will be guided to either St George’s Chapel or the Chapel of the Holy Spirit. Soup will be served afterwards so you will have chance to see the project if you haven’t been before. Please see Margaret who has a reply form or email archer@sheffield-cathedral.org.uk if you will be attending.  (The Cathedral Archer Project supports homeless people in the city.) “A Twist in the Tale” at Gleadless Valley Methodist Church. Tickets £1.00 each or £2.50 for a family available from Robert; the ticket price includes party food.
SATURDAY	14th	10.00 am	Christingle Messy Church in the Nave and Meeting Place A morning for families with children, including art and craft activities, a short creative worship and a light lunch. A contribution of £1.00 per person is invited to cover the cost of materials and food. Please phone 255 1945 for further information
SUNDAY   3rd  Sunday of Advent	15th	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

CHRISTMAS SERVICES We need people to welcome, read, pray etc at the services over Christmas.  Just a few people have offered so far. Please see the list at the back of church to see how you can help.  Many thanks

SHEAF SINGERS’ CONCERT Many thanks to all the people who came to last Saturday’s concert, “Songs for Christmas.”  The evening was very well attended and 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:

·        Carol Singing at the Bishops’ House with mince pies & wine – 2.00 pm Sunday  15^th December

Contact ‘Friends of Bishops House’ on 2557701

·        Carols at the Cross Scythes (see poster in church)

7.30 pm Thursday 19^th December

·        Church Carol Service (with Carfield Choir)

6.00 pm Sunday 22^nd December

·        Children’s Event at the Cross Scythes – 3.00 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, baked buns or knitted or sewed, 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!

RAINBOWS AND GUIDES   Please contact Liz Scott if you are interested in helping out for an hour a week with Rainbows on Monday evenings at 6.00 pm.  Guides are also in need of helpers – please contact Karen Stevenson if you are free from 7.30 pm to 9.00 pm on Tuesday evenings. Either leader can be contacted through the Centre Office on 2550144. You would be well supported by experienced members of our uniformed organisations, and the valuable gift of your time would be of great benefit to the young people of Norton Lees. Thank you

NEWS OF OUR COMMUNITY

NORTON FESTIVE FOOD MARKET with a range of local produce and crafts will be held on Saturday 14^th December from 10.00 am to 2.00 pm at St James’ Church, Norton.

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.

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

Mike’s Ministry:

Tues 10^th – Handsworth Christian & Wooldale Junior

Thurs 12^th – Totley All Saints Primary

Fri 13^th – Lacewood Primary

Sat 14^th – St Paul’s Christingle Messy Church

Sun 15^th – St Paul’s Family Worship

From Murray

Thanks to everyone who supported the Sheaf Singers Concert last Saturday, I was sorry not to be there but did not feel too well after taking a wedding earlier in the day.  It is brilliant that the concert raised so much for the two good causes.

This week Robert has been taken around the new Roundabout Shelter for homeless young people and was very impressed by the wonderful new facilities.  He heard that despite the funding they have received to upgrade their premises, Roundabout is still very dependent on churches like ours who collect food for them and the young people are very grateful that we are thinking of them.

You may have heard that I am going to Dubai again in the New Year though I have only made the final decision to go this week.  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 and can be changed by meeting Jesus.