15th December 2023, Weekly Update

1. Christmas Cards

Thank you to everyone who took cards to deliver to homes in the parish. Many of you have also taken cards to give to family, friends, neighbours and colleagues. Additional cards have been printed and are now in the church building. Please pop in and take a handful and use them to invite people to be part of worship this Christmas.

2)   Sunday 17 December

Regular services will be held at 9.30 am and 10.30 am (also live-streamed). Rev Mary Haddow will preach and I will lead both services. The bible passages are Isaiah 61:1-4 and John 1:6-8,19-28; the theme Prepare and Repair.

Carol Service

The annual Carol Service will be at 7 pm. The choir are sounding great and I will talk about the painting on the Christmas Card. The Beacon are providing refreshments after the service in the hall.  There will be candles in fixed candle holders but please don’t bring your own with you. Hand held candles and soft furnishings are not a good combo.

This service will also be live-streamed as an experiment – it will show what quality of picture is produced in a darkened church.

3)   Invite and Pray

When Paul spoke about Jesus in Philippi God opened Lydia’s heart and she believed. Why not here? Why not now? Please invite people to the Carol Service and the other Christmas Services. Please pray that God will open people’s hearts to the significance of Jesus coming, so that this Christmas in StAB people come to faith.

4)   Help with Coffee 24 Dec

Could you help serve coffee on Sunday 24 December?  There is only one morning service so it will only be needed once at 11.30 am. Please speak to Julie if you’re able.

5)   Help with Welcome 25 Dec

Could you help the Welcome Team at the Christmas Day service? A few more people are needed. Please speak to Niki if you can.

6)   Beacon

The Beacon is not taking a break over Christmas. Soup, cake and coffee will be served on Thursdays 21 Dec, 28 Dec and 4 Jan.

On 21 Dec the Beacon service will be carol singing in the hall.

There will be no Beacon Service on 28 Dec or 4 Jan.

7)   Prayer Gatherings

Every Sunday in Prayer Room between 10 and 10.20 am

Every Monday in Room 1 between 10 and 11 am.

Every Wednesday on Zoom between for 30 minutes starting at 7 pm.

Please contact the office for log on details.

 

Neil
Rev Dr Neil Dougall