Christmas crafts.

Saturday, 4th Dec. 2.00-4.00pm in St Mary's Church there will be a Christmas Crafts Fun afternoon for all the family, especially the children.  Come along and join the fun. It's free!

On Sunday, the first day of Advent, the first candle was lit to remember the Patriarchs.  The children helped with the lighting then went to make their own Advent wreaths during the service.

Please remember your neighbours! Not everyone is able to join in the fun and excitement. The severe, cold and snowy weather causes many problems, so please don't forget to check on your neighbours to see if they need any help, especially those who live alone. Someone checking on them could make all the difference.  As Christians, we must take care of each other and treat one another as we would like to be treated ourselves. That means everyone, not just those who are already friends.

This time of year charities who help the homeless are desperate for your help. Imagine not having your home to keep you warm in this cold weather.  Which of us would change places with them?

Fun and laughter at Turkey and Tinsel today

We welcomed fourteen guests from the East Leake community to our first Turkey and Tinsel event today and great fun was had by all. 

There were games with prizes, a most delicious Christmas dinner and dessert at the Three Horseshoes Pub, followed by entertainment and singing before 'Santa Claus' with an elf came to hand out gifts to all the guests.

Everyone went home after having refreshments including home-made mince pies. We'd like to thank everyone for making it such an enjoyable day, especially to Canon Philip Humphries who expertly played the piano and sang for us.  Watch out for more photos.

Advent begins this Sunday, 28th November.

This marks the beginning of the church looking forward to the coming of Jesus as a baby, the Messiah.  He came to show us how to live so that we might have a close, loving relationship with God who loves us all.  It also reminds us that we are looking forward to Jesus coming again.

Are you using your talents?

Plans are going ahead for all the services and events in Advent up to Christmas. Whatever your skill or talent you could be using it for the benefit of the community, and we all DO have talents or skills.  God gave us all talents, some greater than others but you mustn't waste them.  You could be good at making friends or be a good listener - they're in very short supply these days!

If you're not a regular churchgoer but would like to be part of this exciting time, you're very welcome to join us for whatever time you can contribute. Even our churches in East Leake pool their talents e.g. the talented embroidery Banner Group. 

It's a great way to make new friends in a fun and friendly atmosphere, we'll always be glad to see you and use 'many hands to make light work'.  All are welcome, men, women or children and all ages.

Just check the list in the Forthcoming Events column. Are you good at crafts, carpentry, bellringing, singing, sewing, baking, drama, photography, or do you have lots of good ideas and are very organised?  Or would you just like to come along and help with whatever's needed?

Ringing the bell in Madagascar and thanks.

The bell can ring again in a Madagascan church. The picture is of the new "sally" bell rope at our Mission partners Sam and Violette Beeton's church in Madagascar, which was made and donated by Phil Stanley of Ellis Ropes. Little did they know when they visited us this year that the Stanley family had the answer to their prayers, when they mentioned that their bell rope had worn out. Many thanks to the Stanley family for their kind donation.  As you can see it's already in good use.

Turkey and Tinsel, Thursday 25th November, 10.30am-3.00pm. 
Time is running out if you'd like to join us next Thursday for our special day of fun and entertainment.  Spaces are still available, but we need the final numbers by tomorrow, Sunday for the Christmas lunch at the Three Horseshoes (cost £5).  We hope to fill the church with laughter. Folks from the Residential homes in East Leake have been invited as well as those who live alone.  If you need transport, please contact Doris on 852778 or Sue on 820252.
Watch for photos from the event on the blog or website.
 
Forthcoming events.

• It's the beginning of Advent on Sunday, 28th November already!

• Following the service at 9.30am will be the Parish Council's Thankyou getogether, with refreshments for all our volunteers who have maintained St Mary's Churchyard in the past year. This event also includes a thank you to those on the Church Cleaning rota for all their hard work.

A BIG THANKYOU! There are other rotas within the church who take care of the church and its services, so thank you to all the teams as well for:
Flower Arranging
Brass Cleaning
Bell Ringing
Choir Music Group
Audio systems
Fund Raising
Social Events
Youth Work
The list doesn't include the Staff Team, Sacristan and Verger, Churchwardens and PCC of course who do an enormous amount of work.
I'm sure someone will say if I've forgotten someone as there is a lot of work to be done and many people involved in keeping things running.
ST MARY'S CHURCH COULDN'T FULFILL IT'S MISSION WITHOUT YOU!

Good news!

St Mary's Church Hall roof.
We have just been promised funding from Grass Roots charity to repair the Church Hall roof following recent vandalism.  Work could begin as early as next week, but for those who use the hall regularly can be assured that things will continue as usual and any disruption will be kept to a minimum.  We appreciate your patience while this work is being done.

Samaritan's Purse. This is the Christmas Box Appeal for poor and needy children.  Over 300 shoe boxes containing small gifts and sweets are on their way to Romania from East Leake this year!  A big thank you to all who filled a box. You will make a child very happy this Christmas.

Posada. This tradition started in Mexico to represent the trials Mary and Joseph had trying to find a place at an inn on their journey to Bethlehem. The Mary and Joseph figurines from our church nativity scene, are invited into our own homes for a night during Advent.  Would you like to invite them into your home?  If so, please sign the list at the back of church as it's filling up quickly.

Autumn's here!

Christmas Card Fair & Coffee Morning, Friday November 5th. The clocks have changed, the gales have brought most of the leaves down and the shops are full of Christmas goodies.  Our own Christmas Card Fair and Coffee Morning brought many folks in to buy the various cards, Advent calendars and delicious cakes.


'TURKEY AND TINSEL' event at St Mary's Church, Thursday, 25th November, starting at 10.30am-3.00pm approx.  This event is for older/young at heart persons.  £5 inclusive.  Coffee, lunch and entertainment. Please contact Gill, Doris, Pam or Jan to sign up and for further details. If you can't get away for a holiday, come and join the fun for a day.  Transport can be provided for those with mobility problems.

PARISH WEEKEND 28th - 30th JANUARY 2011 at WILLERSLEY CASTLE, DERBYSHIRE.
If you are planning to go to this weekend, payments are now due. The final date is DECEMBER 12th.
The cost is £121, less your £20 deposit for adults. Spare places are available - would you like one?
Please contact Judith for details.

Church Cleaning - we need your help.
There is a small rota of people who clean the church for a couple of hours approximately every other month - mainly sweeping and dusting.
With more helpers it would be less. Can you help?
The work is not hard and you would be working with another person.
For details please call Avril on 852238.