A Happy New Year to everyone!

Jesus is the Light of the World, - let us celebrate His coming.  Give your heart to Him and live your life in 2012 with Jesus.

St Mary's welcomes you all and has many things to do as the New year begins. 
You are welcome to any or all of our regular Sunday and Wednesday services. 

We also have some new events and some of our regular popular events in church to put into your diaries:

Messy Church - 1st Sunday in the month, starting again in February!
Fun and Games afternoons - Thurs. 12th and 26th January, Thurs. 9th and 23rd February.
Coffee Mornings - Every Friday 10.00am - 12noon.
Christingle - Sunday, 15th Jan, 2.45pm

See new events in our Forthcoming Events column on the right.
Please note: Radcliffe on Trent Male Voice Choir with special soloist - Sat. 21st Jan, 7.30pm. Tickets now on sale.

Friday 27th-Sunday 29th Jan. - Parish Weekend at Willersley Castle, Derbyshire.

CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICES!

If you haven't seen our notices, there has been a change in the time for our

Traditional Carol Service this year. 

It will be at 6.30pm instead of 7.45pm,
so note the change if you're coming.......or you'll miss it!

3.00pm - Crib Service

4.30pm - Family Carol Service

6.30pm - Traditional Carol Service.

Come and share the birth of Jesus with us.  See you there!

Merry Christmas to everyone, whether near or far! God bless you all.

The pink Advent candle was lit for Mary on Sunday, remembering her role as Mother of our Lord and her obedience to God. We light the white one for Jesus on Christmas Day, the day of His birth.

Our All Stars enjoyed their Christmas Party in the Hall, while the 9.30am Service was held in church.

In the afternoon we welcomed two families whose babies were baptised into the church, filling the church with happy noise.

On Saturday, the Family Advent Fun Afternoon was held in church when over 40 youngsters made crafts, enjoyed lots of goodies and had lots of fun.  The also decorated the Church Christmas Tree which takes pride of place in the Lady Chapel ready for Christmas. 

These are the highlights before Christmas:

Mon 19th Dec. 7.00pm Carol Singing at Derbyshire House. Come and join us for carols with the Residents.

Tues 20th Dec. 1.30pm Harry Carlton Year 7 Carol Service in Church

Tues 20th Dec. 6.30pm Carol Singing at the Three Horse Shoes - Another chance to sing your favourite carols, this time inside the pub.

Wed 21st Dec. 10.00am Holy Communion at St Mary's Church.
Please note!  There is NO Holy Communion on Wed. 28th December!

Sat. 24th Dec. Christmas Eve.
3.00pm Blessing of the Crib - for all families with small children.

4.30pm Family Carol Service

6.30pm Traditional Carol Service
(Please Note the earlier time of 6.30pm!)

11.30pm First Communion of Christmas (Midnight Service)

Christmas Day

10.00am Parish Communion - (Please note the time.)

Don't forget! Advent Family Fun Afternoon

Saturday, 17th Dec., 2.30-4.30pm. - Advent Family Fun Afternoon.

DON'T FORGET! Bring the children to decorate St Mary's Christmas Tree, make crafts and have fun.  Everyone is welcome.

It's also ALL STARS CHRISTMAS PARTY on Sunday, 18th Dec. at 9.30am in St Mary's Hall. Adults are welcome to join the church service celebrating the 4th Sunday in Advent.

The small number of folks who set up the layouts in church would appreciate any help setting up and putting the seating back after the events.  Please contact anyone in the church if you're willing to help.

What a Nativity Play!

Yesterday St Mary's held the most wonderful Nativity Play as part of our 9.30am Worship Together Service.  The children were amazing and played their parts beautifully.  There were two very clear Narrators, the Christmas Star and the Super(intendent) Star.  Everyone was dressed in their lovely costumes with very cute angels, kings, shepherds, sheep and of course Mary and Joseph. Thank you to everyone who took part, including Revd David Gorick who was the Angel Gabriel.  The Mums of all the children certainly worked very hard too and especially Revd Glynis and Cora. Even the congregation took part, waving their stars. Congratulations and well done.
Can we have another one next year please?

The third candle was lit on the Advent wreath yesterday to represent John, the Baptist.

These are the highlights for this week.

Mon. 12th, 2.15pm - Mothers' Union Advent Service at St Mary's.  Other churches are invited too.

Tues. 13th, 7pm - Uniformed Organisations Carol Service in St Mary's Church.

Wed. 14th, 10am - Holy Communion. M.U. Corporate

Fri. 16th, 9.30-10.30am - Mini Music Christmas Party in the Hall.
Fri. 16th 10-12noon - Coffee Morning in Church.

Sat. 17th, 2.30-4.30pm - CHRISTMAS ADVENT FAMILY FUN AFTERNOON + DECORATING THE CHRISTMAS TREE!

Join us next week Carol Singing at Derbyshire House on Mon. 7pm or at the Three Horseshoes Pub on Tues. at 6.30pm.

Check our on-line calendar as well as the website and blog for what's on and where. See the links.

Advent, Week 2 - the Prophets.

On Sunday, the second candle of the Advent ring was lit to remember the Prophets who foretold of the birth of our Saviour. Who could have imagined that they could have prophesied hundreds of years before the arrival of Jesus?

In among all the busyness before Christmas, please remember to make time for Jesus and give thanks.

If you would like to join in some of the events which are taking place you can find them on our On-Line calendars for both the Church and St Mary's Hall.

These are the highlights for the week.

*Tues. 6th, 7.45pm - Parenting group in church

*Wed. 7th, 10.00am - Holy Communion Service
  

*Please note that Thurs. 8th, 2.00pm, the GAMES AFTERNOON will be held in the Hall as the church is required for a Funeral Service!

*Fri. 9th, 9.30-10.30am - Mini Music in St Mary's Hall.

*Fri. 9th, 10.00-12noon - Coffee Morning in Church.

*Sat. 10th, 10.00-12noon - Nativity Play Rehearsal in church.

*Sat. 10th, 10.00am - Banner Group Xmas Stall for Rainbows at the Methodist Church.

*Sat. 10th/Sun. 11th - Costock Christmas Tree Festival.

*Sun. 11th, 9.30am - Worship Together + Nativity Play.

Holy Communion Services at 8.00am and 6.00pm.

Please note that the Advent Family Fun Day will be on 17th Dec. to include decorating the Church Christmas Tree.

Last Saturday's Concert by the Radcliffe Chorale raised over £800 for Save the Children Charity!

Calling ALL children! We need YOU!

It's time for Messy Church held on Sunday, 4th Dec. at 4.00pm in the church. Bring all the children along for some fun with them.

Don't forget!  Next week on Sunday, 11th Dec at 9.30am there will be a Nativity Play as part of the Worship Together Service and we're looking for budding actors of the Junior kind to take part. Come along on Saturday 10th at 10am to practise or just come along on Sunday morning. There will be parts for everyone.

Please note! Thursday 8th December 2.00-4.00pm the GAMES AFTERNOON will be held in St Mary's Hall, due to the church being required for a funeral.