Pastoral News: 21 December 08

Service Details 21/12/08

On Sunday 21st December at 10.30am our minister Paul Rosier leads our worship. Paul will be speaking from the “Christmas Letters” series from Colossians 1/15-17 “Jesus the Reigning Lord”.

In the evening at 7.00pm we have our Community Carol Service which includes the musical “There's something amazing...”. The evening is suitable for all the family, and includes carols and a special feature on the work of Spurgeon's Child Care, for which there will be a collection. The musical includes cameo appearances by town councillors and the town mayor.

Christmas Day Service

On Christmas Day at 10.30am (concluding by 11.15a.m.) we have worship for all ages, with special music. Paul will be speaking from “Christmas Letters - Jesus the Saving Lord”.

Service Details 28/12/08

On Sunday 28th December at 10.30am our worship is led by Trevor Ransome, with Paul Rosier speaking from “Christmas letters: Jesus the Reflective Lord".

Collecting Stamps For BMS

Please don’t forget to give your used postage stamps to Christine Ransome who uses them to raise funds for the Baptist Missionary Society. Stamps must have a plain border around them; if in doubt please check with Christine.

Christmas Cracked

This year’s presentations went well and over 500 Year 6 children from all the Newport Pagnell Schools, Olney, Giffard Park and Willen Schools discovered what really happened at the original Christmas, and how some of the Christmas traditions originated. The Nutty Professor and others helped take ”the fluff” (the extra trappings) off “the bubblegum” (the original Christmas story.) The children …… and teachers entered into the morning or afternoon with enthusiasm and enjoyed all the activities. We will be inviting these schools back to Easter Cracked, because as we explained to the children, God sent His Son, Jesus as a baby at Christmas as part of his rescue plan for mankind. Christmas is, therefore, just the beginning and we will finish the story at Easter.

Thank you to everyone who came to help by talking to the children, and providing and supervising the mince pie making. Thank you to everyone for their prayers on the days of the presentations. We have had positive feed back from the schools, and so thank God for the opportunities we have had to share with the children the importance of Christmas and what it means to Christians.

New Year’s Day Walk

The churches of the town have again arranged for a gentle stroll, or ride if you prefer, around the churches on New Years Day, with short, 10 minute, services at each venue. You can join or leave the walk at any stage, of course. This year the schedule is -

10.00am St. Luke’s
10.30am St Bede’s
10.50am The Baptist Church
11.10am The Parish Church
11.30am The Unite Reformed Church
11.45am The Methodist Church with refreshments to finish

Paganell Grange Carol Service

Keith Bedford is leading the Paganell Grange Carol Service on Christmas Eve at 3.00pm and is in need of a keyboard player for 5 well known carols. If you are able to help please contact Keith Bedford on 616348, 07747 603407 or keith_bedford@talktalk.net.

African Drumming

If you have already indicated an interest in the African drumming workshop to be held on Sunday 18th January, please see Bev Wright as soon as possible to confirm your place. The cost will be £3.

New Year’s Eve Party

On New Year’s Eve we are going on a ‘Grand Tour of Britain’. Starting and finishing in Newport Pagnell we will be taking various forms of transport and visiting many places on this great island of ours. If you have any ideas for a game, quiz, song, act etc. then please let Steve Greenfield or Roy Taylor know. Most of all make sure you don’t miss out on a great evening. Don’t forget the cost is just £3 per adult and £1.50 per child.

Alternative Christmas Card

We are again supporting the work of World Vision this year by using their ‘Alternative Christmas Card’. This is a fun way of giving each other greetings without the hassle of sending individual Christmas cards. There is one big card where there is room for lots of personal greetings. We then ask everyone who signs the card to donate what they would save in not purchasing cards to help with World Visions work around the world.

The Food Bank in Milton Keynes

As a church we supporting the work of The Food Bank which provides people with the essentials at a time when they need them most. Referrals come from registered professionals including doctors, health visitors and social workers. The Food Bank collects donated dried and tinned goods which are made available to local families and individuals who have been referred. A collecting box is available in the foyer for you to leave your donated items.

CHURCH DIARY

SUNDAY 21 December
10 – 10.15am Prayer Time in the Chapel.
10.30am Service of Worship led by Paul Rosier.
7.00pm Community Carol Service, to include the musical “There’s Something Amazing”

MONDAY 22 December
7.45pm HomeGroup B Meeting at 15 Rudchesters, Bancroft for Punch and Pies followed by a time of study. The subject is Bethlehem – a place of devotion 1 Chronicles 11:15-19.

TUESDAY 23 December
8.45am Team Prayer Meeting in the chapel.
7.45pm HomeGroup A is joining carol singers at MK hospital. Contact Bev Wright for more details.

CHRISTMAS DAY 25 December
10.30am Service of Worship for Christmas Day led by Paul Rosier.

SUNDAY 28 December
10 – 10.15am Prayer Time in the Chapel.
10.30am Service of Worship led by Paul Rosier.
7.30 – 9:30pm yPod at the home of Steve and Natasha Wood

WEDNESDAY 31 December
7.45pm New Year’s Eve Party here at Lovat Hall.

NEW YEAR’S DAY
10.00am CTNP Church Walk commencing at St. Luke’s and concluding at The URC with refreshmens.

SUNDAY 4 January
10 – 10.15am Prayer Time in the Chapel.
10.30am Service of Worship and Believers Baptism led by Paul Rosier.
4.00pm Food4Thought hosted by Trevor & Christine Ransome
7.30 – 9:30pm yPod at the home of Steve and Natasha Wood.