Notices : 3rd December 2006

Welcome to our Baptismal service!

10.00 am Every Sunday - Morning prayer for our services. 

All welcome

10.45 am Morning Worship with Junior Church and crèche.

After the service, prayer is available for anyone who would like to be prayed with – please make your way to the front of the church where the prayer team will meet you.  Please join us for tea and coffee after the service in the hall.  If  you are a visitor here today, we have a welcome leaflet available.  Please ask if you have not received one.

6.00 pm   Evening Service

Large print copies of the song words are available on request from the door stewards.

Hearing Loop – There is a loop system available downstairs in the centre seating block for those who need it. 

Scripture Focus: 

“Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptised into Christ Jesus were baptised into his death?  We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.”   Romans 6:3

ALL THINGS CHRISTMAS …

Christmas Services

At the back of the church, there are invitation cards for our Christmas services, which are as follows:

Sunday 17th December – “Underneath the Shining Star” at 10.45am

Sunday 24th December – Carols by Candlelight at 6pm (followed by tea/coffee and mince pies)

Christmas morning – family celebration at 10am

Please take invitations for your family and friends to join us at these services.

Joint Housegroup Christmas Meal – 13th December

We are looking for up to 7 more volunteers to help with setting up, serving and clearing up.  If you would like to help, please speak to Debbie or Louise.  We are also asking that people sign up on the sheet at the back of the church if they are planning to attend the meal so we can get a clearer idea of numbers for catering purposes. Thank you.

Please take some to deliver …Town Christmas Card

Thank you to those who helped to deliver the Town Christmas Cards on Friday.  There are some roads which we still need to deliver to – please would you take a bundle from the back and deliver them during this week – all bundles are labelled for the road they need to go to.

Christmas Hampers

This year we would, once again, like to make up some hampers as a way of showing God’s love to those in our congregation who might appropriately be blessed in this way.  If you would like to contribute, please place your contribution in the small gold box on the table at the back of the church or hand to Chris.  We will be collecting until the 10th December.  If you would like to Gift Aid your donation, please use a brown envelope.

“Underneath the Shining Star” – Rehearsal on 16th Dec

This year the Junior Church will be taking star roles in our Christmas Family Service, and we hope you will all enjoy seeing your children up on stage!  There will be a run-through rehearsal on Saturday 16th December from 10-11am (until 12pm for Key Stage 2 girls – they will be bringing letters home today).   It would be great to see all the children at the rehearsal – no need to stay with them as we will look after them.  Thank you.

The Lunch Club Christmas Meal

The seniors are having their Lunch Club Christmas meal on Tuesday 12th December at midday.  This is a lovely opportunity for the older folk in our congregation to share in the joy of Christmas with their friends here at Priory Street.

Quiet Day for Advent at the Harnhill Centre (near Cirencester).

Thursday 7th December 10am to 4pm.  "Travelling to Bethlehem" with Rev. Judy Howard.   Taking time out to be quiet with God as you prepare for Christmas. Margaret is planning to go to this - if anyone else would also like to go and needs a lift, please contact her.

BMS Christmas Cards

Thank you to those who purchased Christmas Cards to raise funds for BMS.  There is £7 outstanding from the sale of the cards, so if you took cards and still need to pay for them, please see Louise or Debbie. Thank you.

And on New Year’s Eve …

The Kembers will be hosting an open house evening at their home on new year’s eve from 8.30pm until midnight.  It will be on a “bring and share” basis and everyone is welcome to come and go as they please!

Coming up …

Debt Advice Centre Christmas meal - 11th December

The Lunch Club Christmas meal - 12th December

Joint Housegroup Christmas meal - 13th December, 7.30pm

Rehearsal for the Chrismas Service -             16th December 10am   

“Underneath the Shining Star” Service - 17th December, 10.45am

Rudloe Tots Christmas Party - 19th December

Town Open-Air Carol Service - 19th December, 6.45pm

Tots Accompanied (PSBC) Christmas Party - 21st December

Carol Concert - 24th December, 6pm

Christmas Day Service - 25th December, 10am

Alpha Supper - 8th January 07

Men’s Indian Meal Night - January (tbc)

Alpha is coming soon …

The next Alpha Supper will be held on Monday 8th January at the Mortimers’ home, with the Alpha course starting in the week commencing 15th January.  It is time to start thinking about inviting friends and neighbours to attend the supper – invitations are available from the back.

New Church Directory

We will be printing a new directory shortly.  In order to ensure we have correct details for everyone, please could you all complete the enclosed form and leave it in the box provided at the back of the church.  Thank you to those who have already done this.

Monique

Please would you remember Monique in your prayers this week.  Yesterday she left for Uganda to spend 10 days at an orphanage caring for over 100 children orphaned through AIDS.  Please pray that she would be safe and that God would lead her and give her a heart of compassion as she ministers God’s love to these children.

Mission to Romania

We have an opportunity to send a short term mission team to Romania in the summer of 2007 with International Teams. The IT Mission in Timisoara have asked if we could send a team of between 6 and 8 folk for a 2 week period, from 11th-25th July, starting on a Wednesday so that you can participate in a village ministry from Saturday to Saturday. This would mean living in the village, getting involved in outreach, children’s work, building repair, and whatever else we are asked to do! We realise this is not everyone’s cup of tea - it will be a challenge, but also a tremendous blessing. If you are interested, please speak to Alan or Graham who would love to talk this through more with you. 

Christian Union at The Corsham School

The Christian Union met for the first time this week!  Thank you Alanna for organising this group, and to everyone who has supported her in prayer in this endeavour.  We hope and pray that the group grows and is established in the life of the school.

Recycle your old mobile phones for Nana & Sita

Graham and Cathy have discovered a way of turning our old mobiles into cash that can be used to support missionaries, and they would like to raise some extra money for Nana and Sita. If you have any old mobiles, bring them to church and drop them in the red box and let’s see how much we can raise for Nana and Sita!

Offering Envelopes

The 2007 offering envelopes are now available from the Treasurer. These comprise a set of numbered envelopes, which are date stamped for the whole year. They are usually given in during the morning service, or left in the box provided at the evening service. You can give as little, or as often as you wish, and by cash or cheque.  If you would like to give by this method please contact Chris.

NB: If you are a tax payer, giving by this method means the church can gain an extra 28% from the government at no extra cost to you.

A note from the Treasurer

It is the Church’s year end on the 31st December, which means that all the 2006 budgets end on that date. Chris would be grateful therefore for all receipts and ‘Requests for Payment’ to be with her by Sunday 7th January 2007.  Thank you.

The Marriage Course

‘How to Build a Lasting Relationship’ is the title of the marriage course which we hope to run in April and May next year.  As indicated previously, we are running a pilot course in Jan/Feb with selected couples and then an open invitation to all couples who wish to participate in April and May.  It is for married couples who wish to build a strong lasting relationship, especially:

Those who want to enhance their marriage

Those in the first five years of marriage

Those at a challenging stage in their marriage, eg. the birth of a child, a career change, teenagers at home, the ‘empty nest’

Those struggling with issues in their marriage

Whilst based on Christian principles, the course would be appropriate and helpful for any couples with or without a Christian faith or church background.  It could help build a bridge into our community.  More details, with registration forms, will be available towards the end of January.  Talk to Geoff or Marilyn if you would like to know more at this stage.

Crusaders Youth Group

Don’t forget to donate your old games and activities to Crusaders youth group!

And finally …

There are some boxes in the porch in preparation for our next Aid trip – if you can take one or two and store them, we would be most grateful.  Cathy is co-ordinating this – please speak to her if you can help.  Thank you.

This week:

Today:            Baptismal Service; Youth Group @ TheMix

Tuesday: Tots Accompanied @ Rudloe; Prayer for the Persecuted Church – 7.30pm @ 21a Pockeridge Road

Wednesday: Youth Group Meeting @ the Kembers 7.30-9pm

Thursday: Early Morning Prayer Meeting 7.15-8am; Tots Accompanied – Priory Street 10-11.30am; Debt Advice Centre 7.30-9.30pm

Friday: Debt Advice Centre 9.30am – 12.30pm

Sunday: Usual Sunday services

Housegroups meet in various homes during the week.  If you are interested in joining a housegroup, please speak to Graham.