Midnight Mass for Christmas Eve

I somehow missed this service had been streamed, you can watch it with Rev'd Paul preaching here

Sunday Eucharist

 The service for the First Sunday of Christmas can be found here

Advent week 4 on Love

 I forgot to release the clip for viewing, the link will now work

The video for week 4 is here

Eucharist for Christmas Day

 The service can be found here

Advent week 4 on Love

 The video for week 4 is here

Hope for 2021

Coronavirus has upended all our lives, perhaps making 2020 a year many of us would rather forget. A year of darkness, a year of countless trials and tribulations including global panic and uncertainty. People have died, businesses have gone under, young people’s education has suffered, public worship and social gatherings have been restricted even forbidden at times. I could go on but I am sure I don’t need to. It might seem as if there is less hope in the world than ever there was.

Now more than ever we need hope in our lives, in our hearts. Last week I put this question to a few people, off the top of your head and without too much thought what do you hope for in 2021? Triumph over COVID-19 was a popular answer. With the recent rollout of the vaccination programme, this must be a real possibility. Hugs, get to 2022, a holiday were some of the other replies. Again, maybe a real possibility especially if the vaccination programme is successful.

In less than a week’s time, we celebrate the birth of Christ. A poor helpless babe who came into the world bringing a message of light and hope. As Christians, we know that not only did Jesus come to bring hope, He is our sure and certain hope for the future even through a global Pandemic.

Sunday Eucharist

 The service for the 4th Sunday of Advent can be found here

Advent week 3 on Joy

Due to technical difficulties last week the session was not available to view, the video for week 3 is here

Love, Joy, Peace and Hope.

Last week I posted a picture of my cat Sergio and asked for a caption. Paws for Pep talk for Sergio was suggested, thank you for sending it in. Maybe a Manchester City supporter. This week I offer you another picture.  As you can see Sergio has been hard at work, decimating my crib scene.  

Archie enjoyed the flurry of snow that we had last week. He went out into the garden with his daddy and enjoyed throwing snowballs. One of the neighbours said that he had heard them in the garden and it brought back wonderful childhood memories of when he had played in the snow. Hearing Archie and his daddy had really brightened his day,

The rotary club of Rochdale have brought much joy to many children as they have toured the streets with Santa in his sleigh. In return, they asked for donations to help out the neediest families in the borough.

Paulie's Winter Wonderland is Heywoood's most Christmassy House. The house is decorated each Christmas in memory of the owners brother who was cared for by the hospice. Those who do see it are asked to make a much-needed donation to Springhill Hospice. 

A local family have lost almost all of their belongings in a house fire, this week. Friends, neighbours and strangers have rallied round to try and make life more bearable as they begin to put their house back together.

Love and Joy are two of the themes of advent. Knowingly or unknowingly above are just a few examples of love and joy that have brought into people's lives by the actions others. Peace and hope are another two themes of the advent season. The action of God sending his only son as a little baby gives us peace in our hearts and hope in our lives

This week can I encourage to think about the love and joy you may have given or received and what it to truly means to have peace and hope in our lives this Christmas time.

Christmas Services

20th Dec at 3pm: Carol service outside the church hall

23rd Dec at 10am: Holy Communion

Christmas Eve

7pm Christingle service by Zoom, contact Amy Elizabeth for the link

11.30 pm Midnight Mass

Christmas Day

9.30 am Holy Communion

27th Dec at 9.30 am: Holy Communion

30th Dec at 10am: Holy Communion

For attendance at all but the Christingle contact the Vicarage to book a place.

Sunday Eucharist

The service for the second Sunday of Advent can be found here

It always comes in three's

When I got in my car to go to church this morning, it wouldn't start. I have no idea why. As I tried to start it, running through my mind was something that my nana always used to say " It always comes in threes you know" I would look at her and say "what does?" She would reply "bad luck". I am not superstitious but my mobile phone has decided not to charge any more and have recently renewed my oven and hob because they broke. maybe she had a point!

I have also heard it said that good luck comes in threes. It is thought this saying has its origins in the saying third time lucky. This is the belief that after failing twice, you might get lucky the third time. In essence, what I am trying to say is if at first, you don't succeed, try and try again. Having said that no matter how many times I tried to start my car this it just would not go.

Going back to last weeks blog I suggested that in preparation for the coming of the Christ child you could try to set aside five minutes each day to prepare your hearts. I don't know if any of you have tried to do this and succeeded? If you have and you did, great, keep it up. If you haven't and you didn't, all is not lost. Why not start today, maybe after reading this Blog. If five minutes seems too much, try two or three minutes. It might be third time lucky or it might not be so. Remember if you don't succeed, try and try again. 

And now for something completely different. 

Sergio has settled in very well. Like all kittens, he is very inquisitive. He has decided he likes sleeping under the bed and is very much into investing cupboards and wardrobes. He darts in there as soon as the door is opened and locked in quite a few times. 

He is also quite vain! The song "You're  So Vain" by Carly Simon springs to mind.

I thought we could have a little competition. Perhaps you could send me a caption or the title of another song that would fit this picture or indeed the other one. You may even have a picture of your own that we could add a caption to.

Send to: csteel58@hotmail.com

 

Sunday Intercessions

 Watchful at all times,

let us pray for strength to stand with confidence

before our Maker and Redeemer.

We pray that God may bring in his kingdom with justice and mercy,

Lord in your mercy.

Hear our prayer.

 

We pray that God may establish among the nations

his sceptre of righteousness, strengthening us to speak your truth to powers that threaten to overcome us, help us to speak up for the voiceless and the vulnerable like the Prophets.

Lord in your mercy

Hear our prayer.

 

We pray that we may seek Christ in the Scriptures

and recognize him in the breaking of the bread,

help us to draw ever more closer to you and find the time to rest and know you more and

more.

Lord in your mercy,

Hear our prayer

 

We pray that God may bind up the brokenhearted,

restore the sick and raise up all who have fallen.

We pray for those injured and killed in the explosion in Bristol.

We pray particularly for those in our community, those living on Thorpe

Close, and those living in Milfield and Oakdene residential homes.

We bring to you O God those who are known to us who need the healing touch of Jesus,

Jean Smith, Christine Moorfield, Enid Firth, Evelyn, Mary Lawton, Alma and Grace Stansfield,

Carrie-Ann, Bernard, Mark, Betty Heap, Andrew Fawcett, Nazir Ismail, Carole and David.

Lord in your mercy,

Hear our prayer.

 

We pray that the light of God’s coming may dawn

on all who live in darkness and the shadow of death. Especially those who

have died recently, including Kieren Farrell.

In years mind we remember, Hilda Cooper, James Makinde, Cyril Ranson,

and Trevor styles.

We pray also for Ann Sutcliff, as she is laid to rest on Monday.

Lord in your mercy

Hear our prayer

 

We pray that, with all the saints in light,

we may shine forth as lights for the world,

we pray especially for our young people in the congregation, and all who

attend our local schools, and we pray for the safe journey of university

students, and all students coming back home to their families.

Lord in your mercy

Hear our prayer.

 

We commend ourselves and all for whom we pray

to the mercy and protection of our heavenly Father:

 Merciful father accept these prayers,

 for the sake of your son

our saviour Jesus Christ.

Amen

Advent Week 1 on Hope

 If you would have liked to have joined us for the advent sessions but were unable to make it you can watch it here.  Please be gentle with us as none of us areTV personalities.