OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD
70 shoeboxes of toys were collected this year to go to children in Eastern European countries who otherwise wouldn’t get anything this Christmas. Thank you to everyone who took part.
CHRISTMAS CARD BOARD
Each year we supply a board in the church for you to pin open greetings to all your friends in the parish. In these days of high expenditure at Christmas it may help not to feel you have to send cards to friends in the congregation – or worry about which ones do or do not need/merit such a gesture! Much simpler to give one card to everyone – we are, after all, still a family, however large that family seems to be growing.
I’ll be putting the board up on Saturday 17th – the day we clean and decorate the church but I’m happy to receive cards in advance if you can’t be here then.
CELTIC SUMMER
An invitation for people in the Diocese of London
Every summer Durham’s character changes significantly when the students go on vacation and the historic streets behind Durham’s majestic Cathedral breathe more easily.
From August 2-9, Revd Rob Marshall will lead one of his immensely popular Celtic Summer trips taking in Whitby, Lastingham, Ripon, Holy Island, Bamburgh and Monkwearmouth. Based at St.John’s College in Durham, this is a great trip for parish groups to join in and is great value (£460) at the height of
summer. Experience worship, learning and a time of relaxation and fellowship. Brochures are available on 0845 601 9567 or [email protected]
THE CHILDREN’S CAROL SERVICE
5.30pm Christmas Eve.
This service, lasting about 30 minutes, packs in several well know carols and a nativity play. It’s lively, noisy, free and easy and ideal for young children. The narrators have learnt over the years to shout, so you will hear and it’s altogether a very joyful occasion.
As many children as want to can take part, we choose the principals from the Sunday School classes but have unlimited angels, kings and their attendants, shepherds and their sheep. No need to book, just turn up in the choir vestry about 5pm [if you have a costume that’s helpful but we do have a limited number of bits and pieces that can be turned into costumes]. Very small children might like Mum or Dad to stay and that’s fine with us.
ABANDONED PRISONER SUES GOD *
A Romanian prisoner serving 20 years for murder has sued God for failing to save him from the Devil. The inmate claims his Baptism was a contract with God to keep him out of trouble.
“God even claimed and received from me various goods and prayers in exchange for forgiveness and the promise that I would be rid of problems and have a better life,” he wrote in the lawsuit. “But on the contrary I was left in the Devil’s hands.”
Court officials said the legal action is likely to be dropped because they’re unable to subpoena God.
* from Parish Pump
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