It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas…
Preparations for Christmas are well underway at Trinity Churches, with the choir and orchestra for Carols by Candlelight beginning rehearsals, websites being finished, services being prepared and the Christmas Tree arriving. It's all so very exciting! But amidst all this excitement about what is to come, I don't want us to miss the 'now'.
Advent, which begins in the Church calendar this Sunday, is a time of preparation. It's not simply a time of preparation for Christmas – though that is what it has become – but is also a time when we prepare our hearts for the return of Jesus. And, as such, Advent is also a time when we consider the darkness of our world, and that of our own lives, and recognise again our need of Jesus.
The Good News of Jesus' birth was the news that the world needed 2,000 years ago, and it's the Good News that we all still need, too. My prayer for each of us is that, despite the busy-ness of the season, we might have a daily opportunity to wonder at this amazing news as we prepare our hearts. May we each commit to finding time to wonder again at who Jesus is, at all that He has done for us, and to look for His coming again.
Fi Iddon, Associate Vicar
Please do see below for details of our Church 'Advent Prayer Calendar' which we are praying might be a really significant invitation for many people to 'try praying' this Christmas time.
This Sunday, 30th November, is Advent Sunday and we'll be using the LICC's 'Small Wonder' series in our morning services. At 9am, CTK and 11am our speaker will be Neville Willerton, with Peter Madley speaking at CTK and Judith Drury at the evening service. Trinity Youth will be meeting at 6.30pm upstairs in the Trinity Centre.
Compline on zoom
Thank you to everyone who came to the Half Night of Prayer on Monday night, it felt like a very special and significant time for us as individuals and as a church.
This week, until Saturday night, we're gathering on zoom at 9pm for Compline, or Night Prayer, which is a very meaningful way to end the day in prayer. It's the same zoom link all week so you only need to sign up once.
Click here to receive the link for Compline on zoom
Board Games Evening
Back by popular demand, our next Board Games Evening takes place this Friday 28th November. Join us for a fun-filled evening of boardgames at The Trinity Centre! Come solo, bring your family, or gather your friends—everyone's welcome. Drinks provided, but feel free to bring your own snacks. Bring a favorite game or enjoy one from our collection. Don't miss out on the fun! There is a sign up link below, but you are welcome to just come along!
Sign up for the Board Game Evening
Church Advent Prayer Calendar
Thank you to all those who have taken part in recording our Church Advent Calendar. Each day, from 1st December until Christmas Eve, we'll be publishing an 'Advent Calendar with a difference' on social media (Facebook and Instagram) and on our website. We'll be telling part of the story of the birth of Jesus, with an invitation to pray. Each clip is very short, and our hope is that we as church family will feel happy to share this (if we are those who 'do' social media!) and encourage others to 'try praying' this Advent.
Click here for the website version of our Advent Prayer Calendar
Carols by Candlelight: Family Orchestra and Christmas singers
Rehearsals begin on Tuesday 2nd December for both the Family Orchestra and Christmas singers for Carols by Candlelight. Don't worry if you can't come to all the rehearsals. Do have a word with Judith Clarkson about the orchestra, or Stephen Ball about the singers... or sign up below.
Sign up for the Family Orchestra
Sign up for the Christmas Singers
Christmas Rotas
The Christmas web page is now live on our website, detailing everything that's going on over the next few weeks. Christmas here at Trinity Churches is such a wonderful time to reach our community with the love of Jesus: and this is only possible with a literal army of volunteers. The wardens have their legendary 'clipboard and Christmas rota' ready and waiting, and will be asking for people to offer with all manner of things. We really do appreciate all those who are happy to serve in this way. I want to particularly mention the crib services on Christmas Eve – these are two very busy and full services that are almost entirely attended by those who are not here every week. This makes then harder to find volunteers for. But if you could possibly give up 90 minutes of your time on Christmas Eve to support this vital outreach to families then we would be so very grateful. Thank you.
Soul Purpose Christmas
As lots of us know, there has been Christmas lunch served in the Trinity Centre for many years now. It's such a lovely way to bless those who might otherwise have a difficult day for all sorts of reasons. We could do with another few helpers, either to be part of the lunch or to help cooking that morning. We also need an amazing team of decorators and veggie peelers for an hour on Christmas Eve morning! If you might be able to help with this, then do speak to Simon or Fi Iddon, or use the link below.
Sign up to help with Soul Purpose Christmas
Trinity Life
Trinity Life is available at the back of Church, and by clicking on the link on the front page of the website. We are hoping to get the Advent edition out for this Sunday...but otherwise it will certainly be available next week!
Trinity Life
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