Brislington Community and Churches News No 36 for the week from 2nd December 2023
Having a sort out before Christmas? We would love to have your saleable items to sell at our Nearly New Fundraiser. No need to find a charity shop open with space, we will come and get your items! Do you need some gifts for others or yourself? We would love to see you and your money at our Nearly New Fundraiser. Come browse and find a bargain. There will be refreshments too!
A book in aid of BRACE dementia research charity has been compiled by a local author, Nancy Thorne. It’s a book of 'anecdotes and general nonsense,’ – just right for a Christmas present Available at St Luke’s church or directly from Brace Here £4.95 All proceeds go to the charity
The Friends of Eastwood Farm. For the last 3 years we have produced a calendar. The photographs are all taken in Eastwood Farm by local photographers. This makes it the most local calendar you can buy. A perfect way to enjoy the beauty of Eastwood Farm from the comfort of your armchair.
Winter Warmer Offer Asda has launched a special winter warmer offer for people over 60 where they can get soup, roll and unlimited tea and coffee for just £1 in its cafés. This offer is available from now until the end of February 2024. Selected Asda stores also run a Community Cuppa campaign, creating space for community groups that may otherwise struggle to meet due to rental costs or high energy costs. Spaces will be available on weekdays in November and December from 2pm to 6pm and all community group members who visit will receive unlimited free tea or coffee.
St Anne’s House Morning Meet-ups Thursdays, weekly, 10am - 12pm Free - drop in, a social group with light touch creative activities, a chance to meet others locally in a relaxed environment. Open Access Youth Sessions Tuesdays, weekly, free to attend 5pm - 7pm. This session is for young people from ages 13 - 16 to come along, hang out, have some food, meet new people and do some activities.
St Anne’s House
Regular activities / social events Mini Milk - breastfeeding support group Mondays, weekly, 11am - 12pm Free - drop in, a chance to meet other parents and support each other through the stages of breastfeeding. Facebook page Vinyasa Flow Yoga Tuesdays, weekly, 6pm - 7pm £8.50 - yoga session for all levels Shared Reading Wednesdays, weekly, 10.30am - 12pm Free - drop in, a chance to read together and discuss different reading materials, or just sit with a tea and listen. www.stannehouse.org, @bricksbristol, stannes@bricksbristol.org or call us on, 07709264201
Bricks with Reengage Monthly free social sessions for people over 75 in Brislington! A great opportunity to meet people and enjoy some light-touch activities. Every first Thursday 1.00pm – 3.00pm at St Anne’s House Please let us know you’re attending: Here. Or give us a ring on 07709 264 201 and we can sign you up. Do you know anyone in the area who would like to come along? If so, please do share this information with them. Volunteers needed We need volunteer drivers to pick up the attendees and drive them to the session, and then drive them home afterwards. Do you drive? Do you live in the Brislington area? If yes, we’d love to share with you a volunteer opportunity to help with this new 75+ group Get in touch with ellie.plummer@reengage.org.uk or give Bricks a call on: 07709 264 201
Beyond Brislington, but in Bristol
Read more Here
And about Refugee Welcome Homes
Ukraine Lodgings Scheme Refugee Welcome Homes is looking for people who are willing to offer a room in their home to a Ukrainian lodger. The lodger will pay rent (at local Housing Allowance) and a contribution to bills (£30-£50 a month) and in addition, Bristol City Council will offer a 'golden handshake' for people newly joining the scheme of £500 plus guarantee the first month's rent in advance. In addition, Refugee Welcome Homes will provide support to the Ukrainian guests to complete the paperwork and move into their new lodgings and signpost to ongoing support with education and skills.
What’s Christianity all about? Anyone can find out more at the Christian Enquiry Agency.
Ask your questions without anyone following up or pressurising you
Here
Christian perspectives: Click: What is the purpose of Life? Or, of course, pop into one of the Brislington churches on a Sunday and see what we are all about
This Sunday with the bible
Every Sunday we have three short passages from the bible to reflect on. There's usually one from the Old Testament - the Jewish bible as well as Christian; one from the life of the early church after Jesus; and one from the gospel stories of Jesus' life. Have a read Here This Sunday we come to the great Season of Advent – meaning ‘coming’. Through this season the colour changes from green to purple, a more solemn colour*. It is a time for preparation not only for Christmas but also for the deeper and more personal things – our coming death and the times and ways in which we meet God. All three readings today look with hope to the time when God will make all things new *the church’s seasonal colours are: white or gold for the great festivals of Christmas and Easter; purple for Advent and Lent; red for martyrs and for Pentecost and green through the summer Sundays of Trinity
Around our Brislington churches
St Peter’s Methodist Church December services 3rd December 10.30 am Holy Communion
10th December 10.30 am with Bristol Concert Wind band
17th December 10.30 am Holy Communion 24th December 10.30 am Sunday Worship
led by Jonathan Pye Chairman of the Methodist District 6.00 pm Christmas Eve Family Service
December Wednesday Church services across Brislington
St Anne
St Christopher
Wednesday 6th December Wednesday 13th December Wednesday 20th December
Wednesday 27th December
St Cuthbert 10.00 am
St Luke
Holy Communion 10.00 am Holy Communion 10.00 am Holy Communion No Wednesday Holy Communion this week
St Anne’s Church
St Christopher’s church
All Age Advent Sunday Tree light up service! This Sunday is a special service for a number of reasons being Advent Sunday, being the day we switch on our Christmas Tree Display lights and being our monthly all age service. We will also have chocolate.... Special request That everyone who comes, comes with a joke that they can tell.
St Cuthbert’s church
St Cuthbert’s Christmas Fayre
St Luke’s church
The Advent candles
Advent The four weeks of Advent ahead of Christmas begin this Sunday. Advent symbolised by purple and by four candles, one lit each Sunday. (St Luke’s no longer uses Oasis in flower arrangements because it is an environmentally toxic substance which never degrades)
Toy & Gift Service Sunday 3 December Collection of toys and gifts for disadvantaged children in Bristol. These will be distributed by the Salvation Army. They have asked for new unwrapped gifts for 7 – 10 year olds. Gift vouchers for older children would also be of great help.
Christingle Service Sunday 10 December at 5.00pm and highlights the work of the Childrens Society Their Collection Candles are available in church to take away and fill with loose coins.
The five Loaves & two Fishes Christmas appeal To be in church no later than 10 December please. “You give them something to eat” In the early 1990's four Sisters from our Community moved to Ashley Road and we have had a presence here ever since. As part of our lives of prayer and active service, Sisters began giving out small food parcels to about 12 people who came for food each week. However, this soon grew and for many years now is around 250-300 people a week in all types of need. Poverty in the UK is a disturbing reality we see every day. Hats, gloves, scarves and socks, for men and women Toiletry sets, for men AND women £15 Argos or One4all gift cards for children – or donations towards a card
St Peter’s Methodist church
Craft and Hobbies Club Monday 19.30 – 21.00 Carol Payne 0117 9710747 We are a friendly group of Crafters who love to chat while making items for charity and family. Join us and knit, crochet, sew, cross stitch, etc. Brislington Carers Group We are a friendly supportive group of people who care for someone who has dementia. The meetings allow us time to discuss our caring roles and to feel genuinely listened to. First Wednesday of each month 10.30-12.30 Louise Brown 07752 340370 Brislington School of Dance Tuesday 16.45 – 19.30 Thursday 19.00-21.20 Friday 17.30 – 18.30 18.45-20.45 Saturday 09.00 – 17.30 term time only Debbie Bassett 01761 472 109 Stagehandsdance@gmail.co The Brislington School of Dance was established over 30 years ago by principal dance teacher Debbie Bassett who still runs the school today. Many of the students that grew up taking dance classes now send their own children here. Dancing can impart many skills that can be used throughout life. Zum Zumba Thursday 17.00-19.00 Gill Tippetts 0782 7441 109 Gilltip@gmail.com Jacqui Price 0776 6467 093 Zumba is a combination of salsa and aerobics involving your entire body, from your arms to your shoulders and your feet, so you’ll get a full-body workout whilst having fun and enjoyment.
Tai Chi Monday 14.15 – 15.15 John Bruce 0771 8745 815 Tai Chi is a set of exercises which seek to establish a balanced and relaxed body. Based on Chinese wisdom it is well known for reducing stress and producing excellent health benefits, both mental and physical. Broomhill Food Club Tuesday 12.30 – 14.30 FOOD CLUB | Ebcc (eastbristolchildrenscentre.co.uk) Runs in partnership with Family Action. For £3.50 each week we offer a food parcel worth approx. £15 for anyone who lives in the local community who wants to reduce waste and save money. You are welcome to contact us. Keep Fit Wednesday 10.00 – 11.00 Eileen Scott 0796 9929 733 Scottyartois@hotmail.com Improve mobility, flexibility, strength, balance and general wellbeing, whilst having fun and making new friends. All are welcome. Try the first session for free.
Bristol Concert Wind Band Wednesday 19.30 – 21.30 Ian Maitland-Round Info@bcwb.co.uk 0117 4057369 Bristol Concert Wind Band (BCWB) has rehearsed at St Peter’s since 2001 and enjoys an excellent relationship with the Church providing concerts and playing at our Carol Services. BCWB is among the premier wind band in the Bristol area.
Websites Click to open
St Anne St Christopher St Cuthbert St Luke St Peter's (Methodist) Facebook Click to open St Anne Facebook St Christopher Facebook St Cuthbert Facebook St Luke Facebook St Peter's (Methodist)
Brislington Community News Follow local news and requests Click on any of these Brislington Community Forum Brislington Community Page
St Anne's Community Group Brislington People's Group Friends of Arnos Court Park
Brislington Ward Councillors West Brislington Jos Clark Andrew Varney Quarterly newsletter, 'Focus on Brislington West' delivered to every household across the ward. You can also sign up for a monthly eFocus at: BristolLibDems.org/localefocus. Facebook: Brislington Liberal Democrats Twitter: @BrisLibDems @AndrewJVarney @josclark6 Instagram: andrewjvarne East Brislington Katja Hornchen Tim Rippington
About this weekly Newsletter This is a weekly church and community newsletter from the Brislington churches and is available to anyone who wants to receive it. There is no charge and anyone can subscribe or unsubscribe from it just as they wish. If you would like to subscribe to this Newsletter - and we hope you do - please click here. It's quite free, no links or hidden hooks and we don't use your contact details for anything else To unsubscribe click the 'unsubscribe' button at the end of the newsletter The newsletter is open for articles, events, pictures and other information The editor of this Newsletter is Guy Wilkinson guy@gwilkinson.org.uk 07515327757 The newsletter does not necessarily represent the views of the Church Councils of the Brislington churches