No 37 Brislington Community & Churches News 9th December 2023

Brislington Community and Churches News No 37 for the week from 9th December 2023

We continue our series of interviews with people around Brislington Andrew at Briscycle Sandy Park Road Here

Wick Road Library Friday 8th December 10.30-11.30am Special Animal Story Times 🦌 Join us for a special Christmas Animal Story Time in partnership with the Bristol Animal Rescue Centre. 🐧 These are drop in events (while space allows).

Bring along your favourite cuddly toy animal!

What is Posada?

Posada’ (Spanish for ‘inn’) is a pre Christmas activity through the days of Advent when toy versions of Mary and Joseph travel around different households in the community and stay there for one night.

People sign up in advance, offering to host Mary and Joseph for a night. It’s open to everyone, and lots of families find it’s a great way to be involved in the Christmas story.

On Christmas eve, the figures are returned to church, often at the Nativity or Crib service as everyone gets ready to welcome the Christ child once again.

This year, once again, Mary and Joseph will travel to St Luke’s church via 24 families. Here they are on their journey

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.

Getting Christmassy!

A star has appeared

And a new version of the Christmas Carol: ‘The First Nowell’ by Bob Chilcott Here

St Anne’s House Regular activities / social events

St Anne’s House is a creative and community hub grown from the ambition of local communities in St Annes and creative communities in Bristol.

Here you will find creative and community projects, rooms to hire, a cooperatively run gym, play therapy, social prescribing, artist studios, coworking, artist project space, theatre studios, massage therapy, wellbeing and much much more.

Our aim is to build community resilience, foster connections, grow local talent, inspire creativity, and provide a space to test out new ideas www.stannehouse.org, @bricksbristol, stannes@bricksbristol.org or call us on, 07709264201

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

Beyond Brislington

A letter to Nick Cave These are terrible times. My friend, actually my best friend, and I don’t see eye to eye about the current political situation. We have ended up actually arguing about these things which is not like us and this is threatening our relationship? What do I do?

Do you ever argue with your friends?

Nick Cave’s reply Here For more on the Red Hand Files Here

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 Here: Jesus’ teachings 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 The passages from the bible continue the theme of getting ourselves ready – for the encounters and behaviours of our daily lives, for our death and for the renewal of the world – as well as for Christmas.

The gospel passage starts with the opening of St Mark’s gospel and presents John the Baptiser calling people to ‘turn around’ and renew their lives 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 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

Wednesday 13th December Wednesday 20th December

Wednesday 27th December

St Christopher

St Cuthbert

St Luke

10.00 am Holy Communion 10.00 am Holy Communion No Wednesday Holy Communion this week

St Anne’s Church

St Christopher’s church

St Cuthbert’s church

St Luke’s church

Christingle Service Sunday 10 December at 5.00pm Highlights the work of the Childrens Society Their Collection Candles are available in church to take away and fill with loose coins.

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