No 38 Brislington Community & Churches News 16th December 2023

Brislington Community and Churches News No 38 for the week from 16th December 2023

Getting Christmassy!

A star has appeared

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

School’s Out! It’s Christmas Holidays!

Thank you to all teachers, school staff, governors and all who support our Brislington schools

Holymead Primary & Infant Schools (Congratulations on your ‘Good’ Ofsted) St Anne’s Primary & Infant Schools West Town Lane Academy St Brendan’s Sixth Form Academy Broomhill Junior & Infant Schools The Kingfisher School Wicklea Academy Oasis Academy

Light Up our Houses for Christmas!

There are some truly wonderful displays around Brislington So, a Christmas prize from the newsletter to the best Light Up sent in before Christmas Send to guy@gwilkinson.org.uk

It’s their first Christmas at a food bank…

For many of us, young and old, Christmas is a time of magic and anticipation. But for a growing number of families who are struggling to afford the essentials, the excitement and joy of the festive season will be replaced with stress and worry.

Food banks across our network are preparing for their busiest Christmas ever. We expect that 600,000 people will need to use a food bank over the winter months – that’s 5 people every minute. And, as the cost of living continues to rise and more people are facing hunger and poverty, many people will need to turn to food banks for the very first time.

We know it can be a difficult time financially for many but if you can, please will you give a gift of £15 today to help provide the emergency food, advice and support that people visiting food banks this winter will urgently need?

Or give to your local food bank

To Donate to the The Trussell Trust

Just 20 left – don’t miss the opportunity!

Contact friends@eastwoodfarm.org.uk or Jo on 07954158697

Brislington’s Mouse Trail 2023 Can you spot these curious little visitors to our local shops this November - January? Brislington’s own version of a magical Unicorn Trail is back for a 3rd year for exploring our festive high streets.

These enchanting visitors will again be popping up in windows of local shops and cafés in St Anne’s, Brislington Village, Broomhill and Sandy Park Road over the festive period. Locals and shoppers can follow the trail for free, explore the wide choice of local retailers and discover a fun way to support our local shops and high streets this Winter.

Word puzzles in each Shopping area to unscramble. Can you find the letters & unscramble the festive words?

Broomhill Shops _ _ _ _ _ Sandy Park Road Shops _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ St Annes Shops _ _ _ _ _ Brislington Village Shops _ _ _ _ _ & _ _ _ Answers will be posted on www.greaterbrislington.org in January Greater Brislington Together … is a small but official organisation, formed to help Brislington community groups and volunteers obtain funding and work together to help the area flourish. 2023 has been a pleasure to work together with...

What to know more? go to https://greaterbrislington.org/get-involved/

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.

Fairy Liquid This is the label on Fairy Liquid for washing up. Using it puts a poison down the drain which will harm aquatic life – in the rivers and seas

St Anne’s House Regular activities / social events Here

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

Beyond Brislington A letter to Nick Cave Over the years I detached myself from religion until I became an atheist. Yesterday, I had video contact with friends in the USA and a husband of one, Paul E, an American banjo player with whom I play, has cancer and is very weak. His wife asked us to think of him, which I do all the time, but also to pray for him. I find myself caught between my desire to respond to the request and that of preserving an intellectual honesty that would avoid being confronted with a lie.

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: Life is precious – why?

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 prophet Isaiah has a vision of what human beings can be like and it’s the same vision that Jesus announces as his mission. It’s the mission statement for Christians, people of faith and people of goodwill.

The spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me; he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to the prisoners.

Around our Brislington churches

10am Said Communion Hosted at St Anne’s

St Peter’s Methodist Church December services

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 20th December Wednesday 27th December

St St Christopher Cuthbert 10.00 am

St Luke

Holy Communion No Wednesday Holy Communion this week

St Anne’s Church

St Christopher’s church

St Cuthbert’s church

St Luke’s church

Thank You Thank you to our very generous congregation for the gifts of hats, scarves, gloves and gift sets which were donated and taken to Loaves and Fishes Plus the donation of 8 lovely brand new sleeping bags which we managed to fit in the car as well.

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