Contact December 2012/January 2013

CONTACT

Magazine of Erdington Methodist Church Station Road - December 2012 / January 2013 1

Contents What Does God Want for Christmas?

Family News Vision Report Help Harry Help Others Advent purple 'belongs to Cadbury' Florida Outreach Poinsettia Flower Community Fun Day Churches help support foodbanks to feed thousands in the UK Your Free Medical Check-up Pancakes and great commandments Children’s Pages Christmas: The story of the Christingle The New Heating Boilers Our Christmas Charities West Midlands Air Ambulance Methodist Relief and Development Fund (MRDF) Alzheimer’s Society Action for Children Our Christmas Activities Sending love in 100 million shoe boxes Christmas Wordsearch What’s it all about . . .

Christmas Presence December & January Regular Meetings Weekly Church Activities

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What Does God Want for Christmas?

George asked, ‘I don’t know what to get my Dad for Christmas. What do you give somebody who has everything?’ Harry replied, ‘A burglar alarm!’

Presents can be a real problem, when we want to give those we love something they really want. But what about God? What would he want from us this Christmas? What’s a suitable gift to celebrate the birthday of Jesus? What do you give someone who not only has everything, but who actually made everything?

The answer can be found in Micah, a prophet who lived about 700 years before the birth of Christ: ‘He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.’ (Micah 6:8).

This Christmas, God is looking for the gift of lives characterised by justice, mercy and humility: Justice:- God is just - he is absolutely fair and righteous in all his dealings.

Justice means ‘treating people right because you know God.’ In the Bible it means caring for the poor, speaking the truth and refusing to take advantage of the less fortunate. For us at Christmas, justice means doing right for those less fortunate than ourselves.

Mercy:- This speaks of sharing God’s heart by loving the unlovely even when they don’t love us back. How has God dealt with us this year? If He has forgiven us, then forgive others. Has God lifted us up when we were down? Then let’s seek to lift others. Where God has overlooked our faults, let’s overlook the faults of others. If God has been merciful to us this year, Christmas is a time to show mercy to others.

Humility:- Humility is the opposite of pride. It reminds us that everything we have in life is a gift from God. Although some may have more or less than us, we can still thank God for what we have and do the best with what God has given us. This is the attitude we can reflect at Christmas, when we invest so much time in the presents we give.

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God is looking to all these actions arising genuinely from our heart. As the carol says: What shall I give him, Poor as I am?

If I were a shepherd, I would give a lamb.

If I were a wise man, I would do my part.

What shall I give him, give him my heart. from the Parish Pump Website

Family News Christmas Fayre The Christmas Fayre with Father Christmas was absolutely packed with people on Saturday 24th November. It was great to see so many people from the local community again. Well done to everyone who organised the stalls and activities - Father Christmas was obviously a big draw and the Bacon and Mushroom baps were delish!

Absolutely brilliant folks - well done Nick Riley Church Steward Mary & Joseph It won’t be long now before Mary & Joseph start off on their travels among us. Eventually arriving back in church on Christmas Eve. We are pleased that all slots have now been taken. Thanks for joining in everyone.

Christmas Fayre Success Our Christmas Fayre was a great success with many people visiting us to see what goodies were available. Many thanks to all who helped in any way to make the morning great fun.

Jan Payne 4

Vision Report Stage 1 – The Frontage, an architect’s view The nature of this part of this project is that ideas will be bounced around, almost finalised, then others are thrown in and the process is repeated.

We hoped that agreements would have been reached and the final proposal could be brought to the circuit meeting in December. This would mean that we would be able to apply for funding from Methodist agencies. However, the meeting with the architect, Larry Priest (Bryant, Priest & Newman) threw up some very different and innovative ideas.

He liked the interior of the building especially the worship area and felt that coloured glass in the front windows and a change of outer roof lighting could make a real difference to the atmosphere. He said that new flooring would be good, but this could be a step, financially, too far!

We went outside to the front just as the children were leaving school. We were met with children climbing over the already dilapidated noticeboard, and parents and children using the front and side paving as a public thoroughfare! This was good as Larry could see for himself an immediate problem.

He was in complete agreement that the building’s identity as a church needs to be addressed. Hopefully we will soon have more specific ideas to bring to you, and feel that the extra wait is worth it to make sure that we get the project right. New, wall mounted noticeboards will be fitted as soon as possible and the present one demolished. We will also have a new board for the coffee mornings. He was very encouraging and we were interested in his approach and excited by some of his ideas. To be going on with you can ponder the thought of a new, much larger cross, sited so that it can be seen from the surrounding neighbourhood including the top of Station Road!

Fundraising An ongoing plan is essential to build up funds. We will not get permission from the Methodist Connexion to commence any work until we have banked half the amount needed. Hopefully part of this will come from grants, but 5

we also have to provide as much as possible by our own efforts. We are planning varied events to suit all tastes and pockets and hope that everyone will help in whatever way you can – it doesn’t always mean spending money.

As well as the dates below there are other ongoing activities.

Jan and Hilary, and anyone else who wants to come, intend taking stuff to sell at a car boot sale in the spring. We shall be asking for suitable items.

Think about the Parable of the Talents - Matthew 25: 14 – 30. If you were given £5 how could you increase this? In early January a £5 note will be offered to all who would like to take up this challenge (under the treasurer’s supervision!!). By April 1st we would like to see these returned and increased. If you are not ready to give them back then, we will have an update of what ideas you have for this. Some suggestions are inviting friends round for a coffee morning, or meal, and charging appropriately. Buy and pot up some bulbs and sell them when ready. Take advantage of 2 for 1 offers. Make cards/ gifts/cakes/etc to sell – or you may have better ideas!

Who uses Ebay? Do you have items you could sell that way and donate the proceeds?

December 8th from 10.00 am – 1.00 pm, Peter and Margaret’s house group present Shrove Saturday.

January 26th 2013 6.30 pm – Quiz Night with fish and chip supper February 23rd 7.30pm - Accord Singers with ‘upmarket’ raffle – items to be included announced later.

Don’t forget to buy your Vision pens (£1.00) and include extra ones for Christmas stocking fillers!

Hilary Price

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Help Harry Help Others On Friday 16th September the cubs raised money for a charity called Help Harry Help Others. It is a charity that raises money to help families suffering with cancer.

A young boy called Harry Moseley who started the charity was diagnosed with a brain Tumour in 2007. Harry was inspired to act following the death of his close friend and fellow patient Robert Harley. He raised over £650,000, with selling his hand made bracelets Harry always said his bracelets were handmade with love - he Inspired us all. Harry Sadly passed away in October 2011 aged 11. Since his passing his charity has gone from strength to strength.

The cubs took part in a sponsored 15 minute silence (and yes you can laugh) and they were great!! After the silence Harry's mom Georgie Moseley spoke to the cubs about Harry's vision and his help others project. The cubs then had a chance to make a bracelet and buy it. They all made green and yellow bracelets and they were unique.

We also had a cake sale where the proceeds went to the charity. With the cub's sponsorship and cake sale we raised around £500 for HHHO. You can find out more info by having a look on the website http://www.helpharryhelpothers.org.uk Some of the cubs thoughts of the night follow.

Matt On Friday, we made bracelets for a charity called Help Harry Help Others.

The bracelets were great. It was really fun for everyone, and it was nice to meet Harry's mum Daniel

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On Friday we did a sponsored 15 minute silence and made yellow and green bracelets for Harry Moseley, who was a child who had Brain Cancer.

I enjoyed the night because Harry's mum came in and told us why we were making them. I think Harry is really inspiring because he spent the rest of his life thinking about others before thinking about himself. In the bracelets we had to put 24 green and yellow beads and they ended up turning into a beautiful creation. I haven't took mine off yet because it reminds me of Harry and all the magnificent bracelets that are being made. You can help raise money too by buying Harry's bracelets and Help Harry Help Others! Thomas It was a pleasure and an honour to help raise money for charity. I'm so glad I read my book during the silence as I knew I would find it hard, but I'm glad I did my bit.

Lewis

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Advent purple 'belongs to Cadbury' The Meaningful Chocolate Company has been forced to redesign its faith based range after it was advised that ‘Advent purple belongs to Cadbury’.

Last year the Manchester-based Meaningful Chocolate Company designed chocolate tree decorations to help parents and grandparents share the Christmas story with children. The box they came in was advent purple with a picture of Mary and Jesus on the front. In the box was a copy of the Christmas story and a Nativity character sticker set, used to decorate five blank chocolate discs.

Purple is the colour worn by clergy during Advent (in preparation for Christmas) and Lent (in preparation for Easter). Many bishops wear purple shirts. However, the company has been advised by its legal team that Cadbury has secured the rights to the colour purple in the UK. And so this year the Meaningful Chocolate Company has changed their packaging of religious Christmas Tree Decorations to a warm red.

David Marshall said that in any case, there would have been “little chance of confusion. Our box of Meaningful Christmas Tree Decorations are very different from Cadbury’s own decorations in a number of ways. Our chocolate is Fairtrade, Cadbury’s is not.

A charitable donation is made from every sale, Cadbury’s do not do this.

We have Jesus, Mary and characters on the front of our box and a copy of the Christmas story inside, Cadbury have a mostly white box with a snowman on the front and secular tree decorations in a plastic cover. The reason we use purple is that it has been used for centuries by the church during advent…. but apparently no longer…it appears that the association is now with Cadbury.” from the Parish Pump Website 9

Florida Outreach During the visit to my son in Jacksonville Florida I attended the Beach Street Methodist Church and was very impressed with the Pastor (Minister) and the order of worship which was slightly different from ours. They have two services on a Sunday morning. Traditional at 8.15 am and Contempary at 11.00 am plus a children's service. I chose to attend the Traditional. The affirmation of faith is said by whole congregation and the doxology after the offertory (Praise God from whom all blessings etc).

The Pastor gave an excellent inspiring sermon at each service I attended.

One interesting sermon was on whether we saw ourselves as fans of Jesus or followers and I think we would all like to see ourselves as followers but are often just fans, quite a subtle difference.

Three weeks prior to Thanksgiving instead of giving out the bulletins which cost money to produce we were handed out blank sheets of paper to make notes. The cost of the bulletins would go to Water Aid. He asked the adult congregation along with the Children's Church to accept a challenge and put aside the money they might spend on a treat and put it in a special collection.

He hopes the church will be able to provided 50 Water Aid Systems for Africa.

The Methodist Churches in America put a lot of emphasis on practical mission both at home and abroad and its a very integral part of their church life. The church I attended had people going out to Panama to help build a church and engaging with the very poor people, giving spiritual guidance and very practical help providing food, clothing etc. They also baptized both their own and the people who had turned to Christ in the river. At the Service I attended three men who had been on the recent trip gave their testimonies, one was a builder, one was a plumber and another was a psychiatrist. They were very emotional when describing their experiences and the conditions the people were living in. Needless to say, by the end, most of congregation were in tears. Their home mission includes helping the homeless, alcoholics and other needy groups.

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I really experienced a very moving and uplifting time at the services and thought I would like to share with you.

Enid Denton

Poinsettia Flower One of the most popular Christmas flowers is the poinsettia. The “flowers� are, in fact, leaves shaped like stars which remind us of the star of Bethlehem. Here is a delightful Mexican legend which explains how the poinsettia became linked with Christmas.

A little peasant girl was feeling unhappy because she very much wanted to give a gift to the baby Jesus at the Christmas Eve Service held in her village church. Sadly, however, she had no money to buy a present. As she began walking towards the church an idea formed in her head. She began picking some of the loveliest wild flowers growing by the side of the road while doing her best to arrange them as beautifully as she could. On reaching her destination, she walked purposefully towards the altar clutching her small, precious bouquet. There, beside the nativity display, she gently lay down her freshly gathered wild flowers, her gift for the Christ Child. At that moment a truly amazing thing happened - the small bunch of weeds miraculously burst forth into a splendid, vibrant array of bright red star-like flowers.

These flowers became known as Flowers of the Holy Night for they bloom every year at Christmas time.

Barbara Rawson

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Community Fun Day Well what a day we had! It was great to see lots of the local community coming into church to share in our final act of celebration of our 40th Anniversary.

There was an impressive bouncy obstacle course that was very popular and skittles which, if anything, was even more popular.

The stalls were staffed by cheerful faces and the uniformed organisations did a sterling job feeding us all with burgers and hot dogs.

There was great feedback from our guests and at the end of the day they went away happily with their goody bags.

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We had a few people from the circuit come along to see how we were doing and were most impressed at our efforts and at how local people were throwing themselves into our activities.

In the church Margaret Curzon had put together a great slide show of the history of the new church building and I think I even saw myself on one or two.

All in all the day was a rip-roaring success and I can only say a huge thank you to all the organising group and all who took part - and a really big thank you to Christine Rankin who has been at the helm of not only this event but all our celebration events this year.

Thanks Christine - we are very blessed to have someone with your dedication, determination and organising skills amply demonstrated during what has been a very busy year.

Nick Riley Church Steward

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Churches help support foodbanks to feed thousands in the UK Churches across the country are supporting vital foodbanks for their local communities. One church in London is even offering honey made in its own hive on the church’s roof.

A hive of about 10,000 bees on the roof of St Pancras Church on Euston Road produced their first combs of honey this autumn, as the church became a collection point for the Camden Food Bank. The church is part of the national network maintained by the Trussel Trust, which supports people referred for emergency food.

“We need foodbanks,” said churchwarden Dorothea Hackman, “so families feeling the bite of the recession and reduced benefits this winter will not have to send their children hungry to school.” In the past year the North Liverpool Foodbank has fed 3000 people (just under half being children), raising 27 tonnes of food mainly from local churches and schools. Most of them come from the poorest families in the most deprived communities in Liverpool.

In Leicester many churches donate food to the Welcome Project, a diocesan voluntary group offering emergency food, supplies and advice to asylum seekers. The project focuses on helping those who arrive in the area with little or nothing to live on and are unable to work to support themselves.

The Trussell Trust recently revealed that a record-breaking 100,000 people have received emergency food from UK foodbanks in the last six months. It warns that rises in food and fuel bills this winter could force more Britons into a crisis. For more details on foodbanks: www.trusselltrust.org/ from the Parish Pump Website Don’t forget that soon Erdington hopes to have its very own Food Bank. Watch the CONTACT for more information. - ed

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Your Free Medical Check-up Hold this page close to your face and blow on it!!

If if if if if

it it it it it

turns turns turns turns turns

green brown purple red black

- - - - -

see your doctor call your dentist contact a psychiatrist call your bank manager call the undertaker

But If it remains white you are in good health and there is no reason you shouldn’t join us for our Christmas Activities!!

See you there

Pancakes and great commandments A mother was preparing pancakes for her sons, Kevin, five and Ryan, three.

As the boys began to argue over who would get the first pancake, their mother saw the opportunity for a moral lesson. “If Jesus were sitting here,” she said, “He would say, 'let my brother have the first pancake, I can wait.'"

Kevin turned to his younger brother and said, "Ryan, you be Jesus!" from the Parish Pump Website

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Christmas: The story of the Christingle Our Christingle service in on Sunday 2nd December at 4.00 pm The word ‘Christingle’ actually means ‘Christ Light’, and celebrates the light of Jesus coming into the world. Stories of how the Christingle began look back to the Moravian Church, which is found in the Czech Republic. The Moravians have held Christingle services for more than 200 years, and according to them, this is how the first Christingle might have been made: Many years ago the children in a village were asked to bring a Christmas gift to put beside the crib in the church. One family was very poor, and had no money for gifts, but the three children were still determined to take something. The only nice thing they had was an orange, so they decided to give the Christ-child that. But then they discovered the top was going green, so the eldest cut it out, and put a candle in the hole. To add some colour, one of the girls took a red ribbon from her hair and tied it around the middle of the orange. It was hard to make the ribbon stay still, so they fastened it in place with toothpicks. The toothpicks looked a bit bare, so the youngest child added some raisins to them.

The children took their decorated orange lantern to the church for the Christmas Mass. The other children sneered at their meagre gift, but the priest seized upon it with joy. He held it up as an example of the true understanding of the meaning of Christmas, for the following reasons: the orange is round, like the world; the candle gives us light in the dark, like the love of God; the red ribbon goes round the ‘world’, as a symbol of Christ’s blood, given for everyone; the four sticks point in all directions, and symbolise that God is over all: North, South, East and West; and the fruit and nuts remind us of God’s blessings.

The Children’s Society first introduced the Christingle Service to The Church of England in 1968, and it has since become a popular event in the church calendar. from the Parish Pump Website 18

The New Heating Boilers.

Just a word of thanks to all those who have responded to the appeal which we launched in August for money to replace the heating boiler. After strenuous efforts to repair the old one we were forced to give up and make the decision to buy a new one. Three months later it is installed and paid for after a magnificent response from you all. £5810 was given by members and friends in response to the appeal. Generous donations from both the District and the Circuit were received and a particular word of thanks to the Scout Group, the Folk Dance club and the Zen-shin Karate Academy all of whom use the premises regularly for generous donations. We topped up the donations with £4018 from our reserves and thus reached the required figure of £14160. The local firm of Butco Heating Ltd installed the two boilers which work in tandem. Many thanks from the Finance & Property Committee for all your support.

John Price (Treasurer)

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Our Christmas Charities Carol Singing at Tesco - New Oscott - Midlands Air Ambulance (Tuesday 18th December at 7.00 pm) The Midlands Air Ambulance is the only Charity responsible for funding and operating three Air Ambulances serving the communities of Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Worcestershire and the West Midlands. This constitutes the largest air ambulance operating region in the UK. Since 1991, the Charity has responded to more than 37,000 missions averaging 3,000 per year or nearly ten each day, making it one of the longest established and busiest Air Ambulance organisations in the UK. The Charity’s three aircraft each carry a crew comprising Pilot, two Paramedics or Flight Doctors plus full life-support medical equipment.

Operating from strategically located regional air bases, the maximum flying time to hospital from anywhere in the region is less than 15 minutes.

What is not widely known is that Midlands Air Ambulance receives no Government or National Lottery funding. In excess of ÂŁ6 million is needed each year to keep its three Air Ambulances operational which is donated entirely by the public and local businesses, with 4 in 10 of those we help funded by Gifts in Wills.

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If a patient reaches hospital within 60 minutes of injury (referred to as the ‘Golden Hour’) their chances of survival are dramatically increased. That is why the rapid response of the Midlands Air Ambulance is so vital in an emergency situation.

The Charity is fortunate to count on tremendous public support and good will, but never takes this for granted. Winning and keeping hearts and minds is an essential and constant challenge. That is why it regards the real ‘helicopter heroes’ as not only the flight and medic crews, but those often unsung ground heroes, its fundraisers.

Carol Singing outside church Methodist Relief & Development Fund (MRDF) Saturday 22nd December from 10.00 am Here are two stories which demonstrate the work of MRDF. Mamush's Story ‘Before 2007 I was in absolute poverty, I needed to take care of my wife, three preschool children, a niece and my aging parents. It was a great challenge for me to feed my family from the meagre income I got from farming three hectares of eroded land. I had to sell my sheep and young bulls when we ran short of food. I couldn’t keep enough milk cows to feed my children or oxen to plough the fields and it kept getting worse.

It was in 2007 that I heard about SUNARMA from project workers who encouraged me to attend a meeting. Realising that I was keeping bees in two traditional beehives, SUNARMA gave me two modern beehives and provided training for me on beekeeping techniques. From this training I learnt how to keep beehives clean and protected from rain, how to protect beehives from pests, and when and how to harvest the honey. I started to 21

see the difference straight away, instead of collecting 4kg of honey from a traditional beehive, I managed to harvest up to 15kg. This encouraged me to focus on beekeeping and with the extra income I invested in more beehives, now I own 14. I also bought oxen to help with farming and a cow to provide milk for my children. I have also been putting money aside to reroof my house, replacing the thatch with corrugated metal.

For the first time since I was married, I can feed my family properly. Now I am happy because my children eat enough and dress properly. I have been receiving close professional support from field workers and I hope SUNARMA will continue supporting me with making my dream of transforming myself come true. SUNARMA’s programme has enabled me to feel confident that I am involved in a sustainable activity that generates a long-term income.’

MRDF’s partner in Ethiopia, SUNARMA, supports farmers in the Wof Washa region of the Ethiopian Highlands to improve their agricultural production techniques and increase their income. SUNARMA provides crucial equipment, training and resources, so individuals can establish small businesses that are environmentally friendly and sustainable.

Parbati’s Story ‘My name is Parbati Patika, I am 49 years old and live in Suludia village, Orissa. I was 16 years old when I married and have two daughters who are 24 and 16 years old. I became involved with MRDF’s partner, READ in 2008 when training workshops started being held in my village.

Before READ, my life was very miserable. I didn’t know anything other than housework, cooking and taking care of children. I was a bit shy and scared to speak with other people. I didn’t know women from other villages. In my family, my husband used to make all of the decisions. I wanted to be the one making decisions.

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Now, I am enjoying my life with the women’s group. Everyone in the village gives me respect and my husband and local leaders involve me in all decision making. After attending regular meetings and workshops I became more confident and can now speak to anybody, anywhere. Through READ I have received a lot of training in leadership, entrepreneurship, communication and agricultural production. We have received support from READ to buy seeds, cultivate cotton and transport products – many women have also received small loans and now own their own businesses, including me!

Most people’s attitudes toward women has changed and gender discrimination has been reduced. Whenever they conduct village meetings they invite our women’s group leaders.

I hope to involve all local women in development activities. With the support of READ we are now concentrating on the education of young girls. Once women are educated, many of the problems of women and the community will be solved.

I am very thankful to READ for its constant effort to bring us up to this level. Secondly I must extend sincere thanks to the people in the UK for their whole hearted support and the noble work they do.’

READ is an MRDF partner working in Eastern India to empower marginalised women through education, life skills workshops and income generating activities. The women form groups and together are then able to start businesses, become more aware of their rights and develop crucial skills.

Gift Service Collection - Alzheimer's Society Sunday 16th December at 10.30 am Alzheimer's Society is the leading support and research charity for people with dementia, their families and carers.

There are 800,000 people with dementia in the UK with numbers set to rise to one million by 2021.

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Alzheimer's Society is a membership organisation, which works to improve the quality of life of people affected by dementia in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Many of our 25,000 members have personal experience of dementia, as carers, health professionals or people with dementia themselves, and their experiences help to inform our work.

The Society's fight for a better world for people with all types of dementia takes a wide range of forms. Through our network of local services, we touch the lives of over 30,000 people every week, providing practical services and support for people with dementia and their carers. Every year, more than a million people make use of the information we provide.

Through campaigning and lobbying we strive to influence government policies and raise awareness of the challenges faced by people with dementia and the people who care for them. And through our research programme we work to improve the knowledge we have about dementia and its treatment - and pursuing the ultimate goal of finding a cure.

Our vision A world without dementia.

Our mission We will: • change the face of dementia research • demonstrate best practice in dementia care and support • provide the best advice and support to anyone dealing with dementia • influence the state and society to enable those affected by dementia to live as they wish to live.

• By pursuing these four goals together we'll mobilise thousands of people. With them we'll reduce the impact of dementia on lives today and create a world without dementia tomorrow.

Our values Always informed by the needs and experiences of people affected by dementia, we: 24

• are inclusive, making sure that we reach out to and involve people from every group and community • challenge ourselves and others to question the status quo, be pioneering, and embrace change • aspire to excellence in everything we do • always act with integrity and treat everyone with respect, dignity and fairness • enable others to make a meaningful contribution and realise their potential.

Christmas Day Service Collection - Action for Children Tuesday 25th December at 10.00 am We have been helping the most vulnerable and neglected children for more than 140 years.

Home from home Shocked by the plight of homeless children on the streets of London in 1869, young Methodist minister Thomas Bowman Stephenson decided to take action. With the help of two Methodist friends, Alfred Mager and Francis Horner, he converted a disused stable block into The Children's Home.

Pioneering childcare Stephenson's vision was of a family-style system of childcare which would be disciplined but loving - unlike the hated workhouses. Professional from the start, Stephenson's recognition of the importance of professional training was a significant contribution to the development of childcare in the UK. Over time, our work has shifted away from children's homes towards community-based projects like children's centres, supporting vulnerable families and trying to prevent potential problems. Previously known as the National Children's Home and as NCH, we have always been active in forming national childcare policy.

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Some things don't change Today we continue to support and speak out for children, young people and parents in tough circumstances and we'll be doing this for as long as it's needed. We are still guided by Stephenson's legacy, but face the challenges of a very different society. Because of this, we've changed our name to Action for Children to better describe what we do.

Our Christmas Activities Christingle Service - Sunday 2nd December at 4.00 pm - This service will be led by Local Preacher Lynnette Jones and will include making and offering traditional Christingles. The service will be followed by tea and biscuits.

N.B. Gifts of cakes and biscuits for the tea on that day will be gratefully received.

Shrove (Pancake) Saturday Coffee Morning - Saturday 8th December NB 10.00 am till 1.00 pm - Margaret and Peter’s house group, for church Vision Funds. Light lunches, soup, pizza, pancakes, books, cakes and a raffle. Respite from your Christmas shopping!

Canoldir Male Voice Choir - Saturday 8th December at 7.00 pm at Stockland Green Church. Tickets are available from David Hewitt ÂŁ10 - proceeds for Witton refurbishment. An evening not to be missed.

Carol singing at Tesco New Oscott Tuesday 18th December 7.00 pm for West Midlands Air Ambulance Coffee morning - 22nd December from 10.00 am for Birmingham Dogs Home - Lesley & Becci Carol Singing outside church for MRDF - Saturday 22nd December from 10.00 am Carols by candlelight - Sunday 23rd December at 4.00 pm 26

Christmas Eve Services available as follows: 5.00 pm at Stockland Green or 8.00 pm at Nechells. Alternatively there will be a Midnight Communion at 11.15 pm at South Parade or Four Oaks Christmas Day Worship is at 10.00 am - collection for Action for Children Our regular Sunday worship is detailed on page 31

Sending love in 100 million shoe boxes This month hundreds of thousands of needy children across Eastern Europe, Asia and Africa will be eagerly opening shoe boxes of gifts sent by generous people in the UK, the US , Europe and Australia. Somewhere in the middle of all that there will be an historic shoe box: the 100 millionth shoe box that has been sent since 1990. No one will know quite which one it is, but it is a great milestone to celebrate.

Many local churches in these countries (from Bosnia to Liberia, Montenegro to Swaziland) are also offering the youngsters a short follow-up course called ‘The Greatest Journey’. It simply explains who Jesus is, and what Christianity is all about. The literature and the course resources are shared at the invitation of local church leaders, after consultation with other civic leaders. Since 2010, 700,000 children worldwide have accepted an invitation to join the course. Please remember these children in your prayers – they face huge challenges in their young lives.

Operation Christmas Child was started in 1990, in Wrexham, by Dave Cooke, after he saw pictures of appalling conditions in Romanian orphanages on TV. That year he led a small convoy of vehicles from Wrexham to Romania, to help the children. In 1995 OCC merged with Samaritan’s Purse. from the Parish Pump Website

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T

F R K E

I

H E

O A D M A G

I

R R S

L

A G S

L O P H

F

F

I

C

H C B A B Y A N

E G N A P T

I W

Y N F

A

J

R A

T

S P A U

O U P

T

U P

T

A B R

I

S

E

X B

C O M Y R R H A X

E

T

A

T

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V

E

I

F M

All words are connected to the Christmas Story Ass Magi Angels Night

Baby

Oxen

Bethlehem

Shepherd

Census

Star

Carols

Stable

Chrismas

Swaddling

Donkey

Wisemen

Frankincense Gold

Gabriel

Gifts

Hillside

Herod

Joseph

Journey

Jesus

King

Myrrh

Manger

Mother

Mary

What’s it all about . . .

Dear Lord, what’s it really all about, this “season of celebration?” People rushing everywhere, overspending, double-booking diaries in frantic attempts to meet the demands of a twenty-first century Christmas. And what about those who find Christmas anything but joyful – those who have lost loved ones, those who are old and alone and tired and longing for it all to be over?

Lord, in the middle of the busy-ness and bustle, help us to remember that this is nothing new. Jesus came into a world of rush and frenetic activity.

He came to a town so busy that there was no room for his family. And help us to remember that you know what it’s like to have a loved one – your dear Son - away from home at Christmas.

Lord, still our hearts, and open them to recognise and receive your great gift to us. May we make room for Jesus and know the peace and security of his presence this Christmas. Help us to know that this is what it’s really all about.

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

By Daphne Kitching

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Christmas Presence (Isa 9:6, 7:14) Unto us a child is born To us a son is given…

And you will call him Immanuel, God with us.

Jesus, God actually with us.

God’s greatest gift, Born into weakness and vulnerability, Sharing life’s raw reality, Family rows, family rejoicing, Broken relationships, broken hearts, Grief and great suffering, Rejection and injustice, Despair and death.

Yet through it all Still the gift goes on Revealing God’s grace and power And peace to overcome.

This is a gift that cannot be wrapped, That will never break Or pass its sell-by date.

This is Jesus, The greatest gift.

Receive God’s Christmas presence And walk on with him.

By Daphne Kitching

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December & January Regular Meetings Coffee Mornings Each Saturday 10.00 am to 12.00 noon

Tuesday Club Every 4th Tuesday in the month at 2.30 pm

Sunday Worship All worship starts at 10.30 am unless stated otherwise below December 2012 2nd

Pat Padley

9th

HOLY COMMUNION - Rev Colin Gardner

16th

ALL AGE WORSHIP - Gill Irish

23rd

Rev John Ingyon

30th

UNITED SERVICE at Nechells Church

January 2013 6th

COVENANT SERVICE - Rev Keith Webster

13th

Ann Houghton

20th

ALL AGE WORSHIP - Lynnette Jones

27th

Margaret Gardner

All other Christmas services are listed on pages 26 & 27 31

Weekly Church Activities Sunday

10.30 am

MORNING WORSHIP and Young Church

Tuesday

9.30 - 11.30 am 9.30 - 12.30 pm 2.00 pm

Stay and Play Pre-School : Karen Homer Tuesday Afternoon Meeting : Ann Tomes (4th)

Wednesday

9.30 - 11.30 am 9.30 - 12.30 pm 12.30 pm

Stay and Play Pre-School : Karen Homer Luncheon Club - (1st and 3rd)

Thursday

9.30 - 12.30 pm

Pre-School : Karen Homer

Friday

9.30 - 12.30 pm 5.00 - 6.15 pm 6.15 - 7.45 pm 7.45 - 9.15 pm 7.45 - 9.15 pm 5.30 - 6.30 pm 5.00 - 6.30 pm 7.30 - 9.00 pm

Pre-School : Karen Homer Beavers : Lynn Turner Cubs : Elizabeth Baizon Scouts : Lisa Porter Explorers : Caroline Joyce Rainbows : Louise Rawson Brownies : Lesley Carter Guides : Helen Rainsford

Saturday

10.00 - 12.00 noon Coffee Morning : Lesley Morgan 10.30 - 11.30 am Church open for prayer : Margaret Curzon

Please hand any items for the February CONTACT to any of the Editorial Team (Peter Farley, Christine Rankin, Ann Tomes & Nick Riley) by 15th January 2013 at the latest please or alternatively email me: nickriley@blueyonder.co.uk with the word ‘CONTACT’ in the title.

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