The HubThe HubThe HubThe Hub The Magazine of St. Augustine’s Halifax & Christ Church Pellon

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December 2010December 2010December 2010December 2010————JanuaryJanuaryJanuaryJanuary 201 201 201 2011111

Love

Grow

Serve

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Regular events For Children Sundays Children are welcome at all services! However, the 10.45am services at Christ Church are the most accessible for young people, when we have children’s work every week during term time, or an all-age parade service especially for children.

Girl’s Uniformed Groups (all at Christ Church) Monday 6.00 – 7.00pm Rainbows (age 5-7) Jane Webster 885878 Monday 6.30 – 8.00pm Brownies (age 7-10) Tracey Jagger 248365 Monday 7.30 – 9.00pm Guides (age 10-15) Ann Cockerill 363892

Sharx Midweek at Christ Church Alternate Wednesdays, 7.00—9.00pm. For ages 10+. Fun, friendship and chat. Karaoke, air hockey, table football, Wii games and lots more. Contact Norman McDonnell for more details 250213.

Fellowship House Groups Various days & times to suit. Alternate weeks. Get together with others to explore fellowship, faith and prayer to help you in your daily discipleship. The best way to grow as a Christian! For more details and dates contact Karen Hellewell 365027.

Café Hope Tuesdays 10.00 am—11.30am at Highgate Methodist Church. Informal chat to meet other people, chat over coffee and cakes, or join in with gentle exercise.

Friday Group Friday evenings, bi-monthly. Ladies get-togethers and social events. See ’What’s Happening’ for more details, or contact Ann Gardner 341962.

Men’s Breakfast Last Saturday of each month 8-10am. At The Fountainhead Inn, Pellon. Men only, worship, discussion, prayer and breakfast! Contact David Ramanauskas for more details 330770.

Worship As well as Sundays, we have other regular worship: Monday, 9.00 am Morning Prayer at St. Augustine’s Tuesday 11.45 am Informal Worship at St. Augustine’s, followed by lunch Wednesday 9.16am Communion Service at Christ Church

Interpreted Services. The first Sunday 10.45am service at Christ Church and the 6.30pm Celebration services on the second Sundays at Christ Church will be BSL signed services.

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From the Vicar

Dear Readers,

So who do you think is going to win Strictly Come Dancing this year? Or

perhaps you’re an X Factor fan instead? Or maybe you’re not at all interested

in either! If so, then you’re probably in the minority judging by the amount of

coverage both programmes are getting in the media, and, seemingly, not for

the ‘right reasons’. It seems to be more about the judges and whether they’re

fixing the results on X Factor, or whether Ann Widdecombe will win when she

obviously can’t dance in any usual sense of the word.

I often wonder what it is that makes these and other similar ‘reality TV’

programmes so popular? Is it really a desire to see who is the best dancer

among a disparate group of celebrities, or who can survive the longest doing a

series of increasingly gruesome tasks in a jungle on the other side of the world?

Or do we enjoy seeing others suffer (in a relatively minor way)? Or do we

secretly – or not so secretly – wish that we were there, doing those things? Or is

it just escapism from the dreariness of the life that we are living, and anything

must be better than facing the reality of our own lives, and indeed of ourselves?

Sometimes it seems as though the latter may be closer to the mark for

perhaps too many of us. We fill every possible moment with noise of one

kind or another. Many people can’t go anywhere without a mobile phone

glued to their ear now. We switch the TV on as soon as we get in ‘just for

a bit of background noise’, or ‘a bit of company’. We can’t go in the

supermarket without having music piped to us, or even usually get into a

lift without the same music blaring out. What is it we are afraid of? And

what difference would it make if we faced that fear?

Another programme that was shown recently on BBC was called ‘The Big

Silence’. It followed five people as they tried to find a regular pattern of

silence in their lives, and what difference it made to them. The results

were startling for many people.

When they began to experience true silence – not just a quiet weekend in

the countryside or the equivalent – they began to encounter themselves,

either for the first time, or in a deeper and more fundamental way.

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And when they discovered themselves, they found out that in fact their

deepest fears about themselves were not true. For many of us fear that

deep down we are not lovely or even lovable. We fear that if people knew

the real us, then they wouldn’t like what they saw. Indeed, we fear that if

we looked at our real selves, we wouldn’t like what we saw.

So instead, we run away and hide behind noise, or activity, or alcohol, or

sex 5 or whatever way we find best helps us avoid ourselves.

And although this might mask for a while our deepest fears, it doesn’t

remove them. It is only as we face those fears that we can live as truly

free people. Otherwise, we are held captive by those fears, and those

habits that mask the fears.

But if life is just about manageable without facing those fears, why take

the risk? Yes, we might feel that there must be more to life than we are

currently experiencing, but still 5 what if I discover that actually I am as

bad as I fear, or that others do not like the real me – I’ll be worse off than I

am at the moment. Maybe its safer continuing the way I am going, at least

this is familiar even if it doesn’t satisfy my deepest longings.

I can’t guarantee that beginning to enter that silence where we face our

real selves won’t cause some pain – there are no doubt things in all our

lives that are things that should not be there, that wound others or

ourselves. And letting go of those can be painful, like the pain of the cut

the excises the bad in a wound. But it is the only way to true healing.

However, I can guarantee you two things. Firstly, when you begin this

journey, you won’t face it alone. It might feel like it at first, but when the

noise is stripped away, you begin to hear another heartbeat alongside

your own – the heartbeat of the God who made you. And secondly, that

your ultimate discovery will be that you are loved, you are special, you are

someone worth knowing!

How do I know? Because of Christmas! “For God so loved the world that

he sent his one and only Son” – for you! That’s what Christmas is all about

– God’s very special love for you.

John Hellewell

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WHAT’S HAPPENING This is a BSL interpreted service

DECEMBER 1 Wednesday 9.15 am Communion at Christ Church 7.00 pm Sharx Midweek @ Christ Church 3 Friday 7.30 pm Ladies Friday Group at Kath Sharman’s

5 Sunday: Second Sunday of Advent 10.45 am Family Communion at Christ Church 10.45 am Morning Worship at St. Augustine’s 12.45 pm Baptism at Christ Church 6.30 pm Communion at St. Augustine’s

6 Monday 9.00 am Morning Prayer at St. Augustine’s 7.30 pm Preacher’s meeting at The Vicarage 7 Tuesday 10.00 am Café Hope at Highgate Methodist Church 10.00 am Bible and English class at St. Augustine’s 10.30 am Communion at Asquith Court. All welcome! 11.45 am Worship at St. Augustine’s, followed by lunch 7.30 pm St. Augustine’s PCC at St. Augustine’s 8 Wednesday 9.15 am Communion at Christ Church 7.30 pm Christ Church PCC at Christ Church

12 Sunday: Third Sunday of Advent 9.00 am Said communion at Christ Church 10.45 am Morning Worship at Christ Church 10.45 am Communion at St. Augustine’s 6.30 pm Celebration Service at Christ Church

13 Monday 9.00 am Morning Prayer at St. Augustine’s 7.00 pm Carol Singing at ASDA 14 Tuesday 10.00 am Café Hope at Highgate Methodist Church 10.00 am Bible and English class at St. Augustine’s 11.45 am Worship at St. Augustine’s, followed by lunch 1.30 pm Ling Bob Christmas Service at Christ Church 15 Wednesday 9.15 am Communion at Christ Church 7.00 pm Sharx midweek at Christ Church 17 Friday 9.30 am Christ Church Christmas Service at Christ Church

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19 Sunday: Fourth Sunday of Advent 10.45 am Family Communion at Christ Church 10.45 am Morning Worship at St. Augustine’s 6.30 pm Candlelit Carol Service at Christ Church 20 Monday 9.00 am Morning Prayer at St. Augustine’s 7.00 pm Churches Together Outdoor Carol Service 21 Tuesday 10.00 am Café Hope at Highgate Methodist Church 10.30 am Carol Service at Asquith Court, all welcome! 11.45 am Worship at St. Augustine’s, followed by lunch 22 Wednesday 9.15 am Communion at Christ Church 24 Friday 4.30 pm Christingle Service at Christ Church 6.30 pm Christingle Service at Christ Church 11.30 pm Midnight Christmas Communion at Christ Church

25 Saturday: CHRISTMAS DAY! 10.00 am Christmas Communion at Christ Church 10.45 am Christmas Communion at St. Augustine’s

26 Sunday: Feast of St. Stephen 10.45 am Communion at Christ Church 10.45 am Communion at St. Augustine’s

JANUARY 2011

2 Sunday: Second Sunday of Christmas 10.45 am Family Communion at Christ Church 10.45am Morning Worship at St. Augustine’s 4 Tuesday 10.00 am Café Hope at Highgate Methodist Church 10.30 am Communion at Asquith Court – all welcome! 11.45 am Worship at St. Augustine’s, followed by lunch 2.00 pm Pastoral Team meeting at Rosemary’s 5 Wednesday 9.15 am Communion at Christ Church 6 Thursday 7.30 pm Epiphany Service at St. Augustine’s Centre

9 Sunday: Baptism of Christ 9.00 am Said Communion at Christ Church 10.45 am Morning Worship at Christ Church 10.45 am Communion at St. Augustine’s 6.30 pm Celebration Service at Christ Church

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10 Monday 9.00 am Morning Prayer at St. Augustine’s 11 Tuesday 10.00 am Café Hope at Highgate Methodist Church 11.45 am Worship at St. Augustine’s, followed by lunch 12 Wednesday 9.15 am Communion at Christ Church 7.00 pm Sharx Midweek @ Christ Church 13 Thursday 7.30 pm Baptism Preparation at Christ Church

16 Sunday: Second Sunday of Epiphany 10.45 am Family Communion at Christ Church 10.45am Morning Worship at St. Augustine’s 6.30 pm Communion at Christ Church 17 Monday 9.00 am Morning Prayer at St. Augustine’s 18 Tuesday 10.00 am Café Hope at Highgate Methodist Church 11.30 am Churches Together Meeting at Highgate 11.45 am Worship at St. Augustine’s, followed by lunch 19 Wednesday 9.15 am Communion at Christ Church

23 Sunday: Third Sunday of Epiphany 9.00 am Sung Communion at Christ Church 10.45 am Communion at St. Augustine’s 10.45 am Parade Service at Christ Church 12.45 am Baptisms at Christ Church 4.00 pm Service of Christian Unity at New Hope URC

24 Monday 9.00 am Morning Prayer at St. Augustine’s 25 Tuesday 10.00 am Café Hope at Highgate Methodist Church 11.45 am Worship at St. Augustine’s, followed by lunch 2.00 pm Churches Together Unity service at Highgate 26 Wednesday 9.15 am Communion at Christ Church 7.00 pm Sharx Midweek @ Christ Church 29 Saturday 8.00 am Men’s Prayer Breakfast at The Fountainhead

30 Sunday: Second Sunday of Advent 10.45 am Joint Communion at Christ Church 4.00 pm Baptism Celebration at Christ Church 6.30 pm Communion at Christ Church 31 Monday 9.00 am Morning Prayer at St. Augustine’s

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FEBRUARY 2011

1 Tuesday 10.00 am Café Hope at Highgate Methodist Church 10.30 am Communion at Asquith Court. All welcome! 11.45 am Worship at St. Augustine’s, followed by lunch 7.30 pm Joint PCC at St. Augustine’s 2 Wednesday 9.15 am Communion at Christ Church 4 Friday 7.30 pm Ladies Friday Group at June Lockwood’s

6 Sunday: Fifth Sunday before Lent 10.45 am Family Communion at Christ Church 10.45 am Morning Worship at St. Augustine’s 6.30 pm Communion at Christ Church

MAGAZINE DEADLINE

The Parish Magazine is distributed on the last Sunday of

every other month. The copy deadline for the

December/January magazine is

Sunday, 16 th January 2011

Contact Kath Sharman on 363058 or email Kathleen.sharman@btinternet.com or sharontyler70@hotmail.co.uk

SHARX FUNDRAISING ALERT

Are you already planning to spend money online with retailers like Amazon, Boden, Tesco, M & S, Next?

If so, then you can raise funds for Sharx just by logging on to Easyfundraising.org.uk/Sharx and clicking through your favourite

online retailers through that site rather than typing their URL’s directly into your web browser. The retailers then donate a

percentage of the sale to Sharx funds. It’s that simple. Thank you in anticipation of your online support

The Sharx Team

P.s. I think the instructions are ok, but this is a new venture and I welcome any feedback from users as they try it out or if you have an

online business and would like to register to support.

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Sharx continues to grow and now has 23 members and an average attendance of 17.

The “Sharks” recently voted on the name of our Christian Youth Group and decided to stay with ‘Sharks ’which we have done but with a subtle change to “SHARX”.

I hope you all approve of the change to Sharx.which is an acrynym of our major goal, to spend time - SHARing in X (Christ). Many of you will already know that the fish (also known as ichthus) symbolises Christianity. Ichthus) or ichthys is the reek word simply meaning fish.

The Greek spelling for ichthus is -- Iota, Chi, Theta, Upsilon, and Sigma. The English translation is IXOYE. The five Greek letters stand for the words meaning: “Jesus Christ, Son of God, Saviour”. The Greek rendering is: Iesous Christos, Theou Uios, Soter.

This symbol was used primarily amongst Christians of the early church years (1st and 2nd century A.D.). The symbol was later used as a means of identifying or acknowledging a fellow believer in Christ without the need for any verbal communication being exchanged.

So it is very appropriate for SHARX to use the fish symbol to show that we too are SHARing in X (the cross being the number one Christian symbol).

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So, to sum up despite the change we are still SHARX because we are all sharing in Christ here at Christ Church.

Since the last edition of “The Hub” Sharx have enjoyed another two successful outings.

A party of 19 youths and leaders attended Electric Bowl in September Then in October 21 youths and 9 leaders enjoyed a great night in Huddersfield at Laser Zone. I am delighted to report that the behaviour of all the Sharx was excellent .

The most important date in the Sharx diary is Sunday December 12th 2010. This is the day that Sharx will be entertaining the Christ Church congregation at the 10.45am family service. When they will be performing. The Gift.. It should be well worth seeing.

We intend to end the year in Style with the SharX End of Year Party (optional fancy dress) on Wednesday 29th December from 7.30 – 10pm. The party is free and will include the usual refrershments plus lots more inc disco.with Lots of fun & games and prizes for best fancy dress etc. Each current member will also be allowed to bring along a friend as a guest.

We have lots of exciting plans for 2011 so watch this space and if you need more information please don’t hesitate to approach Lynn, Michael, Sharon or myself at any church service.

On behalf of The Sharx and Sharx Leaders I would like to wish you all a Happy Christmas and a Healthy & Peaceful New Year.

NormNormNormNormanananan

Norman McDonnell – Youth Leader

Make your home group a priority that you may grow in Christ

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• 'The person who has no Christmas in their heart will never find Christmas under a tree.'

• 'Father Christmas enters through a hole in the chimney and leaves through a hole in your pocket.'

• 'A church is God between four walls.' French proverb.

• 'Don't stay away from church because there are so many hypocrites. There's always room for one more.' A R Adams.

• A father gave his daughter a young puppy for Christmas. An hour later, he found her in the kitchen, looking sadly at a puddle in the centre of the floor. “Look Dad,” she said, “My pup runneth over!”

• Child introducing Christmas carol in church: “Our next song is: ‘Angels We Have Heard Get High’”

• What would have happened if there had actually been Three Wise Women, rather then Men? They would have asked directions; arrived on time; helped to deliver the baby; cleaned the stable; made a casserole; brought practical gifts, and there would be Peace on Earth. Share this thought with the wise women in your life!

Give us a sense of humour by AG Bullivant

Give us a sense of humour, Lord, And also things to laugh about.

Give us the grace to take a joke against ourselves And to see the funny side of life.

Save us from annoyance, bad temper, Or resentfulness against our friends.

Help us to laugh even in the face of trouble; And fill our minds with the love of Jesus, For his name’s sake. Amen

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Christmas Events

Tuesday 30th November @ Christ Church

7.30pm ‘Still before Christmas’ advent Service

A chance to take time out of this busy time of year and prepare

our hearts for Christmas in this quieter, more reflective service.

Sunday 12th December @ Christ Church

10.45am Christmas production by Sharx

A service where the sharks perform a Christmas play.

Monday 13th December

7.00pm Carol Singing at ASDA

Sing to our community at the entrance to ASDA—share some

Christmas cheer with the shoppers!

Sunday 19th December

10.45am Christmas play by Sunday Clubs @ Christ Church

A communion service where the children perform a Christmas play.

10.45am Christmas Carols @ St. Augustine’s

Come along and sing your favourite carol.

6.30pm Carols by Candlelight @ Christ Church

A traditional mix of readings and well-known carols, all in the

wonderful atmosphere of candlelight, followed by mulled wine and

mince pies.

Monday 20th December

7.00pm Carol Singing around Pellon

A community sing in and around the local community!

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Tuesday 21st December @ Asquith Court

10.30am Christmas Carols & Communion

Join us at Asquith Court to celebrate Christmas.

Friday 24th December @ Christ Church

4.30 & 6.30pm Christingle Service

Two chances to join in this perfect way to enter into the spirit of Christmas,

as we present the Christmas story in a relevant way for all the family.

11.30pm Midnight Communion@ Christ Church

The first communion of Christmas as we celebrate together the birth of

Jesus at the first opportunity

Saturday 25th December

10.00am Christmas Family Communion @ Christ Church

10.45am Christmas Family Communion @ St. Augustine’s

Our family celebration of Christmas and the birth of the Saviour.

Sunday 26th December

10.45am Family Communion @ Christ Church

10.45am Family Communion @ St. Augustine’s

Reflect on the year past, and look forward to the year ahead.

Now for a short intermission....

If there had been three wise women... • they would have asked for directions

• they would have been on time

• they would have assisted with the birth

• they would have cleaned the stable

• they would have brought more practical gifts (disposable nappies!)

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Thinking about Easter already?!

The recently launched ‘The Real Easter Egg’ is the first Easter Egg in the UK to mention Jesus and the events of Holy Week on the box. It is attracting enormous interest – already hundreds of churches and individuals have placed orders for the eggs, due out in time for Easter 2011. David Marshall, founder of the Meaningful Chocolate Co, says: “They can't believe a product like this has never been available in the UK. We have been overwhelmed.' The direct sale price of The Real Easter Egg is £4.50 which includes a charitable donation, VAT, handling and delivery to a church single drop off point. 30 pence from each egg will be donated to the charity Traidcraft Exchange and a further 10% from profits will go to Baby Lifeline - buying everything from medical equipment for new mums in the UK to chickens for farmers in Africa. If you would like to consider ordering a Real Easter Egg, visit: www.realeasteregg.co.uk

Don’t struggle in the dark Have you ever tried to open a door in the dark? You first grope to find the keys in your pocket or purse, and then you fumble around, trying to decide which is the right key for this door. Even once you’ve found the right key, it is a struggle – because now you can’t find the lock! The Bible describes the birth of Jesus as a light coming into the world. The prophet Isaiah wrote; ‘The people walking in darkness have seen a great light.’ (Isa 9:2) This offers great hope to us all. We don’t have to stumble through life in darkness, trying to unlock its mysteries. In John’s gospel, Jesus offers to lead us. He is ‘the light of the world’ (John 8:12). Sadly, the danger is that we may be too used to living without Jesus, and the guidance he offers. We may prefer to stumble about and fall, and only ever cope, rather than succeed. It is better by far to see life in the light of Jesus, the light of the world, and to accept his help. We can then, as the old gospel song says, ‘walk in the light’.

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Calling God An American photographer on vacation was inside a church in Oldham taking photographs when he noticed a golden telephone mounted on the wall with a sign that read '£10,000 per call'.

The American, being intrigued, asked a priest who was strolling by what the telephone was used for. The priest replied that it was a direct line to heaven and that for £10,000 you could talk to God. The American thanked the priest and went along his way.

Next stop was in Manchester. There, at a very large cathedral, he saw the same golden telephone with the same sign under it. He wondered if this was the same kind of telephone he saw in Oldham and he asked a nearby nun what its purpose was. She told him that it was a direct line to heaven and that for £10,000 he could talk to God. 'O.K., thank you,' said the American.

He then travelled to Blackburn, Burnley, Rochdale, and Littleborough. In every church he saw the same golden telephone with the same '£10,000 per call' sign under it.

The American, upon leaving Lancashire decided to travel to Yorkshire to see if Yorkshiremen had the same phone.

He arrived in Halifax, and again, in the first church he entered, there was the same golden telephone, but this time the sign under it read '50 pence per call.'

The American was surprised so he asked the priest about the sign. 'Father, I've travelled all over Lancashire and I've seen this same golden telephone in many churches. I'm told that it is a direct line to heaven, but in Lancashire the price was £10,000 per call. Why is it so cheap here?'

The priest smiled and answered, 'You're in Yorkshire now, son ... it's a local call.'

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The Christmas Gift

A friend of mine named Paul received an automobile from his brother as a Christmas present. On Christmas Eve when Paul came out of his office, a street urchin was walking around the shiny new car, admiring it. "Is this your car, Mister?" he asked. Paul nodded. "My brother gave it to me for Christmas." The boy was astounded. "You mean your brother gave it to you and it didn't cost you nothing? Boy, I wish..." He hesitated. Of course Paul knew what he was going to wish for. He was going to wish he had a brother like that. But what the lad said jarred Paul all the way down to his heels. "I wish," the boy went on, "that I could be a brother like that." Paul looked at the boy in astonishment, then impulsively he added, "Would you like to take a ride in my automobile?" "Oh yes, I'd love that." After a short ride, the boy turned and with his eyes aglow, said, "Mister, would you mind driving in front on my house?" Paul smiled a little. He thought he knew what the lad wanted. He wanted to show his neighbours that he could ride home in a big automobile. But Paul was wrong again. "Will you stop where those two steps are?" the boy asked. He ran up the steps. Then in a little while Paul heard him coming back, but he was not coming fast. He was carrying his little crippled brother. He sat him down on the bottom step, then sort of squeezed up against him and pointed to the car. "There she is, Buddy, just like I told you upstairs. His brother gave it to him for Christmas and it didn't cost him a penny. And some day I'm gonna give you one just like it... then you can see for yourself all the pretty things in the Christmas windows that I've been trying to tell you about." Paul got out and lifted the lad to the front seat of his car. The shingled-eyed older brother climbed in beside him and the three of them began a memorable holiday ride. That Christmas Eve, Paul learned what Jesus meant when he had said, "It's more blessed to give...."

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Café

HIGHGATE METHODIST CHURCH

Pellon Churches together invite you to their

Community Café

Tuesdays – 10.00 to 11.30 am

Meet new friends, or bring your own along for a coffee

and a chat, or just somewhere to chill out.

UNWANTED MOBILE PHONES AND USED PRINTER INK CARTRIDGES

Kit Merrill collects these items on behalf of Christian Aid.

When sent for recycling each phone adds £3.50 and each

cartridge about £1.33 to Christian Aid funds. Please Help.

Kit would also be pleased to receive any used large padded

envelopes as he recycles these to send the phones and

cartridges to Christian Aid

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A Very Special Gift? George asked, ‘My dad’s so rich that I don’t know what to get him for Christmas. What do you give to a man who has everything?’ Harry replied, ‘A burglar alarm!’

It’s not easy buying Christmas presents for others, especially in times of economic uncertainty. However, let’s not forget the greatest gift ever given: Jesus Christ. Our gifts at Christmas mean very little unless they point at the greatest gift of all. This was certainly true of the gifts given to Jesus by the Magi.

‘On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.’ Matt 2:11. These were just the kind of gifts that visitors from the east might bring, as they were all traded in this region. They were also very expensive gifts, including gold, frankincense (a plant gum resin used in incense) and myrrh (another gum resin used for perfume). Although all very familiar, they help us to understand God’s gift of Jesus:

Who is he? Gold is a gift fit for a king. In Jesus we see a king in baby clothes. The worship of the wise men was costly, not only in terms of their gifts but also for their lives.

What did he come to do? Frankincense was used by the priests in the temple as part of the sacrificial system. Jesus, as the ultimate priest, is the one who came to bring God and man together in reconciliation. He can do this because he is both divine and human.

What did it cost him? Myrrh was used to embalm the dead. This gift reminds us that the baby of Bethlehem would die on the cross to give his life for us. The wood of the crib and the cross are the same wood!

The wise men offered him costly gifts; what are we going to offer him this Christmas? Jesus is for us:

the Christ, the king who came to rule us and take care of everything.

the Lord, who’s not just a person like me but he’s God as well.

the Saviour, the one who came so that we can be friends with God.

‘At Christmas time, when we receive presents we don’t really need, God offers us a gift we cannot do without.’ (J John)

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ANSWERS TO PUZZLES ETC. (no cheating!):

PUZZLES

Across: 1 Jews; 2 Bethlehem; 5 Star of David; 7 Saviour; 8 Shepherds; 11 animals; 12 John; 14 Noel; 15 Forgive; 16 Mary and Joseph; 17 Away in a manger; 18 Manger; 19 sins

Down: 1 Jesus; 3 love; 4 Donkey; 6 The three kings; 9 Silent Night; 10 Gabriel; 13 Presents;

PUZZLES MORE

1 faithful; 2 toys; 3 ribbon; 4 angels; 5 presents; 6 reindeer; 7 carols; 8 family; 9 silent; 10 tree; 11 lights; 12 santa; 13 Jesus; 14 snow; 15 bows

Happy Christmas! Margaret and Eddie Beaton wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year and in lieu of Christmas Cards have made a donation to the British Heart Foundation. For others who would like to do the same, why not use our Christmas tree card at the back of church, and donate money which will be given to the Children’s Society.

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From the Registers...

FUNERALS

Sept. 27th Roy Town Sept. 30th Susan Hammond Nov. 8th Irene Davis Nov. 10th Joan Walton Nov. 19th Douglas Drake

our love, sympathy & prayers to their family and friends

10th Oct. Liam James Smith 24th Oct. Jack Michael Mawdsley

our warmest congratulations to their families and friends

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CHURCH FLOWERS

12th December In loving memory of Brian Lockwood, from June I wish everyone a very Happy Christmas and Peaceful New Year. I look forward to creating more porch pedestals and designing altar arrangements, to uplift our worship and for the glory of God. A special thanks to Graeme for all his help and encouragement. I would be grateful for any donations for flowers for the altar during the coming year. (I have the cost of the pedestals in the porch covered.) Thank you all for your support in 2010 and let us all go cheerfully into 2011.

June Lockwood

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26 December St Stephen (died c 35 AD)

Have you ever stopped to consider that the very first martyr of the Christian Church was a deacon? (But no, he wasn’t worked to death by his church.)

It was Stephen, one of the first seven deacons of the Christian Church. He’d been appointed by the apostles to look after the distribution of alms to the faithful poor, and to help in the ministry of preaching.

Acts 6 and 7 tells us all that we know of his life, and the passages seem to suggest that he was an educated Hellenistic Jew. Certainly Stephen’s famous challenge to the Jews reveals him to have been learned in the Scriptures and the history of Judaism, besides being eloquent and forceful.

Stephen's proclamation on the day of his martyrdom pulled no punches. He told the Jews that God did not depend on the Temple. The Temple was but a temporary institution destined to be fulfilled and superseded by Christ, who was the prophet foreseen by Moses as the Messiah for whom the Jewish race had so long awaited.

Stephen then challenged his hearers for resisting the Spirit and for killing the Christ, as their fathers before them had killed the prophets. The Jews were so outraged by this that they stoned Stephen on the spot for blasphemy.

As he died, Stephen saw a vision of Christ on God's right hand. The men who were witness to the stoning placed their clothes at the feet of Saul (afterwards Paul), who (to his deep regret later) consented to Stephen's death.

By the fourth century Stephen had his own feast day in both East and West Churches. When his supposed tomb was discovered in 415, his popularity soared. His (supposed) relics were taken to Constantinople and then Rome, along with some stones (allegedly) used at his martyrdom.

Early on the Church made Stephen the patron saint of deacons. In the late Middle Ages he was also invoked against headaches (?!).

In England, 46 ancient churches are dedicated to him, most of them built after the Norman Conquest. In art Stephen is usually given a book of the Gospels and a stone, and sometimes the palm of martyrdom.

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The Birth of Jesus Matthew 1-2, Luke 1-2

An Angel Visits Mary

One day about 2,000 years ago an angel named Gabriel appeared to a young Jewish woman named Mary. Gabriel told Mary she would have a son, Jesus, who would be the Son of God! Mary was confused and worried about this sudden news, but she had faith in God and said, "I am the Lord's servant; let it be as you say."

Journey to Bethlehem

Mary and her husband-to-be, Joseph, lived in a town called Nazareth. But they had to travel to the city of Bethlehem to register for a census ordered by the Roman emperor, Caesar Augustus. Both Nazareth and Bethlehem are in the country now called Israel. It is about 65 miles (105 km) from Nazareth to Bethlehem, and the trip probably took them several days.

The angel Gabriel appeared to Mary and said, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favour with

God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will

be called the Son of the Most High." (TNIV)

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When Joseph and Mary got to Bethlehem, there was no place for them to stay because the inn was already full. They ended up spending the night in a stable, a place where animals were kept. There was probably fresh hay on the floor that they used for beds.

That night, Jesus was born. There was no crib, so they laid baby Jesus in a manger, a feeding trough for animals. The manger probably had fresh hay in it and made a nice bed for the baby.

Shepherds Visit Jesus That night, some shepherds were in the fields near Bethlehem, keeping watch over their flocks of sheep. An angel appeared to them and gave them the good news that a Saviour, the Messiah, had been born. The angel told the shepherds they could find Jesus lying in a manger. Suddenly a whole group of angels appeared saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!"

The shepherds hurried into Bethlehem and found Jesus in the manger, just as the angel had told them. After they had seen Jesus, they spread the news, and everyone who heard was in awe.

Jesus was born in a stable and laid to sleep in a

manger. The shepherds came to see firsthand the things the angel had told them.

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Wise Men Visit Jesus

Some time later, wise men, or magi, from eastern countries saw a star in the sky that signalled the birth of a new king. They came to Judea, the region around Jerusalem and Bethlehem, to worship Jesus, the new king.

A man named Herod was the king of Judea. He called the wise men to a meeting and told them to find the new king so he could go and worship him, too.

The wise men continued on to Bethlehem and followed the star until it was directly above the house where Jesus was. They found Mary and Jesus in the house and knelt down to worship Him. They brought Jesus gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, some of the finest things in the ancient world. Frankincense was burned to make a sweet smell, and myrrh was an expensive perfume.

After visiting Jesus, the wise men had a dream that warned them not to go back to King Herod, so they took a different route home.

Wise men from the East came to worship Jesus, bringing gifts of

gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

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Journey to Egypt

King Herod lied when he told the wise men he wanted to worship Jesus. He was afraid this new "king" would replace him as king of Judea. He did not understand that Jesus would grow up to be king of God's spiritual kingdom, not king of Judea.

What Herod really wanted was to find Jesus and kill Him! Herod was furious when he realized the wise men had not come back to tell him where to find Jesus. He sent his soldiers to Bethlehem to kill all the children under two years old, thinking Jesus would certainly be one of the ones killed.

But God had told Joseph in a dream to flee to Egypt. Joseph took Mary and Jesus to live in Egypt where they would be safe from Herod. Joseph, Mary and Jesus stayed in Egypt until Herod had died, and then they returned to Nazareth.

Question

Was Jesus born on Christmas day? We celebrate Jesus' birth on Christmas, but no one really knows what day Jesus was born, or even exactly what year. In 336 A.D., the Western Church, based in Rome, chose December 25 to celebrate as Christmas, meaning "Christ's Mass." The Eastern Church chose January 6. The day was named Epiphany, meaning "appearance." Eventually the period from December 25 to January 6 became known as the Twelve Days of Christmas.

Lessons

The stories of Jesus' birth link to both the past and the future. The circumstances of Jesus' birth show He fulfilled the Old Testament prophecies of a Messiah (Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 1:23). He was born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2, Matthew 2:5-6). He was called out of Egypt (Hosea 11:1, Matthew 2:15).

Jesus was born in a stable - the most humble of circumstances. Similarly, Jesus showed us how God's favour rests with the poor and downtrodden. The Gentile wise men came to worship Jesus. Later, the Gentiles would make up most of the Christian world. Herod's attempt to kill Jesus foreshadows His crucifixion about 33 years later

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PUZZLES ETC 1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

ACROSS 1. He's the king of these (4) 2. Important birth place (9) 5. guiding light (4,2,5) 7. Jesus (7) 8. they look after their flocks (9) 11. donkey, sheep, fish for example (7) 12. Jesus cousin (4) 14. there may be only 25 letters in the alphabet now! (4) 15. to _______ and forget (7) 16. Mum and Dad of Jesus (4,3,6) 17. Another popular Christmas song (4,2,1,6) 18. Used instead of a crib (6) 19. wrong doings(4)

DOWN

1. the best Christmas gift ever(5) 3. your neighbour and your God need this (4) 4. beast of burden (6) 6. they brought gifts for Jesus (3,5,5) 9. popular Christmas song (6,5) 10. God's angel sent to see Mary and Joseph (7) 13. gifts (8)

29

PUZZLES - MORE

ACROSS

1 O come, all ye ___ 5 Gifts 8 ___ get togethers 9 ___ night, holy night ... 11 Tree decorations 13 We celebrate His birth 15 Present decorations

DOWN

2 What Santa brings 3 Used to tie a present 4 Heavenly beings 6 Dasher, Dancer, etc. 7 Christmas songs 10 Place for lights and ornaments 12 Jolly old St. Nick 14 Makes a white Christmas

30

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Who’s Who at Church

Vicar: Rev. John Hellewell 365027 New Vicarage, Church Lane, Mount Pellon RevJHell@blueyonder.co.uk

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Michael Cockerill 363892 Jon Hirst 368613Wardens

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Child Protection Angela Ward 356755 Ann Mansfield 364620

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