“See you soon!” That’s something we often say to people isn’t it. Sometimes we say it even if we know it might not be as soon as we might hope. By saying “see you soon” it conveys to the person we speak to a sense of anticipation of wanting to be together again even if practicalities and logistics aren’t easy.
As we come to our conclusion on Sunday of our mini journey through the Book of Revelation, we come to the final few sentences in the Bible, where Jesus says “I am coming soon.”
Jesus is in effect saying “see you soon” to the intended audience of the Book of Revelation. As we read it 2,000 years on, he is saying the same thing to us. “Soon” is a relative word. Is it soon from our perspective or his? The Bible tells us “a thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by” (Psalm 94:4). 2,000+ years is like two days to Jesus! Christians believe that Jesus will return. That’s what this season of Advent is all about. We look back to the first Advent, the first coming, and we look forward to the second Advent, to the second coming of Christ. The question for us all is, we will be found ready when he comes?
Do join me this Sunday in discovering more about what being ready means.
See you soon!
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Sunday Services
The services and activities on Sunday 15th December are:
- 9:00 AM Traditional (The Book of Common Prayer) Service of Holy Communion (with refreshments afterwards)
- 10:00 AM Meadows Books open (until 10:45 AM)
- 11:00 AM Contemporary Communion Service (livestreamed with refreshments afterwards)
- 12:15 PM Meadows Books’ open (until 12:45 PM)
- 5:00 PM – Treehouse Family Worship (with refreshments)
- 6:00 PM Meadows Books open (until 6:15 PM)
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Watching Online, Bible Reading and Order of Service
Our livestream can be viewed on our YouTube channel here and our Facebook channel here. In our services we will be looking at the following Bible reading: Revelation 22.1-21 (Church Bible page 1041). The 11:00 AM order of service is available here.
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Mrs Barbara Sillis
The funeral service for the late Mrs Barbara Sillis will be on Friday 3rd January at 1:30 PM at Christ Church Thornton, followed by burial in the Churchyard, followed by refreshments in the Community Centre Hall.
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Christmas Services
Sunday 22nd December
- Traditional Carol Service at 10:00 AM
- Treehouse Nativity Service at 5:00 PM
- Mulled wine and mince pies at 6:00 PM
- Contemporary Carol Service at 7:00 PM
Tuesday 24th December (Christmas Eve)
- Christingle Service at 3:00 PM
- Midnight Communion Service at 11:30 PM
Wednesday 25th December (Christmas Day)
- Christmas Morning Service at 10:00 AM
- Community Chistmas Dinner at 1:00 PM
Sunday 29th December
- Combined services at 10:00 AM
- (no other services taking place)
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Advent Daily Devotions
For each day during Advent (starting tomorrow) there is a daily devotion to read and reflect on. Download the Fruitful app to read, watch, or listen. Click here to download the Fruitful App for Android and click here to download for Apple. Or, you can click here to see the booklet as a PDF. You can also access most of the content of the app through the fruitful website: www.fruitful.faith
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Growth Groups Christmas Social
Will be on Monday 16th December at 7:45 PM in the Community Centre Hall. This is for all those who usually attend the Monday night Growth Group, the Tuesday evening Prayer for Growth, and the Wednesday morning Growth Group. Bring some snacks to share! There will be games and fun! Please note there will not be a Wednesday morning Growth Group on Wednesday 18th December.
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Playhouse Nativity
Each morning at Playhouse (for babies, toddlers and their parents/carers) from Monday 16th to Thursday 19th December there will be a pop-up nativity (for those who attend Playhouse). It’s from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM in the Community Centre Hall.
Going on a special tour of the building, Banjo Bob, Lyrical Lauren, and Deputy Damian will be leading the cast of mini actors. The first stop will be the Pilgrim’s Rest. Will there be any water or snacks for the donkey? The next stop will be the bookshop. Will there be any room at the Inn? The next stop will be the Choir Vestry. Where are the shepherds? The final stop will be the Church, in preparation for the birth of a very special baby. Where are the angels?
Parents and carers are encouraged to bring costumes for themselves and their children!
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Festive Musical Lunches
You’re invited to the very popular (book early!) Festive Musical Lunches – with carrot & coriander soup, turkey sandwiches, yule log, and cheese and crackers. There’ll be Christmas crackers, carols, and the opportunity to join Banjo Bob to spin the wheel with his famous catchphrases: “round and round the wheel goes, where it stops nobody knows…once completed it must be deleted!”
Please please please BOOK here using this link rather than just tell someone you are coming.
They are on:
- Monday 16th December, 12:00 Noon.
- Tuesday 17th December, 12:00 Noon.
- Wednesday 18th December, 12:00 Noon.
- Thursday 19th December, 12:00 Noon.
The cost is £10 per person per lunch. If affordability is a problem, please don’t let that put you off. Have a chat with Damian or one of the team.
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Orange & Chat!
Christingle Elves needed! This annual event to prepare the Christingles will be on Monday 23rd December from 2:30 PM to 4:30 PM in the Community Centre Hall. We’ll be getting all the components together. Various roles required, from bagging up sweets, to wrapping the oranges, to dropping a doughnut in each bag. Come along and have some fun.
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Christmas Day Community Dinner 2024
“Delicious Food, Friendship, Faith, and Joy”
We have 45 people booked in so far, with more expected! We are looking forward to hosting a joy filled afternoon on Wednesday 25th December from 1:00 PM onwards in the Community Centre Hall. The meal is for anyone who might benefit from having company on Christmas Day. Enjoy a proper Christmas Dinner with all the trimmings, followed of course by pudding, cake, and cheese and biscuits! There will be a quiz and live music.
There is no charge for any of the food or the activities. God gave the generous gift of Jesus at the first Christmas. We believe in sharing the generous love of God with anyone who would like to receive it. Booking is essential. Please sign up using this link here.
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Church and Community Centre Opening Times
The last day of usual activities will be Friday 20th December. After that, Church and the Community Centre will only be open for the special services and events over the Christmas period. From Thursday 26th December until Thursday 2nd January, the buildings will not be open at all. On Friday 3rd January funerals are taking place. Everything will resume to the normal programme on Monday 6th January 2025.
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Damian’s availability
Damian will be enjoying a post-Christmas break with family from Thursday 26th December to Thursday 2nd January and on Saturday 4th January.
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Bible Teaching Workshops
- 9:30 AM – 12:45 PM on Saturday 25th January Jonathan Lamb will be coming to Poulton to lead a bible teaching workshop on The Message of 2 Corinthians. For more details and to book click on this link here.
- 6:30 PM on Thursday 27th February at Singleton Lodge, Rev Andrew Sach will be speaking on the subject of “How is Christian faith still relevant in this modern scientific world?” This evening includes an evening meal and drinks and is ideal to invite a friend. For more details and to book click on this link here.
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Giving to God
There are numerous ways to give to God and contribute to the mission and ministry of Christ Church:
- Bank transfer – details available here
- By dated giving envelopes (on request)
- By contactless machine at the back of Church (or sometimes positioned in the Pilgrim’s Rest or the Community Centre)
- Online giving – you can give online here
- You can give by text with a smartphone. Send a text to 07380 307 800 containing our keyword “CCTFY5”, followed by the word “give”, followed by the amount you wish to give. For example “CCTFY5 give £10” to give £10. Step by step instuctions here
- Cash in the collection plate (positioned on the font)
Bank transfer or standing order is the preferred method of giving as they do not have any processing fees attached. Tax payers can add Gift Aid to their gift. More information about this can be found on the website here.
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Diary of Activities and Services
Monday 16th December
- 9:00 AM to 9:30 AM – Morning Prayer in Church
- 10:00 AM to 12:00 Noon – Pilgrim’s Rest in the Chapel
- 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM – Playhouse Nativity (parent, baby and toddlers) in the Community Centre
- 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM – The Meadows Bookshop and Giftshop
- 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM – Food Pantry available (emergency food support)
- 12:00 Noon to 1:00 PM – Festive Musical Lunch in the Community Centre
- 12:00 Noon to 1:00 PM – Quiet Hour in Church
- 2:30 PM to 4:30 PM – Bowl & Chat in the Community Centre
- 7:45 PM to 9:15 PM – Growth Groups Christmas Social in the Community Centre
Tuesday 17th December
- 9:00 AM to 9:30 AM – Morning Prayer in Church
- 10:00 AM to 12:00 Noon – Pilgrim’s Rest in the Chapel
- 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM – Playhouse Nativity (parent, baby and toddlers) in the Community Centre
- 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM – The Meadows Bookshop and Giftshop
- 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM – Food Pantry available (emergency food support)
- 10:00 AM to 12:00 Noon – Craft & Chat in Church
- 12:00 Noon to 1:00 PM – Festive Musical Lunch in the Community Centre
- 7:45 PM to 8:30 PM – Prayer for Growth in the Community Centre
Wednesday 18th December
- 8:00 AM to 8:30 AM – Breakfast Club and Walking Bus to Royles Brook School in the Community Centre
- 8:00 AM to 10:30 AM – Fridaymen volunteers in the Churchyard and Church
- 9:00 AM to 9:30 AM – Morning Prayer in Church
- 10:00 AM to 12:00 Noon – Pilgrim’s Rest in the Chapel
- 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM – Playhouse Nativity (parent, baby and toddlers) in the Community Centre
- 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM – The Meadows Bookshop and Giftshop
- 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM – Food Pantry available (emergency food support)
- 11:15 AM to 12:00 Noon – Traditional (BCP) service of Holy Communion in Church
- 12:00 Noon to 1:00 PM – Festive Musical Lunch in the Community Centre
- 12:00 Noon to 1:00 PM – Quiet Hour in Church
- 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM – Mothers’ Union Communion in Church and Community Centre
- 7:30 PM to 8:45 PM – Worship Team Rehearsal
Thursday 19th December
- 9:00 AM to 9:30 AM – Morning Prayer in the Bookshop
- 10:00 AM to 12:00 Noon – Pilgrim’s Rest in the Chapel
- 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM – Playhouse Nativity (parent, baby and toddlers) in the Community Centre
- 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM – The Meadows Bookshop and Giftshop
- 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM – Food Pantry available (emergency food support)
- 12:00 Noon to 1:00 PM – Festive Musical Lunch in the Community Centre
- 12:00 Noon to 1:00 PM – Quiet Hour in Church
- 2:30 PM to 4:30 PM – Bat & Chat in the Community Centre
Friday 20th December
- 8:00 AM to 10:30 AM – Fridaymen volunteers in the Churchyard and Church
- 9:00 AM to 9:30 AM – Morning Prayer in Church
- 10:00 AM to 12:00 Noon – Pilgrim’s Rest in the Chapel
- 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM – The Meadows Bookshop and Giftshop
- 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM – Food Pantry available (emergency food support)
- 10:00 AM to 12:00 Noon – Craft & Chat in Church
- 12:00 Noon to 1:00 PM – Quiet Hour in Church
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With blessings,
Damian
