December 2024 Newsletter
All Saints Church, Earls Barton
News Sheet December 2024
Tis the Season…
Revd Jenny Bland
Walk down any high street and you will be inundated with a plethora of notions of what this Advent and Christmas season is all about…
“Tis the season to savour” Starbucks tells us while advertising a delicious new hot chocolate flavour. “Tis the season to sparkle” reminds the dressmakers and clothing retailers. “Tis the season to be freezin’” I saw on a greeting card recently! Of course “tis the season to be jolly” is the song that ties these notions together (I hope you’re humming ‘Deck The Halls' right now!), but what really is this season all about?
We all know… it just gets covered up sometimes in marketing, glitter, tinsel and pressure. But this season is all about Jesus. It’s all about the God of heaven and earth stepping into flesh to make a home amongst us. This baby Jesus as he grows show us who God is, what God is like and ultimately, because of his immutable love for us, gives his life to the death of the cross. Three days later he is raised and the early church is born - ordinary people called to be Jesus’ body here and now, to share good news, to pray and heal in Jesus’ name. To teach who and how God is and to love and learn the Scriptures.
Today, we are still called to be Jesus’ body and Christmas is a season for great joy, celebration, gratitude and of course, singing. So if you have a moment, will you join me in a little song, it’s sung to the tune of ‘O Little Town of Bethlehem’ and I sang it last year at Carols on The Square. May it be a little reminder at the start of this month at what really matters - there’s nothing wrong with the sparkle of the high street, just don’t let it be your priority this year when something so much bigger, better, longer-lasting and beautiful is worth your attention.
O little village of Barton, I’ve got good news for you
2023 years ago, God came to this world, it’s true.
He gave his son to us, that all might know God’s heart.
He lived and died and rose again, so God and man could never part.
And this is not a story, a hope or wish or dream.
This truth is our own history, we’re part of a great big team.
But even if it was only you, and no one else was here,
The Lord would still have come for you, his most precious love and dear.
So mark this year as special, receive the greatest gift,
That Jesus sings this song to you, so your heart may feel a lift.
For his joy and peace cannot be bought - his gift is to be felt,
So hold him close, ask him to be near, your lord Emmanuel.
Stop Press
It is with sadness and gratitude we say an unexpected farewell to Chad Chadwick, our curate, this month. Chad is ending his curacy to balance other demands and callings - we’ve been blessed to have him with us and he will be so missed! Chad’s last service with us will be 29th December where we will take the opportunity to pray for him and give thanks for his ministry in Earls Barton. Please do keep him in your prayers in the weeks ahead.
What’s on at All Saints Church?
Every Day
We are open every day 10am - 4pm* (10am-3pm on term-time Fridays) for everyone in our parish to make use of their church. So pop in, have a look around, make time to pray, read from the Bible or enjoy a pit stop with your little ones as they play with the toys. We’re open for you.
*Subject to weddings, funerals or special events/circumstances.
Midweek Worship
Every Wednesday - 9:30am Holy Communion in Church
On the first Wednesday of the month there is a short service of Holy Communion in the Church Hall at 3pm followed by refreshments.
December Services of Worship
1st - 9am Holy Communion, 10am Christingle Service, 6pm Advent Carol Service
8th - 10am Holy Communion
15th - 10am Holy Communion, 6pm Lessons and Carols (followed by mulled wine and mince pies)
21st - 4pm ‘The Longest Night’ (a service for those grieving or missing a loved one followed by refreshments)
22nd - 10am Holy Communion
24th – 4pm Crib Service, (7:15pm Carols on The Square), 11pm Midnight Mass
25th – 10am Christmas Celebration with Holy Communion
29th - Holy Communion
Everyone is welcome to join us for our services and we warmly encourage children. We have an area with books and toys for families and a toilet a short walk away in our Church Hall. Refreshments are served and friendship and fellowship encouraged after every Sunday 10am service in the Church Hall.
Other events in December
7th – The Christmas Experience, 10am-4pm, All Saints Church —come and experience the true meaning of Christmas for all the family with craft, community and interactive stations. Puppet shows at 11:00am and 2:30pm.
7th – Amicorum Christmas Concert, 7.30pm, All Saints Church
9th – Pints of View, The Stag from 8pm
14th – Fairtrade Coffee Morning and Christmas Market, 10am - 1pm, Church Hall
Derek Bish – Our Church Treasurer
Could you accept the 1% challenge for next year?
The biggest expenditure each year at All Saints is the Parish Share. This is a contribution that we are asked to make to Peterborough Diocese each year to cover the costs of employing Jenny as our full-time Vicar to support the work here. This includes her salary, National Insurance, Pension and the full cost of the Vicarage. The Parish Share also supports training new Vicars, such as Chad. Each year we struggle to pay this and 2025 will be no exception. In fact, it is now unlikely that we will have enough income to be able to pay this in full next year. As most of our income comes from the regular donations of the church family, I am asking if you could consider accepting the 1% challenge for next year? Could you increase you regular giving to All Saints by 1% of you nett income from January? If you can then it is easy to give more through the Parish Giving Scheme at www.parishgiving.org.uk, if you have an online account. Or you can email them at: info@parishgiving.org.uk or call 0333 002 1260. You will need your PGS reference number which I can give you if you have forgotten it. Call or message me on 07543 400385 or email me: treasurer.earlsbarton@outlook.com. Whatever you decide, your donations are all gratefully received.
Thank you on behalf of the PCC, Derek Bish.
Experience Christmas and Puppet Shows
We are so delighted to be sharing the story of Christmas with our community through sharing the Nativity story in experiential and colourful ways with two schools, our village uniform groups and our wider community.
On Saturday 7th December we are inviting our toddler families and younger families to come and enjoy the Nativity Puppet Shows and to visit the Experience Christmas Scenes.
On Sunday 8th December we are sharing the story through our team of story tellers and it is a great opportunity for us to bring our grandchildren, children and invite friends for a visit into the beautiful scenes during our service.
A great big thank you to our teams and all those who have taken part in this venture and growing partnership with our local school.
Making room for the Baby at Christmas
Our church is a collection point for Baby Basics. This charity wants to ensure that every baby has a safe place to sleep and that each mother has the essentials she needs for the first weeks of a baby’s life. We can join in by collecting a few extra items that Baby Basics will collect together and give to as a starter pack to vulnerable mothers, to help them welcome their baby into this world.
Below are some of the items that are needed – Why not add them in your supermarket shop and bring them to our Moses Basket collection point at church:
(New items in unopened packets only from this category please)
Maternity pads
Sanitary towels
Hand soap
Baby soap
Baby shampoo
Mum shampoo
Newborn nappies
Baby wipes
(Good condition second hand items are acceptable from this category)
Moses baskets
Newborn clothing
Bedding
Thank you to all who supported our annual BIG QUIZ on November 16th. We had a fun and lively evening, nine teams competing and a fantastic fundraising outcome of £518 for Tearfund's work transforming communities around the world! Martin, Sandra & Nicola
All Saints Christmas Card for charity: in lieu of sending each other lots of cards this year, could you consider sending just one card to our All Saints family and making a donation to the Daylight Centre charity? We'll have somewhere in church for you to make your donations, cash or card, and a board to pin your Christmas greetings to everyone. Thank you on behalf of those being supported by the Daylight Centre.
FAIRTRADE NEWS
Remember we Recycle…watches, gold silver & costume jewellery (including damaged items), coins & currency any age, UK or foreign. Mobile phones, cameras, & many other gadgets (see flier) and also stamps. We also recycle candles and then sell the beautiful Recycled candles in our shop! Recycling items can be dropped in our box whenever the shop is open.
EB Christmas Market 3 -5pm 1st December - We’re looking forward to seeing lots of people at this event as we’ll have a stall on the green and our shop will be open serving some warming drinks!
And please join us for our Christmas café morning…FAIRTRADE CAFÉ & BOOKSALE on SATURDAY 14th DECEMBER as we also have the All Saints Christmas Bazaar joining us with lots of stalls, (including ours!) a tombola & more. Our shop will be open for beautifully ethical Christmas gifts & cards. Enjoy chatting, browsing our products & secondhand books, & fresh coffee & yummy homemade cakes… Everyone welcome!
Email: nicky_smithseb@yahoo.co.uk 07812 686944