Each Week we send out a weekly e-newsletter. Here is this weeks...
I spent Monday making soap. It isn’t a particularly difficult process, but it is messy. I now have lavender; birch and an exfoliant soap using coffee grounds to give as gifts. Combined with my mulled home brew wine, lemon marmalade and chutney, that is pretty much all I do besides a gluten-free cake for my sister-in-law. Will gets theatre tickets and a surprise tour in Australia and something he needs for wintry walks by the sea (don’t tell him!).
I decided quite some time ago that an orgy of consumerism isn’t a great way to honour a child born in a stable. So, except for young grand nephews or nieces, family and friends have for many years have had homemade presents. Most of them now also do the same back or buy us things like cheese. It beats the singing beer bottle opener I got many years ago!
Many of us are probably stressing about what to get people, and this anxiety means we end up buying stuff we really don’t need and often not even want. My advice is simply this: buy something from somewhere like Oxfam or our own shop (both benefit others) or buy something like an experience- like music, theatre or something that you know someone would like to do. Or make something like I do.
Christmas is a time of generosity, and I encourage you to be generous. But think about what people really want or need rather than simply add to the pile of presents that sit in a drawer until our next jumble sale.
Have a peaceful advent week!
Chris
Christmas Fair – thank you everyone for all of your help and support! What an amazing day of fun and community and we raised around £800 for church funds!
Team Gift Service – a wonderful time of fellowship together with such generosity in giving. As well as gifts, a total donation of £277 was gratefully received by Birmingham City Mission. Thank you
Santa Float – what a great evening! The weather was perfect, the Christmas music was loud, Santa was Ho Ho Ho!, the giving to Acorns Hospice was generous. Thank you to all our collectors and to Sarah and Chris for a delicious supper afterwards!
Christmas Charities
At Christmas we donate the collections from our additional services, such as the Carol Service, to charity.
I would like to invite you to submit suggestions of which charities to support. We usually support one local and one national/international charity.
Please submit suggestions to Helen Rowe helenrowe20@hotmail.co.uk by 10th December. The final decision will be made at the Elders meeting on 11th December.
Helen Rowe
Advance Notice: Sunday Morning Worship on 28th December will be a Team Service at Sutton Coldfield URC at 10.30am (no service at Wylde Green)
Coming Up…
Sunday 7th December
4pm Enigma Brass Ensemble - A Very Merry Brassy Christmas!
Monday 8th December
7pm Beer & Carols @ Serenity Café (next to Tesco’s on Boldmere Road)
Come and enjoy a festive sing song and fellowship together!
Saturday 13th December
5pm Carols & Fireworks on the church field with hot dogs, steak bakes and mulled apple juice
Sunday 14th December
11am Festival Nativity Service – a chance to dress up and join in!
After the service we will be serving lunch – Fish Pie Pasta Bake, Lentil Curry with rice, festive pudding and custard £5 each for St Basils charity. Please come and lets enjoy some festive fellowship together.
Please contact Bev or Chris if you are coming along – we need to know numbers for catering thanks
This Week Coming…
Thursday 4th December
5pm Boys Games Group
6pm True Colours Group
Friday 5th December
9.30am Baby & Toddler Group
Saturday 6th December
10am-1pm Warm Welcome café in the vestibule
10-12noon Britwell Fair Trade & Eco Shop
2pm Community Garden
Sunday 7th December
11am Morning Worship – led by Su Bailey
4pm Enigma Brass – Have a Very Merry Brassy Christmas!
Monday 8th December
2pm Gentle chair Exercise with Katie
2pm Community Garden
7pm Beer & Carols @ Serenity Cafe
Tuesday 9th December
10am Tea & Chat Social
10am Good Grief Group
2pm Tuesday Film Club – Scrooge (1951 version)
7pm Bible Delve for Millenials in person or on Zoom usual church link
Wednesday 10th December
9.30am Bible Explore in person or on Zoom usual church link
12.30pm Prayer Lunch. A short service followed by soup and a roll & there is always cake!
2pm Community Garden
4.45pm-7pm Britwell Fair Trade & Eco Shop
Online Prayers Please email Wylde Green URC for Zoom Link
· Tuesday and Thursday 6pm
· Wednesday and Friday 9am