WEEKLY NEWS SHEET

SUNDAY SERVICES IN CHURCH 10:30am (unless otherwise stated)

10th December Holy Communion and God's Squad (Second Sunday in Advent)

17th December  9.00am  BCP Holy Communion  /  10.30am  Family Carol Service, Nativity and Toy Collection ***

24th December  All Age Service / 4.00pm Nine Lessons and Carols

Christmas Day  10.00am Celebration Family Communion

Please join us for refreshments after the 10:30am service

***  Please bring a gift (unwrapped) for children and young teenagers; these gifts will be distributed to those in need in the area.

CHRISTINGLE SERVICE:  many thanks to the 18 volunteers who helped put together the Christingles - all 150 of them; Ian Taylor had prepared all the cocktail sticks and jelly tots in advance, so the production lines were completed in record time. At the service, nine volunteers acted as stewards maintaining health and safety, ensuring a seamless service (and tidying the Church afterwards). The Wardens appreciated all the help: many thanks to one and all, TEAM (together, everyone achieves more).

CHRISTMAS SERVICES FOR THE BENEFICE - AT ST JOHN'S THORNHAM

Sunday 17th December at 6.00pm:  Carols by Candlelight (but mulled wine and mince pies from 5.30pm!!)

Sunday 24th December at 11.30pm:  Christmas Eve midnight Communion

MIDDLETON MISSION COMMUNITY: singalong carols at 2.00pm on Saturday 23rd December, All Saints Church, Rhodes  M24 4GF

We will be singing and counting down our 10 favourite Christmas Carols (use the sheet at the back of Church to vote for your favourite carol)

WRIGGLE ROOM: attention all parents with wriggly children! In the baptistery area (left hand corner as you face the back of Church) there is an area for quiet play so that you as a parent can still enjoy the service. This 'room' is available most Sundays.

GIVING AT ST LEONARD'S

Giving expresses our love for God and responds to God’s generosity to us. It is part of our worship week by week. There is a digital giving device at the back of church for card/contactless giving. Please use on your way in or out of church. It is simple to use, and a quick cost-effective method for us to collect your offertory giving. We are charged for depositing cash, and our nearest bank branches are now Bury or Rochdale. The offertory plate will continue to be passed in church, but if you are able, please use the digital device instead. You may also give online at: www.middletonparishchurch.org.uk

SAFEGUARDING

If you have any safeguarding concerns please contact our Parish Safeguarding Co-ordinators Ann Connell and Sarah Jennings. Safeguarding@middletonparishchurch.org.uk

PARENTS/GUARDIANS!

C of E Secondary Schools require ‘points’ to enable your child to attend that school.  Regularly attending our God’s Squad helps to accumulate those points but to make sure sufficient weeks are covered there will be a registration sheet at the entrance of church every 1st, 3rd and 5th Sunday.  Please ensure your child is booked in.

BRENTWOOD DAY CENTRE

URGENT APPEAL:  CAN YOU HELP BRENTWOOD?

Brentwood (Middleton Day Centre, 115 Long Street M24 6DL, 0161 655 4062).

Brentwood does a lot more than offer food to those in need within our community, but it is an essential and much-needed part of all that they do. They are so grateful for everything we donate to them; please continue to help with: cereals; coffee; tins of corned beef, potatoes, carrots, peas, beans, tuna, tomatoes, soups - anything to make a basic meal. And now that winter is coming: clothing, hats, scarves, jumpers, socks, gloves, and blankets, quilts, bedding and toiletries.

We have leaflets and newsletters in church about Brentwood, please take one, or go online: https://brentwooddaycentre.co.uk 

Please leave items on the bench as you come into Church (during office hours if you can't make Sunday)

A MESSAGE FROM BRENTWOOD: Do you know anyone who is homeless or lonely this Christmas? The following services are available:

CORNERSTONE MANCHESTER; hot food from 10.30am to 3.00pm:  104B Denmark Street, Hulme  M15 6JS   0161 232 8888

CHARTER STREET RAGGED SCHOOL; Christmas Day, 7.00am to 8.00pm:  Dantzic Street, Manchester  M4 4DN

LIFESHARE MANCHESTER; Christmas Day, drop in service: 1st Floor, 27 Houldsworth Street, Manchester  M1 1EB   0161 235 0744

THE BOOTH CENTRE; Christmas Day dinner, 9.00am to 2.00pm: Pimblett Street, Cheetham Hill  M3 1FU   0161 835 2499

MOSAIC WELLBEING HUB; Weekend breakfast: 2 Dale Street, Manchester  M1 1JW

CLEANING TEAM: If you feel that you could support this amazing service to our Church, please do get in touch. We clean - usually in the evening - twice a month, on a Monday. We would love to see you.  Dawn  0161 643 2693

Thursday 14 December at 7.30pm:  A Winter Concert by Greater Manchester Police Male Voice Choir at St Barnabas Church, Littleborough  OL15 8EJ; details and prices at www.cofe-littleborough.co.uk

THANK YOU!   Decorations in Church

In readiness for the beginning of Advent and the Christingle Service, an army of talented peeople transformed Church into the wonderful spectacle we now see around us. The windowsills and festive floral decorations were arranged by Margaret Slim, Christine Heywood, Lynne Woolley, Gill, Karen, Dianne and Christine. The Nativity scene was set up and arranged by Freda and Christine; Ian Taylor and David Brennan assembled the two trees along with the lights. A big thank you to all: teamwork at its best!

DRUM KIT   We have a drum kit which is no longer required by the music group, and the owner no longer wants it. We need to clear the Hopwood Pew (where it currently languishes) so: if you want it, or know someone who has a use for it, please speak to the Wardens, David and Christine.