Carol Service, Sunday, 23rd December 2012

At 3.00pm on the Sunday immediately before Christmas St. John’s was filled not only with Christmas trees, but also with a large number of people of all ages, all gathered to celebrate the start of Christmas.

The musicians and the choir had each had a brief rehearsal prior to the service which began with Sue O’Donoghue singing the solo first verse of ‘Once in Royal David’s City’.

Jeremy then welcomed everyone and led the opening prayer:

‘At Christmas time we delight again to hear the story of the journey to Bethlehem, the song of the angels, the surprise of the shepherds, and their joy as they found Jesus in the manger.

But lest we forget he was born to poverty, we remember at this season all who are hungry or cold.

And lest we forget he became a refugee, we remember the stranger and the lonely among us.

And lest we forget he felt the pain of life and death, we remember now those who are ill, or anxious, or bereaved.

And because we know he came for our salvation, let us in heart and mind go once again to Bethlehem, to hear the message of the angels and worship afresh the Son of God.’

The familiar story of the nativity was then told in a mixture of Bible readings and carols.  The choir performed two of John Rutter’s carols - The Angel’s Carol and the Star Carol - accompanied by Julie Ann on the organ, and showed how well they had rehearsed during the previous weeks.  

The Sunday GAP children provided lively renditions of four up-beat songs  -  

‘I fly to Bethlehem’, ‘Mary’s Boy Child’, ‘Shepherds Rock’ and ‘The Kings’ Song’, and showed not only their singing skill but also true enjoyment in performing these items.  They certainly had the congregation tapping their feet and smiling.

The congregation also had the opportunity to sing six familiar carols, two of them accompanied by 

the small ad hoc group of musicians.

Jeremy delivered a short epilogue in which he reminded us that really when we celebrate someone’s birthday we are celebrating them becoming older not remaining a baby, and that for us as Christians, the real joy of Christmas is that it marks the beginning of God with us as a human being, culminating in Christ’s sacrifice for each one of us on the cross.

After the service everyone was invited to enjoy mince pies and tea or coffee in the hall; a wonderful way to start Christmas.

Thank you to Christine and Stuart for the text and photos for this blog and also to the visiting cellist, John Cotterill!

The Phoenix Christmas Party 2012

Following the communion service in church, those who came to Phoenix, on Wednesday 19^th December, were treated to a splendid Christmas lunch complete with crackers and paper hats.

Replete with soup; turkey and all the trimmings and Christmas pudding,

the odd party goer fell asleep - but most enjoyed the excellent entertainment 

provided by Julie Ann and some of her pupils –

Harry, who, amongst other things, opened the show with Merry Christmas Everyone;

and Sue, who changed the mood with Holy Night;

Sue was followed by Laura 

and finally Lucy.

The highlight for me was Lucy and Laura’s rendition of Feed the World – which moved me to tears.

The whole ensemble was greeted with much applause when Margery got up to thank them all at the end.

I must mention that the singing was interspersed by excellent recitations from Jane and Margery herself.

Thank you Margery for all the hard work you have put into organising Phoenix this year.

The Christingle Service 2012

On Sunday 16^th December over 100 people gathered for our Christingle service.  

The GAP children had helped to prepare for the service – 

Sunday GAP had made some of the Christingles and 

Friday Gap helped make a giant model of a Christingle.  

Sallly-Ann used this to remind everybody of the Biblical significance of the Christingle – with help Sally who read from the Bible.

Tim nobly held the giant Christingle as it was constructed and the Biblical significance was explained:

1^st the orange – which represents God’s world.

As, in psalm 89 v 8a and 1, the psalmist says - “O Lord God of hosts ….. The heavens are yours, the earth also is yours; you founded the world and all that is in it – you have founded them.”

2^nd the red ribbon – which represents the blood of Christ.

As, in John 3 v 16-17, Jesus said - “‘For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.

 ‘Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.’”

3^rd the candle – which Represents Jesus – the Light of the World

As, in John 8 v 12, “Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.’”

4^th (after the hymn, Lord the light of your love is shining) the 4 sticks – which represent the four seasons.

As in Genesis 8 v 22 God made this promise to Noah after “The great flood” -

“As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease.”

5^th the fruit and sweets - which represent all God’s gifts to us

As, in Matthew 6 v 31-33, Jesus said, “…do not worry, saying, “What will we eat?” or “What will we drink?” or “What will we wear?”  …    … your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.  But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

After we’d sung “All things bright and beautiful”, everybody went up to collect a Christingle and make a large circle around the church before the lights were switched off.  

Then, by the light of the Christmas Trees, Jeremy lit the first of the Christingles before passing the light which was gradually passed round from person to person until the church glowed in the candle light.  This was an amazing representation of the light of Jesus being passed from person to person and being reflected by each one.

As, in Matthew 5 v 14-16, Jesus said -‘You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hidden.  No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house.  In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.”  so we figuratively let our lights shine as we sang Away in a Manger.

The service ended with prayers (especially for the work of the “Church of England Children’s Society” (for whom a special collection had been taken), the singing of O little town of Bethlehem and the blessing.

Christmas Parties 2012

On Friday 14^th December Friday GAP joined with Sunday Gap for their Christmas Party at Pizza Hut!  

The children could choose their food and then use the leaflets provided to colour in and solve the puzzles. 

After the salads and main courses, the ice creams that the children decorated were very popular!  

Everybody went home with a goody bag.  All the helpers were very impressed by how well all the children behaved.

A good time was had by one and all.

Then,the following evening, The Eagles had their party in the church hall.

Rachel reported,

“We enjoyed Andy's wonderful Christmas dinner followed by our own ice cream factory.

We started the evening by trying to complete jigsaws of famous buildings. There were hundreds of pieces and the Eagles had to find the pieces they needed from a large selection. Only Abbie and Emma were able to complete two jigsaws so they won the prize. Next we played pin the tail on the donkey, pass the parcel and the hat game.

Who would believe a group of teenagers would enjoy a game of pass the parcel so much. We finished with our secret santa presents and our traditional game of Charades.”

[I have to comment that, in our family, “pass the parcel” is enjoyed by people well into their 60s!]

The Christmas Market 2012

Before or, in some cases, after visiting the Charity Christmas Tree Festival, visitors came through to the halls to the Christmas market and the infamous “St. John’s Café”!

 

Even the link corridor looked lovely with Christmassy plants on the window ledges!

In the small hall there were activities for children - ranging from games, through craft activities to face painting – run by the Eagles and the Brownies & Guides.

The main hall was constantly busy with stalls such as the ever-popular tombola,.  

Sometimes there were long queues for this!

The cake stall was as busy as usual ....

.... as was the “Christmas stall”!  

This year the “Vintage candles”, in tea cups and glasses, were in particular demand!

Other stalls included crafts and cards, 

plants and fruit, and raffle.

Then there was the café 

which at times was so busy that people had to be asked to vacate their seats when they’d finished to make way for others.

Their was a lively, Christmassy atmosphere in the market and café with people making new, and catching up with old, friends as well as exchanging banter with the stall holders and, of course, spending their money!

All the hard work literally paid off with the market and café raising £3,545.01 over the whole weekend! 

Well done everybody and a big “thank you” to everyone who came and spent their money with us!

Christmas Tree Festival "Thank You Evening"

 On the evening of Friday 27th January 2012 the church hall was full when parishioners welcomed and thanked the representatives of the charities which supported St John’s Christmas Tree Festival. More than 90 people gathered together in a very pleasant and sociable occasion.

The event commenced with some well known songs being performed by Julie Ann Bevan and three of her highly talented pupils, Harry Gascoigne, Lydia Seed and Laura Bevan. Harry sang “Leaning on a Lamp” and “Flash, Bang, Wallop” and played the lively “Wild Horseman” on the piano. Lydia performed “Oom Pah Pah” and “Honey Bun”, and Laura sand “As Long As He Needs Me”.

We then enjoyed a buffet supper which was organised by Joyce Hunt, after which John Feneley, the mastermind behind the Christmas Tree Festival, thanked all the charities and the sponsors for supporting the event. The total amount which was donated to the charities during the Festival was £1260 and in addition the sponsors contributed £1404 by paying for all the trees. John also thanked all who supported the Christmas Market which had been organised by Sylvia Kent. The Festival and the Market had been a great success, both financially and in terms of outreach, and John looks forward to the next Festival in December.

The evening concluded with more musical entertainment from Harry, Laura and Lydia, accompanied by Julie Ann. Harry sang “Unlucky Men” and “Nicest Kids in Town” and played “Stroll On”, Lydia performed “I Want To Sing In Opera” and “Mama, I’m A Big Girl Now”, and Laura sang “Someone Like You”.

St John’s thanks John Feneley and all the charities who took part in the Festival. Without John the Festival would not have happened, and without the charities  it would have no purpose. We are delighted that so many of them were represented at this Thank You event, and we thank Julie Ann and her three pupils for providing such excellent entertainment.

[Thank you to Stuart for submitting all this as, sadly, I was unable to attend what sounds to have been an enjoyable evening because we were away.  This is also the reason for the delay in posting - sorry!]