Our plan is to use this same link each week, for the coming weeks, unless we need to change things for security reasons.
This Sunday we meet as usual at Sunday 20th December 10:30am whenwe will continue our journey through Advent to Christmas. Rev Andy will be leading us in reflecting on John 1:1-18.
If you missed last weeks zoom service, there is no video of Andy talking this week, but HERE is a music video made by some of the kids and their puppets (note 3 of the 4 families featured are Southlands members).
As usual, if you cannot join in our zoom services, there is a list on the circuit website with more "worship at home resources" found HERE.
Carol Service
We are having a family carol service at 4pm this Sunday. It is on zoom (same link as above). However, we are also planning to show it on the screen at Southlands. If you would like to attend that, please let Jill Johnson or Alison White know, so you can be booked in. You will need to wear a mask and try not to sing along! The doors will be open from 3.45pm for that service and Alison is supplying christingle making kits for those attending. If you are joining in from home, you will need to supply your own christingle materials (an orange, a small candle, red ribbon/tape, cocktail sticks, raisins/sweets).
Concern
The Concern sheet for this Wednesday can be downloaded HERE and a letter from John Bailey HERE.
We hope to start Concern in church again in January, but will have to wait to see what extra restrictions are in place after Christmas.
Martin House Hospice
Due to the COVID Pandemic there will be no Gift Service this year. I am sending a monetary donation from Young Church, if anyone would like to make a donation also then a cheque made out to Martin House could be brought to me, or the Whittakers, and I will send them together. I will send them on Monday 21st December.
As with all charities the Hospice will have had very depleted funding this year and be very pleased with whatever we can give.
Blessings, Alison.
Christmas Day Service CD
The Methodist Church has produced a CD with a Christmas Day service on it. We are planning to make copies to send to those who are not able to join in services online. If you would like a copy, please let Naomi know, or you can download your own copy from HERE.
Next Week's Email/Sheet
The next email and service sheet delivery will be on THURSDAY. This will have details of services for Christmas Eve, Christmas Day as well as the following Sunday. If you have anything to be included, please get them to Naomi by lunchtime on Wednesday.
Christmas Tree and Stars
Yesterday the stars made by 5 church households were be displayed in the Southlands vestry and cloakroom windows (see photo below). This weekend we also plan to put up a Christmas tree on the Bishopthorpe Road side of the church, on which anyone in the community is welcome to hang a bauble. There will be some spare baubles and pens to write messages on them, or you can provide your own. Please add one if you can.
Circuit Quiz
I am happy to report that the Southlands representatives at the circuit quiz last week were in the winning team. Naomi and David were teamed up with Keith Albans and Keith's knowledge filled in the gaps of the Whittakers' knowledge very well.
Haxby and Wigginton present a Nativity Service with a difference!
We were determined to have a Nativity 'By Hook or by Crook' and suddenly that became the title, written by our Panto script writer, Andrew Storr. Join us on Youtube at 4pm on Christmas Eve on Haxby and Wigginton Methodist Church's You Tube Channel. We will get together after for a drink and a chat over zoom. Contact Lorraine on families@hwmc.org.uk if you would like the zoom link.
This week we pray for those for whom this Christmas will not be a happy one; the lonely and bereaved, the anxious and afraid, those who are ill, those who are hungry, homeless, or dealing with broken relationships. We pray for God’s love to be made known to all at this time, and for the wisdom and courage to do what we can to help all who need it.
Advent 4: Mary
God of the faithful and trusting,
Thank you for the example of those who have walked with you,
The knowledge you are there, and will guide and guard us.
Help us to trust you, even when the world around us seems dark,
To say “I don’t understand, but I will believe,
I cannot see the way, but I will follow you.
I may be afraid, but I will trust you.”
Bring us to the place of understanding
Where, with Mary, we may praise and glorify your name.
Amen.
If there is anything you would like included in next week's email, please send them to me by Wednesday lunchtime.
Regards, Naomi
Lily putting up some of the stars in the vestry window yesterday.
