A REFLECTION FROM REV SUE SHERIFF
I once read a piece of work by a child comparing the benefits of the Children in Need telethon which takes place in November with those of Christmas. Admittedly they were looking at the commercial rather than spiritual aspect of Christmas but their conclusion was that Children in Need was about caring for others and Christmas was about looking out for ourselves!?!
How sad… and I hope how wrong.
I just want to remind you of a few ways we can make sure that can’t be said of our St Oswald’s Christmas.
• At our Christmas Fair we will have our usual nativity scene in the side chapel where we encourage people to bring a brand new (rather than second hand) gift for a child, or maybe biscuits or sweets for a grown up or family, who are finding things a bit tough this year. These will be distributed to those we know of locally who will appreciate them but the majority of them will go to our James Street appeal.
• You are invited to bring a toy for children from birth to 16 years, and place it in the box at the back of church for families in temporary accommodation in James Street. This year we can take them right up until 18 December and they don’t need to be wrapped.
• Also at the back of the church is a box for items that will be taken to the Foodbank. Not only will it help for Christmas but also into the cold months at the start of next year.
• In the hall we have our own ‘Food share’ where people are invited to bring and take whatever they need.
• Our Community Cafe and St Oswald’s Tots will continue to provide a warm and friendly welcome to all those who come along right up until the end of term.
• On 11 December at 2.30pm we shall have our Dementia-Friendly Carol Service. It is linked in with Time Out and is just a short carol service in the Church Hall with well known songs followed by mince pies! To round the afternoon off one of the choirs from St Oswald’s School will be coming to sing a few songs of their own.
• Our Christingle Services take place at 4pm and 6pm on Christmas Eve and all the collection will go to support the work of the Children Society.
• We have already had a carol service at Ouseview and later this month we will be going to Connaught Court.
• There is also a group of church members going round carol singing in the streets to Delwood and other places a couple of evenings in December – do please let Pippa know if you would like to be part of this.
• There will be a Good Place Warm Space cafe on 2 January
And in Church there will be people from right across the community who come to celebrate the birth of the Christ-child… Starting with the army this week and the schools the week after. Then of course there is our own Carol Service on 21 December at 6pm, as well as a service on Christmas Eve at 11pm and at 10am on Christmas Day too!
I would never want us to be complacent, there is always more we can do, and a lot of it is about individual acts of kindness and thoughtfulness but I have to say I do think on the whole our Christmas is about thinking of others.
And as an added bonus I think there will be a lot of love, fun and laughter along the way!
Sue S
Sue S – Rev Canon – Vicar of St Oswald’s
t. 01904 633261 / m. 07521 778195
e. [email protected]
The Vicarage, 1 Fulford Park, YO10 4QE
(not available on a Friday)
WHAT’S HAPPENING AT ST OSWALD’S
Act justly, love mercy, walk humbly with God
+ Our regular Sunday and Wednesday 10am services take place in church
YouTube (also available as catch-up afterards):
http://bit.ly/Stoswaldsyoutube (click on ‘Live’)
+ Large-print hymn books are available – just ask one of the sidespeople when you go into church
+ Children’s area is on the left hand side of church
+ Toilets in the church hall round the back of the church including accessible toilet
+ Fair Trade Stall in the church hall usually on the 4th Sunday in the month
Advent/Christmas dates for your diary
Saturday 6 December 10am-1pm: Christmas Fair
Thursday 11 December 2.30pm: Time Out Dementia Friendly Carol Service (church hall)
Sunday 21 December 6pm: Carol Service
Christmas Eve Wednesday 24 December 4pm & 6pm: Christingles
Christmas Eve Wednesday 24 December 11pm: Midnight Communion
Christmas Day Thursday 25 December 10am: All Age Christmas service (followed by short Communion service)
Sunday 28 December 10am: Christmas Songs of Praise
SATURDAY 6 DECEMBER
PLEASE, CAN YOU HELP?
* Put up and take down tables
* Set out things for the stalls
* Bake for the Christmas Cafe
* Help with making wreaths
* Provide Tombola prizes
(this year small bags/hampers of ‘goodies’, eg chocolate, sweet/savoury biscuits, toiletries, pack of coffee/tea, etc)
IF YOU CAN HELP, PLEASE ADD YOUR NAME TO THE LIST AT THE BACK OF CHURCH Louise Wheatley
SUNDAY 7 DECEMBER
10.00AM HOLY COMMUNION SERVICE
Children’s Groups:
Pebbles for children age 2-6
Explorers for children age 7-12+
Everyone welcome!
Service Sheet: click here
Music words: click here
See hymns/song videos at the end of this email
Readings: Isaiah 11:1-10, Matthew 3:1-12
MONDAY 8 DECEMBER
10AM MORNING PRAYER IN CHURCH
NO TABLE TENNIS IN THE CHURCH HALL
TUESDAY 9 DECEMBER
10AM-12NOON IN THE CHURCH HALL
COMMUNITY CAFE & BABY CAFE
All babies & parents very welome! No specific activities planned … just a time to relax together
WEDNESDAY 10 DECEMBER
10AM HOLY COMMUNION IN CHURCH
(Book of Common Prayer)
10AM-12NOON IN THE CHURCH HALL
COMMUNITY CAFE
7.30PM AT 1 FULFORD PARK
START! Discover Christianity in six small-group sessions meeting weekly
A warm welcome to everyone!
Contact Rev Sue or Martin Tuvey-Smith
THURSDAY 11 DECEMBER
9.30-11.30AM IN THE CHURCH HALL
ST OSWALD’S TOTS
POP UP CHOIR AND INSTRUMENTALISTS REQUIRED FOR CAROL SERVICENEEDED FOR CAROL SERVICE ON SUNDAY 21 DECEMBER 6PMEvery now and then we get a wonderful St Oswald’s Choir together for special services. We even have some very good instumentalists. If that includes you, it would be great if you could help lead the worship at our annual Carol Service.
Rehearsals will take place on Sunday 7 December & Sunday 14 December after the morning service.
Grab a coffee or whatever and then head back into church. It will last no more than an hour. We will practice some well known carols and maybe prepare one or two slightly less well known ones.
Everybody welcome! Sue S.
REMINDERFOR ANYONE AGE 18 TO 40WE’RE OFF TO THE PUB!
Come to the Lighthorseman Pub, Fulford Rd, YO104BE
Tuesday 9 December anytime from 7:30pm-9pm
Come and join Rev Hannah and Evaldo to meet them and meet one another!
We’ll chat briefly about what a group could look like in the New Year to explore faith in community with each other! Rev Hannah Theobold, [email protected] / 07840488169
REMINDER
CAROL SINGING AROUND THE PARISH
Carol singing date is confirmed for Wednesday 17 December.
Meet at 5.45pm outside Broadway Lodge (at the corner of Broadway/Fulford Rd)
Come and spread the joy of Christmas with our community!
Ending at Pippa’s house for mulled wine and mince pies.
Please let me know if you are coming. Thanks x
Pippa Ensor, e. [email protected], m. 07949 844395
REMINDER
PRESENTS FOR JAMES HOUSE
We are collecting presents for the children in James House again this year.
James House provides temporary accommodation for people who would otherwise be homeless. At the moment there are sixty-two children living there: twenty-five under the age of two, eleven aged 3 – 5, five aged 6 – 8, seven aged 9 – 11 and fourteen aged 11 +.
There will be a collection box for the presents at the back of church.
There is no need to wrap your presents this year. If you do want to wrap them then please could you label them with the age of the child and gender they are suitable for.
If you would like me to collect presents I would be very happy to or I can accept donations and buy presents on your behalf.
The last date for presents is Thursday 18 December.
Thank you very much. Sue Baughan 07963 001478
REMINDER
Sunday 28 December 10am
If you would like to choose a carol or a hymn or song which mentions the birth of Jesus, and also explain why it is special to you, please get in touch with Jackie Tuvey-Smith on 07800 774364 / jts1866@yahoo,com.
If you have done this in previous years, that does not mean you cannot choose again!
MISSION TO SEAFARERS: Peter explores how SafeTALK equips seafarers to recognise suicide warning signs in their crewmates and ask the life-saving question: “Are you thinking about suicide?” Sometimes, being that voice of care from just behind someone’s shoulder is what saves a life. To read this month’s newseltter and Peter’s blog, click HERE
Read HERE about how your generous gift could help seafarers feel much closer to home this Christmas.
The Mission to Seafarers provides help and support to the 1.89 million crewman and women who face danger every day to keep our global economy afloat. The link person at St Oswald’s is Wendy Henwood.
ST OSWALD’S CHURCH HOUSE GROUPS
If you would like to know more about joining a group, do have a chat with Rev Sue.
FINAL MEETING OF THIS NEW GROUP!
START! Wednesday at 7.30pm (1 Fulford Park) contact Rev Sue or Martin Tuvey-Smith
Discover Christianity in six small-group sessions meeting weekly. A warm welcome to everyone!
Tuesday 9 December at 7pm (Redman Close Group weekly) contact Jackie Tuvey-Smith [email protected]
Wednesday 17 December at 11.15am (Sir John J. Hunt Meeting Room Group fortnightly) contact Lesley Milner t.01904 652782
Thursday 11 December at 7.30pm (Heslington Lane group fortnightly) contact Caroline Moore, e. [email protected]
REMINDER
ST OSWALD’S CHURCH WHATSAPP GROUP
If you would like to join either of these, please contact Pippa Ensor,
e. [email protected], m. 07949 844395
SUNDAYS
> 8.10AM – BBC RADIO 4 SUNDAY WORSHIP
Advent Authors: Dylan Thomas: Fr Matthew Roche-Saunders, leads a service from Swansea, looking at the inspiration provided by prophets such as Isaiah and poets such as Dylan Thomas.
> 10.45AM – BBC RADIO 4EXTRA DAILY SERVICE
HELPING LOCAL PEOPLE IN CRISIS.
The foodbank relies on your goodwill and support.
DONATING FOOD
+There is a York Food Bank collection box at the back of Church+
Urgently needed (please): Tinned Fruit, Tinned Rice Pudding/Custard, Cooking Sauces, Instant Mash Potato / Instant Noodles, Rice, Tinned Meat / Veggie Alternative, Cereal
We are running low of (please): Strong Carrier Bags, Sponge Puddings (not refrigerated), UHT or Powdered Milk, Tinned Fish, Tinned Soup, Instant Coffee, Teabags, Jars of Jam, Biscuits
We are funning low of non-food (please): Sanitary Pads, Shaving Foam / Razors, Deodorant (Male and Female), Household Cleaning Sprays, Washing up liquid, Shampoo, Shower Gel, Nappies Size 5 and 6, Baby Wipes, Baby Toiletries, Laundry Detergent
We are well stocked in (thank you!): Baked Beans, Nappies size 1 and 2, Tinned Spaghetti
Unfortunately they are unable to accept (sorry): Out of Date (Past best before date) or opened items, Chilled/Frozen Products, Homemade Items (notably Jam), Baby Formula Milk, Medical Items (tablets, medicines, medical incontinence pads, Fortisip Bottles), Alcoholic Drinks
DONATING MONEY: You can also support the Food Bank work by donating via this link here
+There is also a local Foodshare collection box in the Church Hall+
REMINDER
ST OSWALD’S CHURCH HALL RECYCLING HUB
What can you recycle there?
Cables, biscuit & tea packaging and candle waste
in the bins under the table in the hall foyer.
Clean cans, foil + tablet blister packs (all in bags)
in the Christian Aid bin on the right
Contact Pippa Ensor,
e. [email protected], m. 07949 844395
SOFT PLASTIC: We don’t recycle this but Aldi & the Co-op do!
TOOTHPASTE TUBES & TETRA PACKS: Can now be kerbside recycled in York iin plastics/cans bin
What will we be singing on Sunday?
MP379 Jesus shall reign where ’er the sun
MP204 Hail to the Lord’s Anointed
MP378 Jesus shall take the highest honour
MP872 Jesus, Jesus, holy and anointed one
MP457 Make Way