Carol singing

Carol singing tonight (6pm Ivy Bank) cancelled – roads and drives just too treacherous and sleet forecast for this evening.

The crib services at Rushall Farm tomorrow have been cancelled.

Our Christmas Day service 11am at the Cornwell Centre will take place whatever the weather.

No service 27^th Dec (but there’s a 10.30am at St Catherine’s)

Happy Christmas to you all

Tony

Scratch Nativity and Carols

Despite the snowy conditions there was a good turn out for our service on Sunday morning.

Many children were to old (not cool) or to young (stage fright) to dress up but we did have one shepherd, two angels, two Mary’s each with a baby Jesus (a third set stayed with Mum and Dad) and one wise person bearing three gifts. They all helped us tell the Christmas story.

Tony

Christmas events

At 11am on Sunday it’s our ‘Scratch Nativity’ (children invited to come dressed as a Nativity character) and carols, cakes from 10.30am, mince pies and mulled wine after the service.

I’ve printed one Christmas card for each family, just sign as many of them as you wish and make a donation for the money you’ve saved, take your signed card home after the service, if you can’t be there we’ll deliver the card to you next week.

It was too inclement and slippery for carol singing tonight but we hope for better conditions next Wednesday.

Then it’s Christmas day 11am at Cornwell a short service

Sunday 27^th no service at Cornwell but a 10.30am at St Catherine’s

And Finally - On Thursday 31^st December, the Cornwell Community Church New Year’s Eve social from 9.30pm to see the New Year in, details with your Christmas card and how to RSVP.

Tony

Carol Singing

Lots of opportunities to sing Carols – do please join us!

There’s our Carol service 4pm on Sunday 13th December in the Cornwell Centre, you can email your choice of carol to: carols@cornwellcommunitychurch.org.uk by Friday 11th December.

A ‘Scratch Nativity’ and Carols at 11am on Sunday 20th December in the Cornwell Centre when children are invited to come dressed as a Nativity character.

And Carol singing around the streets in the local area:

• Friday 18th December - meet 6pm at the Top of Vicarage Wood Way - back to Bartletts home for refreshments
• Wednesday 23rd December - meet 6pm at the Corner Ivybank & Prince William Drive - back to O’Sullivan’s home for refreshments

You’ll need a torch and warm clothing for these (we do not collect money, just give away sweets and Christmas greetings)

Tony

Christmas Cards

As an alternative to all sending cards to each other, last year we tried one per family and that worked well so we’re doing the same this year, this is how it’ll work:-

1.       I’ll print one Christmas card addressed to each Cornwell Church family and lay them out at church on Sunday 13^th and 20^th December (also card to Parish council, Neighbourhood wardens etc)

2.       You sign the ones you want and make a donation to a Christian charity

3.       After the service on 20^th take your card which by then should be full of names (if you can’t come to our service on the 20^th we’ll deliver your card).

In addition to making a donation in respect of all the cards you saved buying, how about adding a charity donation to your presents list; i.e. donate what you would have spent on one present.

Last year with the addition of money from our missions budget we were able to send £750 to the ‘Send a Cow’ charity to buy a cow for Africa (not just the cow but all the training and support to go with it).

This year we’ll split the money realised between 2 charities, one home and one away; ‘Prospects’ the locally based charity for people with learning disabilities and ‘Send a Cow’ (maybe a couple of goats this year)

Tony

Shoeboxes for the Samaritan's Purse appeal

We’ve had a great response to our appeal for filled shoeboxes. Members of Cornwell 0-5’s, Cool Club, GLuG and the Youth group all contributed as well as church members. In addition some people responded to the leaflets that went out with our Autumn Newsletter to all 600 homes in the area.

In all we collected 137 filled boxes; up from 75 last year! With 147 from St Catherine’s the total for the Parish was 284; up from 215 last year.

Peter and Nicky from Samaritan’s Purse arrived on Monday to collect the Shoeboxes and thanks to helpers Bill, David, and Michael we soon had the van loaded.

Tony

Forthcoming events

Tuesday 24^th November - 8pm at St Catherine’s a meeting about ‘The Project’, plans to extend and improve the facilities at St Catherine’s to better serve the community and address issues that make it difficult for church mid-week activities. The architect will be there to present the plans and answer questions. From the Cornwell point of view, apart from any new community initiatives it will make life so much easier for Holiday club, GLuG and the Youth group.

Saturday 28^th November - Between 1.30 and 5.30pm in St Catherine’s church hall, lots of helpers needed to guillotine (bring you own if you have one), fold and bundle the parish Christmas cards. As ‘Crafty Space’ is happening at the same time there’ll be Tea and Cakes. The more helpers, the quicker it’ll get done so please come along even for part of the time. Please consider a donation towards the cost of producing the cards and help with delivering them (see Stuart for details).

Wednesday 9^th December - Spanner Films, Tilehurst Globe and the Green Apostles present The Age of Stupid, "the climate blockbuster" starring Pete Postlethwaite, at 7pm in Tilehurst Methodist Church.  Admission free.  Retiring donations in aid of the Methodist Church refurbishment fund (Target 21) (courtesy of Tilehurst Globe).  There will be a discussion after the film at 8.45 pm hopefully chaired by Peter McManners, a local author on sustainability.  Please come and support this event if you haven't already seen the film!  Children under 12 should be accompanied by an adult.  More information about the film can be found at www.ageofstupid.net

Tony