Dates for your diary

Nov 29^th         Advent Sunday    Christingle service St Thomas 3pm    Bring an orange!

Nov 30^th           PCC meeting    St Thomas 7pm

Dec 4^th             St Thomas School Fair after school. Joint Raffle will be drawn.

Dec 5^th            Christmas Wonderland Lees Library 2-4pm followed by lights switch on

Dec 6^th            Usual time services –toy service-All age

Thurs Dec 10^th  St Agnes School Eucharist 9.30am

Sat  Dec 12^th  Coffee morning + set up Christmas trees St Thomas Church  10.30am

Wed Dec 16^th   St Thomas School Celebration in Church 6.30pm

Thurs Dec 17^th  St Agnes School Carol service 7pm

Thurs Dec 17^th    Prayers, Carols and mince pies 52 Spring Lane 7.30pm

Dec 20^th           6.30pm  Nine Lessons and Carols St Thomas

Mon Dec 21^st      Carol singing round the parish.  Meet  6pm St Thomas

Thurs Dec 24^th      Crib Service 5pm St Thomas

Thurs Dec 24^th    First Communion of Christmas 11.30pm St Thomas

Fri Dec 25^th        Christmas morning Eucharist 9.15am St Agnes

Advance notice     Confirmation Service  July 24^th 2016

Leesfield Parish November 29th 2015

PCC meets tomorrow, November 30^th at 7pm at St Thomas’

The Christmas stall at the back of St Thomas begins today. Donations of suitable new gifts welcomed.

Donations too, please, for the Parish Christmas Hamper.

Christingle service on this afternoon at St Thomas’ at 3pm. Bring an orange! There will be a collection for the Children’s Society at the service (as is traditional), and there is a collection plate at the back of each church for those who won’t be at the Christingle to contribute to this really worthwhile cause.

Make sure you get your tickets for St Thomas Raffle (joint school and church) £1 each. This will be drawn at the school fair after school on Friday Dec 4^th.

Next Saturday, Dec 5^th, Christmas Wonderland  at Lees Library from 2pm. Please make sure you buy your tickets by the end of today! (from Audrey, Jenny, Susan Harrop or the cake shop) See posters for details, or contact Jenny Daubney.

The booklet "Mud and Friendship" about the Parish Boundary Walks will be on general sale from Saturday 5th December. The number of copies available is limited so if you wish to reserve a copy please see Liz at St T or Philip at St A, or e-mail lizzy.dent@googlemail.com

Next Sunday (Dec 6^th) Toy service. We would be grateful for good quality toys –which will be donated to the Refuge. The service will be all age – no Sunday School.

You probably remember the display of (sponsored) Christmas trees we have had at St Thomas for the last couple of years.  Harvest Queen Amy is taking the lead on this this year. To sponsor a tree, contact Amy Jakeman (or her mum!). Coffee morning in church 12^th December –trees can be set up then.

Please Note The coffee morning which was planned for Dec 5^th has been postponed. 

If you’d like to receive the pewsheet by e mail please let Edith know (and give her your e mail address!

Magazine  articles to paulmdent@gmail.com) please

Items for the newsletter to Edith by Wednesday morning please.

Leesfield Parish November 22nd 2015

This afternoon, 3pm,   Joint meeting of Leesfield and Hey  PCCs in St John’s Hall. It is VITAL that as many as possible of our PCC attend this meeting! It will be an opportunity for us to explore how the future might look in the light of the current deanery plan. Archdeacon Cherry will chair the meeting.

Thank you to everyone who helped make last Sunday’s Parish Service at St Hugh’s such a joyful occasion. It was good to have so many of us there this year!

If St Hugh’s school caught your imagination and interest, perhaps you could think about becoming a school governor there. We are short of people to take on this very important role. Please speak to Edith if you are interested.

The Christmas stall at the back of St Thomas begins on November 29^th. Donations of suitable new gifts welcomed.

Christingle service on November 29^th at St Thomas’ at 3pm. Bring an orange! There will be a collection for the Children’s Society at the service (as is traditional), and a collection plate will be at the back of each church next Sunday morning for those who won’t be at the Christingle to contribute to this really worthwhile cause.

You probably remember the display of (sponsored) Christmas trees we have had at St Thomas for the last couple of years.  Harvest Queen Amy is taking the lead on this this year. To sponsor a tree, contact Amy Jakeman (or her mum!). Coffee morning in church 12^th December –trees can be set up then.

PCC meets November 30^th at 7pm at St Thomas’

Tickets now available for Christmas Wonderland  Dec 5^th  2pm  (from Audrey, Jenny or the cake shop) See posters for details, or contact Jenny Daubney.

 

Today is the last day for items for the next magazine to be sent to Paul

Magazine  articles to paulmdent@gmail.com) please

Items for the newsletter to Edith by Wednesday eve please.

Dates for your diary

Nov 8^th              Remembrance Sunday  9.15 service at St Thomas followed by

                            Service at Lees cemetery.  No service at St Agnes

Nov 9^th               Standing Committee  7pm Vicarage

Nov 12^th              Gift and Pamper eve at St Thomas School    7-9pm

Nov 14^th             Harvest Queen  table top sale   1 - 4pm   St Thomas School

Nov 15^th           Parish Service at St Hugh’s 11am. No Service at St Thomas or St Agnes

Nov 16^th           St Thomas DCC  7pm Church

Nov 18^th             St Agnes DCC     8pm  School Hall

Nov 19^th           Ladies of Leesfield  Quiz night  7.30pm Lees Library

Nov 21^st            Parish trip to Llandudno and Christmas market

Nov 22^nd          Joint PCC meeting with St John Hey. St John’s hall 3pm

Nov 29^th            Advent Sunday    Christingle service St Thomas 3pm  Bring an orange!

Nov 30^th           PCC meeting  St Thomas 7pm

Dec 5^th            Christmas Wonderland Lees Library 2-4pm followed by lights switch on

Dec 6^th            Usual time services –toy service-All age

Leesfield Parish November 8th 2015

Nov 8^th      Remembrance   No service at St Agnes   9.15 said communion at St Thomas then we meet to walk to the cemetery with the band

Nov 12^th    Gift and Pamper evening St Thomas school 7-9pm

Nov 14^th    Table top sale  St Thomas school 1-4pm

Nov 15^th   Parish service at St Hugh’s (Wildmoor Ave)   11am Please do support so this really is a parish service! No service at St Thomas or St Agnes. Can people offer/ask for lifts if necessary.

The Christmas stall at the back of St Thomas begins on November 29^th. Donations of suitable new gifts welcomed.

Parish trip to  Llandudno and Christmas Market  Saturday 21st November 2015  9 am leave Lees and 4.30 leave Llandudno  Cost £14. Please pay Audrey as soon as possible.

Tickets now available for Christmas Wonderland  Dec 5^th 2pm  (from Audrey, Jenny or the cake shop)

Leesfield Parish is now registered with MyDonate, a free service from British Telecom which enables us to collect donations on-line. MyDonate can also claim Gift Aid for eligible donations and the only deductions from payments are the charges made by the credit/debit card issuers.

In addition to general donations, payments can be made to specific appeals such as the L.A.S.T. appeal, and events can be published here. Individuals can also register with MyDonate as Fundraisers for the parish.

To find out more please visit our page at

https://mydonate.bt.com/charities/leesfieldparishstthomasstagnessthugh

The MyDonate page can also be accessed from our Parish Blogspot, or from our Facebook page.

The booklet “Mud and Friendship” is now almost complete and ready to go to print. As well as a walking guide to the Boundary, it will have parish history, local history and lots of personal memories and photos about the walks and places around them.

Launch of the booklet will be at the Christmas Wonderland event at Lees Library on Saturday 5^th December, with copies available for sale at St. Thomas’ and St. Agnes’ Churches from that date.

The sale price will be £5 per copy.  After deduction of printing costs (around £3 per copy), all sale proceeds will be divided between Parish finances and the St. Thomas’ Development Fund.

Before going to print I will need to know how many copies to order, and I have to make payment for printing costs up front, so it will be useful to have copies ordered in advance, pre-paid if at all possible.

If you would like to order a copy forms will be available at St. Thomas’ and St. Agnes’ from Sunday 25^th October. For those who would prefer to order and pay on-line please visit my fundraising page on https://mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/lizdent1 

Liz Dent

 

Magazine  articles to paulmdent@gmail.com) please

Items for the newsletter to Edith by Wednesday eve please.

Sunday 8th November & Sunday 15th November

8^th November 
Service St Thomas 9.15am (said Eucharist) then we gather to walk with band to the open air service in the cemetery –setting off around 10.20

15^th November
Parish service at St Hugh’s 11am Please support St Hugh’s –which does a great job encouraging the faith on Holts

Mud and Friendship – a booklet about the Parish Boundary Walks to 2015

Many of you will know that I’ve been collecting information and photos to include in a booklet about the Parish Boundary Walks.

As well as a walking guide to the Boundary, the booklet will have parish and local history and lots of personal memories about the walks and places around them.

The detail is now complete and ready to go to print. The booklet will be launched at the Christmas Wonderland event at Lees Library on Saturday 5^th December, with copies available for sale at St. Thomas’ and St. Agnes’ Churches from that date.

The sale price will be £5 per copy, but the printing cost will be between £2.50 and £3 per copy, depending on the number of copies produced. After deduction of printing costs, all sale proceeds will be divided equally between General Parish  finances and the St. Thomas’ Development Fund.

Before going to print I will need to have a good idea of how many copies will be required.  I will have to make payment for printing costs up front, so it will be     useful to have copies ordered in advance, pre-paid if at all possible.

If you would like to pre-order a copy forms will be available at St. Thomas’ and St. Agnes’ from Sunday 25^th October. For those who would prefer to order and pay   on-line please visit my fundraising page on https://mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/lizdent1 

Liz Dent

November 2015 Vicar’s Letter

Things have changed so much over the last two thousand years! That is, of course, rather obvious. Change has been as much a part of the history of the church as in every other part of human life.

We read of the early church in the book of Acts. So few people were     involved to begin with, soon after the death of Jesus the church was a small persecuted group in an occupied country. The early Christians lived together and knew each other. Following that first Pentecost, the faith began to spread and the church grew fairly rapidly.

Much of the New Testament is made up of the writings of early Christians, St Paul and others. These letters were written to keep those groups of Christians in what became a widespread church in touch with the beliefs and practices of the faith. As the church spread geographically so ways had to be found to help and encourage each other, to share ideas and experiences and to continue the teaching of Christ.

Now the Christian church is truly worldwide. There are, of course,      differences in ways of doing things in different places. In some places it is dangerous to be Christian. In some places it is difficult to obtain a Bible. In these places people long for news of other Christian groups, and long to be able to share with others their experiences and beliefs. In other places the church has perhaps become complacent, taking its place in society for granted.

Just as communication became important in the early church so it is in this place and at this time. We are lucky enough to be able to be open about our beliefs, but we must not become complacent and we must   remember to keep in touch with our faith and our fellow Christians.

We are a large and busy parish. So much is going on- there are our        services of course, and so much more. There are a wide variety of events which may be primarily social or fundraising, events led by our Harvest and Rose Queens, by the Ladies of Leesfield, by the schools, the Sunday Schools, and by the uniformed organisations – and more. There are also extra services in both our churches linked to the season of the church year.

All this is very encouraging, and is sign that the parish is healthy.

I think there are two real dangers though. Firstly it is easy to take our faith for granted and in our busy lives fail to find the time to worship with our fellow Christians. It is almost too easy – there are so many    opportunities. Yet worshipping with others keeps our faith alive. Private prayer and     reading is important but so is being present at our services.

Secondly, as a busy parish it is possible for people to be overlooked. Those perhaps not ‘in the loop’ may miss out on what is going on. We have a     responsibility to those who may be housebound or in care homes. Our    pastoral team do a great job supporting those, and I know there are others who also take this ministry seriously. 

We do have ways of informing all those in our parish about our activities. This magazine, The Voice, has a role. This is produced and  distributed    every month by Paul and Liz – but they can only include the material they are given, and people will only know what is in there if they read it.  Pewsheets are another way of keeping in touch.

These ways of communicating are vital if we are to keep everyone in touch, and the more we remember our own responsibility to inform others and to keep ourselves informed the better they will work!

Edith

Leesfield Parish October 25th 2015

Income Survey forms  If you attend church 12 or more times a year, and are an adult, please complete a form at the back of church and put it in the box. These are completely anonymous and are used to calculate our parish share.

This evening 6.30pm  Edith will be licensed as incumbent of the parish during a service of evening prayer.  Assistant Bishop Graham Dow will preside and license Edith, and Archdeacon Cherry Vann will preach. Please come along to this parish celebration!

Refreshments will follow the service

Next Sunday Nov 1^st  All Souls service at St Thomas at 3.30pm. In this we remember our loved ones departed (however long ago they died). Quiet reflective service.

Parish trip to  Llandudno and Christmas Market  Saturday 21st November 20159 am leave Lees and 4.30 leave Llandudno  Cost £14. Anyone wishing to go on this trip please let Audrey or Roy Atkinson know.

The new Planned Giving envelopes are now available. If you have not yet received yours please see Liz or Philip. Also, if you are not already a member of the Planned Giving Scheme and would like further information Liz or Philip will be happy to help.

The rota for the Posada at St Thomas is at the back of church- please sign up to have the holy family in your home overnight during Advent.

Please would anyone who has ‘stuff’ in the cupboards (or even not in the cupboards!) at the back of St Thomas Church please have a good sort through and clear out as soon as possible – and definitely by the end of October half term. We need to have the space cleared to enable the preparatory work for the development project to go ahead.

MyDonate

Leesfield Parish is now registered with MyDonate, a free service from British Telecom which enables us to collect donations on-line. MyDonate can also claim Gift Aid for eligible donations and the only deductions from payments are the charges made by the credit/debit card issuers.

In addition to general donations, payments can be made to specific appeals such as the L.A.S.T. appeal, and events can be published here. Individuals can also register with MyDonate as Fundraisers for the parish.

To find out more please visit our page at

https://mydonate.bt.com/charities/leesfieldparishstthomasstagnessthugh

The MyDonate page can also be accessed from our Parish Blogspot, or from our Facebook page.

The booklet “Mud and Friendship” is now almost complete and ready to go to print. As well as a walking guide to the Boundary, it will have parish history, local history and lots of personal memories and photos about the walks and places around them.

Launch of the booklet will be at the Christmas Wonderland event at Lees Library on Saturday 5^th December, with copies available for sale at St. Thomas’ and St. Agnes’ Churches from that date.

The sale price will be £5 per copy.  After deduction of printing costs (around £3 per copy), all sale proceeds will be divided between Parish finances and the St. Thomas’ Development Fund.

Before going to print I will need to know how many copies to order, and I have to make payment for printing costs up front, so it will be useful to have copies ordered in advance, pre-paid if at all possible.

If you would like to order a copy forms will be available at St. Thomas’ and St. Agnes’ from Sunday 25^th October. For those who would prefer to order and pay on-line please visit my fundraising page on https://mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/lizdent1 

Liz Dent

Magazine  articles to paulmdent@gmail.com) please

Items for the newsletter to Edith by Wednesday eve please.

DATES

 Sun 25^th Oct     Edith’s Licensing as Incumbent.  Evening service at 6.30pm St Thomas

Nov 1^st               Service for All Souls at St Thomas 3.30pm

Nov 7^th               Coffee morning  2 Leesway  10.30 till noon

Nov 8^th              Remembrance Sunday  9.15 service at St Thomas followed by

                            Service at Lees cemetery  No service at St Agnes

Nov 9^th               Standing Committee  7pm Vicarage

Nov 12^th              Gift and Pamper eve at St Thomas School    7-9pm

Nov 14^th             Harvest Queen  table top sale   1 - 4pm   St Thomas School

Nov 15^th           Parish Service at St Hugh’s 11am. No Service at St Thomas or St Agnes

Nov 16^th           St Thomas DCC  7pm Church

Nov 18^th             St Agnes DCC     8pm  School Hall

Nov 19^th           Ladies of Leesfield  Quiz night  7.30pm Lees Library

Nov 21^st            Parish trip to Llandudno and Christmas market

Nov 22^nd          Joint PCC meeting with St John Hey. St John’s hall 3pm

Nov 29^th            Advent Sunday    Christingle service St Thomas 3pm  Bring an orange!

Nov 30^th           PCC meeting  St Thomas 7pm 

Dates for your diary

Sat 24^th Oct        Rose Queen Fancy dress Disco  at Springhead F.C

Sun 25^th Oct     Edith’s Licensing as Incumbent.  Evening service at 6.30pm St Thomas

Nov 1^st               Service for All Souls at St Thomas 3.30pm

Nov 7^th               Coffee morning  2 Leesway  10.30 till noon

Nov 8^th              Remembrance Sunday  9.15 service at St Thomas followed by

                            Service at Lees cemetery  No service at St Agnes

Nov 9^th               Standing Committee  7pm Vicarage

Nov 14^th             Harvest Queen  table top sale   1 - 4pm   St Thomas School

Nov 15^th           Parish Service at St Hugh’s 11am.

Nov 16^th           St Thomas DCC  7pm Church

Nov 18^th             St Agnes DCC     8pm  School Hall

Nov 19^th           Ladies of Leesfield  Quiz night  7.30pm Lees Library

Nov 21^st            Parish trip to Llandudno and Christmas market

Nov 22^nd          Joint PCC meeting with St John Hey. St John’s hall 3pm

Nov 30^th           PCC meeting  St Thomas 7pm

Leesfield Parish October 18th 2015

Income Survey forms  If you attend church 12 or more times a year, and are an adult, please complete a form at the back of church and put it in the box. These are completely anonymous and are used to calculate our parish share.

This afternoon   2pm Churches Together service Freedom Sunday at Salvation Army

See poster at the back of church for more details

Wednesday 21^st   Churches Together open meeting  Zion 7.30pm

Thursday 22^nd Ladies of Leesfield 7.30pm St Thomas  Flower arranging

Friday 24^th  Rose Queen Fancy Dress Disco at Springhead Football club

Next Sunday (25^th) 6.30pm  Edith will be licensed as incumbent of the parish during a service of evening prayer.  Assistant Bishop Graham Dow will preside and license Edith, and Archdeacon Cherry Vann will preach. Please come along to this parish celebration!

Refreshments will follow the service

Parish trip to  Llandudno and Christmas Market  Saturday 21st November 20159 am leave Lees and 4.30 leave Llandudno  Cost £14. Anyone wishing to go on this trip please let Audrey or Roy Atkinson know.

School Supplementary forms have been signed. Please make sure you get yours back.

Rose queen has arranged for the now traditional evening at the White Hart to take place Fri March18th 2016. £35 per ticket. Laura is taking deposits of £10 now, and you can pay by installments if you wish.

The new Planned Giving envelopes are now available. If you have not yet received yours please see Liz or Philip. Also, if you are not already a member of the Planned Giving Scheme and would like further information Liz or Philip will be happy to help.

The rota for the Posada at St Thomas is at the back of church- please sign up to have them in your home during Advent.

Please would anyone who has ‘stuff’ in the cupboards (or even not in the cupboards!) at the back of St Thomas Church please have a good sort through and clear out as soon as possible – and definitely by the end of October half term. We need to have the space cleared to enable the preparatory work for the development project to go ahead.

We need more people to read and/or do the prayers at our Sunday services. Please think seriously about helping with this and talk to the wardens or clergy.  Help is available if you are unsure.

Magazine  articles to paulmdent@gmail.com) please

Items for the newsletter to Edith by Wednesday eve please.

Sun Nov 1^st  3.30pm  Service for All Souls   at St Thomas

Psalm Response     The Lord heals the broken hearted

Dates for your diary

Mon Sept 28^th      PCC 7pm in St Thomas Church

Thurs Oct 1^st         Exploring Prayer   7.30pm St Agnes 

    

Sat  Oct 3^rd           Coffee morning  2 Hopkin View 10.30 till noon

Sun Oct  4^th         Harvest Festival  Parish service St Thomas 11am

Thurs Oct 8^th       Exploring Prayer   7.30pm St Agnes 

Sat Oct 10^th       Rose Queen “At Home”  at St Agnes         2pm

Sun Oct 11^th       Harvest Queen Car wash at Lees Library

Sat Oct 15^th       Final Exploring prayer session St Agnes 7.30pm

Fri Oct 16^th          Harvest Queen Family Disco at St Edwards Hall    7pm

Sat Oct 17^th        Tea and Toast at St Thomas   10.30 to noon.  All welcome

Sat 24^th Oct        Rose Queen Fancy dress Disco  at Springhead F.C

Sun 25^th Oct     Edith’s Licensing as Incumbent.  Evening service at 6.30pm St Thomas

Nov 1^st               Service for All Souls at St Thomas 3.30pm

Nov 8^th              Remembrance Sunday  9.15 service at St Thomas followed by

                            Service at Lees cemetery

Nov 14^th             Harvest Queen  table top sale   1pm-  St Thomas School

Nov 15^th           Parish Service at St Hugh’s 11am.

Nov 22^nd          Joint PCC meeting with St John Hey. St John’s hall 3pm

Leesfield Parish September 27th 2015

PCC meet tomorrow, Monday  7pm in St Thomas Church. Would members please do their best to attend this meeting.

The next Exploring Prayer session is on October 1st 7.30pm at St Agnes. This will be the third of 5 weekly sessions. These are stand alone sessions.

Saturday  3^rd October Coffee morning 2 Hopkin View  10.30 till noon. All welcome

Next Sunday October 4^th Parish service for Harvest 11am St Thomas, No service at St Agnes that morning.

Harvest Lunch will take place on in Lees Library on October 4^th after the service at St Thomas. Tickets £5 adults, £2.50 children. You MUST have a ticket before this date if you want to attend.

School Supplementary forms should be given to Edith by October 11^th. The wardens and Sunday School leaders will meet with Edith and sign the forms at the right level of attendance. The forms will be returned on Sunday 18^th.

Rose queen has arranged for the now traditional evening at the White Hart to take place Fri March18th 2016. £35 per ticket. Laura is taking deposits of £10 now, and you can pay by installments if you wish.

Please would anyone who has ‘stuff’ in the cupboards (or even not in the cupboards!) at the back of St Thomas Church please have a good sort through and clear out as soon as possible – and definitely by the end of October half term. We need to have the space cleared to enable the preparatory work for the development project to go ahead.

We need more people to read and/or do the prayers at our Sunday services. Please think seriously about helping with this and talk to the wardens or clergy.  Help is available if you are unsure.

Magazine  articles to paulmdent@gmail.com) please

Items for the newsletter to Edith by Wednesday eve please.

All Saints’ Tide

The last day of October is widely observed as Halloween.

This secular celebration can be just rather childish fun, or it can come   rather dangerously close to the occult. What it is, of course, is the eve of all Hallows, the eve of All Saints’Day.

On November 1^st we celebrate the feast of All Saints, which falls on a   Sunday this year. This is a celebration of the good purposes of God, the communion of saints and the promise of eternal life. We commemorate all those saints (without a capital letter!) so not the well-known ones with their own feast day but the vast number of holy ones of God.

November 2^nd is All Souls’ Day, also known as the Commemoration of the Faithful Departed. On this day we come together to remember our loved ones departed. We don’t pray for them –they are with God and don’t need our prayers - but we need to remember them.

This year we will hold our service for All Souls on the afternoon of          November 1^st, at 3.30pm. This is an opportunity to come to a quiet and peaceful service and remember those who were dear to us whom we see no more – no matter how long it is since they died.

I will invite the families of those for whom I have conducted a funeral   service in the past year, and anyone else who would like to come is very welcome. Before the service there will be list at the back of church on which you can add the names of those you would like to remember, and those names will be read out during the   service.                                            

Edith