Leesfield Parish – 24th December 2017

Today is the Fourth Sunday of Advent, as well as Christmas Eve. The morning services will be at the usual times at both St Thomas’ and St Agnes’, so please come along as usual. Sunday school at St Agnes’ will operate as normal. There is no Sunday school at St Thomas’, but families are most welcome to join us in church.

Then at 5 pm at St Thomas’ we have the Sunday School Nativity and Blessing of the Crib. The story of the Nativity is timeless, but the children refresh it for us every year in their own special way.

The First Communion of Christmas is at St Thomas’ at 11.30 pm. This service takes us through midnight into the wonder of Christmas morning as we celebrate the birth of Jesus. If you are able to join us at this late hour please come along to this most special Eucharist.

Christmas morning at 9.15 am we gather at St Agnes’ for our traditional and joyous Christmas Eucharist.

There will be no service on Tuesday 26th December.

Next Sunday, 31st December, there will be a Parish Service, 10 am at St Thomas’. No service at St Agnes’.

Well done to the Carol Singers who braved the cold and fog on Monday, especially the youngsters Ben, Sam and Anna, who sang and played beautifully. We had lots of compliments from people in the houses where we sang, and raised £53.32 for the Booth Centre. We're singing again at Lees Co-op on Saturday at 12 noon, and will let you know how much we raise.

Tickets are now on sale for the Rose Queen and Harvest Queen Dinner Dance on Friday 16th March 2018. The cost is £35, and Colette or Karen need names and £5 deposits by next week, 31st December.

As we exchange gifts with our families and friends this Christmas, it’s a good time to think of those who are less fortunate than ourselves. St Agnes’ are collecting non-perishable food items and toiletries for Impact Church Oldham. St Thomas’ are collecting hats, scarves, gloves, socks and toiletries for the Booth Centre, Manchester, and non-perishable food items for the Community Project at St Barnabas’ Church, Clarksfield. Please be as generous as you can, these organisations work really hard to help people who are homeless and families in crisis, and our intention is to continue our support throughout the year, not just at Christmas and Harvest.  

     

There is a vacancy for a foundation governor at St Thomas’ school, if you would like more information please see Edith or Rebecca. 

Advance notice  Confirmation is Sunday July 15th 2018

St Thomas’ church is open regularly on Tuesday and Saturday mornings, so people can drop in, look around, pray or just sit. For this to happen, we need volunteers to sit in church. Can you spare an hour now and again? See Edith or sign the list please.

Items for the newsletter, website and facebook pages to Liz (lizzy.dent@googlemail.com) whenever you want to send. Lots of lovely pictures please! 

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Sat 23-Dec Carol singing at Lees Co-op - Meet Co-op 12 noon
Sun 24-Dec Morning services at usual times both churches
        Crib service/Nativity - St Thomas' 5pm
        First Communion of Christmas - 11.30pm at St Thomas'
Mon 25-Dec Christmas Morning service 9.15am at St Agnes'
Tues 26-Dec Boxing Day - no Tuesday service
Sun 31-Dec Parish service at St Thomas' 10am - no service at St Agnes'
Tues 02-Jan Pastoral Team visit to Avalon Park
Sat 06-Jan Ladies Coffee Morning 10.30 - 12, 83 Spring Lane
Sun 07-Jan Sunday School Christmas Party
Mon 08-Jan Bible Study Group St Thomas' 1.30pm
Mon 08-Jan Standing Committee 7pm
Mon 15-Jan Pastoral Team visit to Ashbourne House
Mon 15-Jan St Thomas' DCC 7 pm
Wed 17-Jan St Agnes' Open Forum 8pm
Fri 19-Jan St Thomas' School Coffee morning & textile collection 9am
Sun 21-Jan Week of Christian Unity service 3 pm St John Hey
Mon 22-Jan Bible Study Group St Thomas' 1.30pm
Mon 22-Jan PCC meeting at St Thomas' 7pm

What a great start to the week!

On the third Sunday of Advent Annie and Ben lit 3 candles in church, and then the children went over to Sunday School to sing Christmas Carols and do some peaceful Nativity colouring.

And then in the evening we had the traditional parish service of Nine Lessons and Carols. This was made even more wonderful this year as we were able to include some of the children in the service, as well as a lovely choral item. Ben sang the solo first verse of "Once in Royal David's City" beautifully, and Sam and Jack played "While Shepherds Watched their Flocks by Night" really well on their cornets. This was the first time they had played together, with only one rehearsal beforehand, and we think this could be the beginning of a far greater musical involvement of young people in our worship.

To view videos of  these lovely musical items please follow the links below. 

Leesfield Carol Service - "Once in Royal David's City"

"While Shepherds Watched their Flocks by Night"

On Monday evening we met at church at 6 pm to go Carol Singing around Leesfield in the cold and fog. Sam brought his cornet out again, and was a great help to Paul. Anna and Ben did a brilliant job of singing as well as charming all of the people who came out to listen to us, and the adults were pretty good also. We saw lots of old friends, and made new ones, as well as taking the Christmas message out to people nearby, and collected over £53 for the Booth Centre.

You can watch a video of one of the carols by clicking on the link below.

"Silent Night" in Lees

This coming Saturday, 23rd December, we are continuing with our Carol Singing at 12 noon in Lees Co-op. In recent years we have always asked permission to sing in the Co-op on the Monday before Christmas in case it's too wet to go round the village, but it hasn't been necessary to do so. This year the Co-op have offered us the brilliant opportunity to sing there on what's probably the busiest time of the year. Our collection there will again be for the Booth Centre in Manchester, which provides hope, encouragement and support for people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.

Please come along and join in as we share our Christmas with everyone around us. All ages are welcome, and if you can't sing that doesn't matter, you can rattle a collecting box or there may even be maracas. 

Leesfield Parish – 17^th December 2017

If you have toys which you were unable to bring in last week, please bring them whenever you can. We will still be able to get them to children whose families are less fortunate than ourselves.

This evening, Sunday, 17^th December, 6.30 pm at St Thomas’ is the traditional service of 9 Lessons and Carols, with additional musical items. This is a lovely Christmas service, so please come along and join us. Seasonal refreshments after the service.

Tickets are available for the Christmas Hamper Raffle, to be drawn after the service at St Thomas’ on the morning of Christmas Eve. See Lesley for tickets. 

Also, donations for Christmas flowers are welcome, please give to Lesley or Audrey.

The Bible Study group will meet on Monday 18^th December at 1.30 pm. Frank and lively discussions about Scripture and our walk with God. Each Study stands alone...so it doesn't matter if you have missed a few weeks. Please do be encouraged to come along.

Also on Monday 18^th December we will be meeting at 6 pm at St Thomas’ Church to go Carol Singing around Lees, and we’ll be singing at Lees Co-op on Saturday 23^rd December, 12 noon as well.

Families are particularly welcome to join us, as everybody loves to hear the children singing. As well as collecting money for the Booth Centre for the homeless in Manchester, carol singing out and about in Lees is a great opportunity to take the real message of Christmas out to the people around us. Please let Paul & Liz know if you are able to come along, or if you’re at St Agnes’ tell Philip and he will pass it on to us.

Next Sunday is the Fourth Sunday of Advent, as well as Christmas Eve. The morning services will be at the usual times at both St Thomas’ and St Agnes’, so please come along as usual. Sunday school at St Agnes’ will operate as normal. There is no Sunday school at St Thomas’, but families are most welcome to join us in church.

Then at 5 pm at St Thomas’ we have the Sunday School Nativity and Blessing of the Crib. The story of the Nativity is timeless, but the children refresh it for us every year.

The First Communion of Christmas is at St Thomas’ at 11.30 pm. This service takes us through midnight into the wonder of Christmas morning as we celebrate the birth of Jesus.

Christmas morning at 9.15 am we gather at St Agnes’ for our traditional and joyous Christmas Eucharist.

There will be no service on Tuesday 26^th December.

    

There is a vacancy for a foundation governor at St Thomas’ school, if you would like more information please see Edith, Rebecca or Lesley.

Tickets are now on sale for the Rose Queen and Harvest Queen Dinner Dance on Friday 16^th March 2018. The reservation has to be made soon, so names and £5 deposits are needed by the end of December. Please see Colette or Karen.

Advance notice  Confirmation is Sunday July 15^th 2018

St Thomas’ church is open regularly on Tuesday and Saturday mornings, so people can drop in, look around, pray or just sit. For this to happen, we need volunteers to sit in church. Can you spare an hour now and again? See Edith or sign the list please.

Items for the newsletter, website and facebook pages to Liz (lizzy.dent@googlemail.com) whenever you want to send. Lots of lovely pictures please!

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Sun	17-Dec	9 Lessons & Carols at St Thomas' 6.30pm
Mon	18-Dec	Bible Study Group St Thomas' 1.30pm
Mon	18-Dec	Carol singing around Lees - Meet St Thomas' 6pm
Sat	23-Dec	Carol singing at Lees Co-op - Meet Co-op 12 noon
Sun	24-Dec	Morning services at usual times both churches
		Crib service/Nativity - St Thomas' 5pm
		First Communion of Christmas - 11.30pm at St Thomas'
Mon	25-Dec	Christmas Morning service 9.15am at St Agnes'
Tues	26-Dec	Boxing Day - no Tuesday service
Sun	31-Dec	Parish service at St Thomas' 10am - no service at St Agnes'
Tues	02-Jan	Pastoral Team visit to Avalon Park
Mon	08-Jan	Bible Study Group St Thomas' 1.30pm
Mon	08-Jan	Standing Committee 7pm
Mon	15-Jan	Pastoral Team visit to Ashbourne House
Mon	15-Jan	St Thomas' DCC 7 pm
Wed	17-Jan	St Agnes' Open Forum 8pm

Leesfield Parish – 10th December 2017

St Edward's school shared the sad news on Friday morning that Father Dolan died peacefully at his home in Ireland on Thursday night. Our thoughts and prayers are with all who knew and loved him, he will be greatly missed by our friends from St Edward's and the wider community. RIP Father Dolan.

Today is the Toy Service at both churches, good quality toys will be gratefully received for distribution to children whose families are less fortunate than ourselves.

Ladies of Leesfield – Carols & Mince Pies – Thursday 14th December, 7.30 pm at Audrey’s house, 52 Spring Lane.

Next Sunday, 17th December, 6.30 pm at St Thomas’ is the traditional service of 9 Lessons and Carols, with additional musical items. This is a lovely Christmas service, so please come along and join us. If you would like to read one of the lessons at this service please contact Edith, and could anyone (of any age) who plays a musical instrument consider joining a group to play an item see Paul.

Tickets are now available for the Christmas Hamper Raffle, which will be drawn after the service at St Thomas’ on the morning of Christmas Eve. See Lesley for tickets. Also, donations for Christmas flowers are welcome, please give to Lesley or Audrey.

The Bible Study group will meet on Monday 18th December at 1.30 pm. Frank and lively discussions about Scripture and our walk with God. Each Study stands alone...so it doesn't matter if you have missed a few weeks. Please do be encouraged to come along.

Also on Monday 18th December we will be meeting at 6 pm at St Thomas’ Church to go Carol Singing around Lees. This is a lovely evening where adults and children take Christmas out to the people who live near our church, and we collect house-to-house for the Booth Centre for the homeless in Manchester. 

There is a vacancy for a foundation governor at St Thomas’ school, if you would like more information please see Edith or Lesley. 

Tickets are now on sale for the Rose Queen and Harvest Queen Dinner Dance on Friday 16th March 2018. The reservation has to be made soon, so names and £5 deposits are needed by the end of December. Please see Colette or Karen. 

Advance notice  Confirmation is Sunday July 15th 2018

St Thomas’ church is open regularly on Tuesday and Saturday mornings, so people can drop in, look around, pray or just sit. For this to happen, we need volunteers to sit in church. Can you spare an hour now and again? See Lesley or sign the list please. 

Items for the newsletter, website and facebook pages to Liz (lizzy.dent@googlemail.com) whenever you want to send. Lots of lovely pictures please! 

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Sun 10-Dec Toy service both churches - usual times
Mon 11-Dec Pastoral Team visit to Ashbourne House
Thur 14-Dec Carols, mince pies, mulled wine and coffee, 52 Spring Lane, Lees
Fri 15-Dec St Agnes' Sunday School Christmas Party
Sun 17-Dec 9 Lessons & Carols at St Thomas' 6.30pm
Mon 18-Dec Bible Study Group St Thomas' 1.30pm
Mon 18-Dec Carol singing around Lees - Meet St Thomas' 6pm
Sun 24-Dec Morning services at usual times both churches
        Crib service/Nativity - St Thomas' 5pm
        First Communion of Christmas - 11.30pm at St Thomas'
Mon 25-Dec Christmas Morning service 9.15am at St Agnes'
Tues 26-Dec Boxing Day - no Tuesday service
Sun 31-Dec Parish service at St Thomas' 10am - no service at St Agnes'
Tues 02-Jan Pastoral Team visit to Avalon Park
Mon 08-Jan Bible Study Group St Thomas' 1.30pm
Mon 08-Jan Standing Committee 7pm
Mon 15-Jan Pastoral Team visit to Ashbourne House
Mon 15-Jan St Thomas' DCC 7 pm
Wed 17-Jan St Agnes' Open Forum 8pm

Leesfield Parish – 3^rd December 2017

Most of you will know about the recent break-in at St Thomas’ Church, when many items were stolen including raffle prizes for our Harvest Queen Afternoon Tea. The response by our own parishioners and the general public to the articles in the press and our Sunday School facebook posts was overwhelming. Generous donations of replacement raffle prizes and cash were received, alongside kind messages of support from well-wishers.

The Royal British Legion poppy box was also unfortunately stolen during the break-in. On the Parish coach trip to Chester the following weekend the wardens, Lesley and Roy, decided to ask the passengers to put any loose change into the box which was sited at the front of the coach. The result along with other kind donations resulted in over £60 being collected, this was a lovely gesture by all concerned and much appreciated.

Roy, Lesley and Trevor have done a fantastic job of putting the church back in order, and deserve a massive thank you from all of us!

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The Parish Christingle Service is at St Thomas’ Church this afternoon at 3 pm. All are welcome to join in this lovely family service, please bring an orange! The collection from this service goes to the Children’s Society.

Next Sunday, 10^th December, is the Toy Service at both Churches. Gifts of good-quality toys are needed, to pass on to less fortunate children.

Ladies of Leesfield – Carols & Mince Pies – Thursday 14^th December, 7.30 pm at Audrey’s house, Spring Lane.

Could anyone (of any age) who plays a musical instrument consider joining a group to play an item at our carol service see Paul - so he doesn’t have to do a solo again (thanks Paul)

St Agnes’ Rose Queen Emilia invites everyone to a Christmas Movie Night, 7 pm on Friday 8^th December in St Agnes’ school hall for ages 5 and upwards. Tickets are £3.50 each and can be purchased from the school office or Rose Queen and Retinue mums.

Advance notice  Confirmation is Sunday July 15^th 2018.

St Thomas’ church is open regularly on Tuesday and Saturday mornings, so people can drop in, look around, pray or just sit. For this to happen, we need volunteers to sit in church. Can you spare an hour now and again? See Lesley or sign the list please.

Items for the newsletter, website and facebook pages to Liz (lizzy.dent@googlemail.com) whenever you want to send. Lots of lovely pictures please!

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Sun	03-Dec	Christingle Service - St Thomas' 3pm
Mon	04-Dec	Pastoral Team visit to Avalon Park
Wed	06-Dec	St Thomas' School Christmas Fair 3.30pm
Fri	08-Dec	St Agnes' Rose Queen Christmas Movie Night 6.30pm
Sun	10-Dec	Toy service both churches - usual times
Mon	11-Dec	Pastoral Team visit to Ashbourne House
Thur	14-Dec	Carols, mince pies, mulled wine and coffee at Spring Lane, Lees
Fri	15-Dec	St Agnes' Sunday School Christmas Party
Sun	17-Dec	9 Lessons & Carols at St Thomas' 6.30pm
Mon	18-Dec	Bible Study Group St Thomas' 1.30pm
Mon	18-Dec	Carol singing around Lees - Meet St Thomas' 6pm
Sun	24-Dec	Morning services at usual times both churches
		Crib service/Nativity - St Thomas' 5pm
		First Communion of Christmas - 11.30pm at St Thomas'
Mon	25-Dec	Christmas Morning service 9.15am at St Agnes'
Tues	26-Dec	Boxing Day - no Tuesday service
Sun	31-Dec	Parish service at St Thomas' 10am - no service at St Agnes'