Newsletter 25th November

Leesfield Parish – 25th November 2018

This afternoon at 3 pm, Churches Together in Lees and District will be joining together at St Thomas’ for a special service “Advent hymns”. This is an opportunity to sing some of our favourite Advent hymns, and learn a little bit about them on the Sunday before Advent begins.

A further Open PCC meeting has been arranged for tomorrow at 7 pm in St Thomas’ Community Room. We will be discussing how we can all use our time, talents and money to serve God in this parish and beyond, and everyone is warmly invited to join the conversation. The last meeting was really well attended, with lots of ideas about how we can reach out to the wider community. Light refreshments will be available before the meeting.

On Saturday at 2 pm we will be Dressing the little Christmas Trees at St Thomas’. This is a fun event for all the family, with refreshments, mince pies and mulled wine served by the Ladies of Leesfield. If you would like sponsor a tree please see Karen or any of the Harvest Queen mums. From 4 pm the church bells will be ringing, and you can make your way over to the village centre (near Milan Bar) for the switch-on of the Lees Christmas Lights at 4.30. And a very special visitor may be there!  

Next Sunday is Advent Sunday, and in addition to our normal services there is a special Christingle Service for the children, 3 pm at St Thomas’. They will make their Christingles (please bring your own orange), learn what they represent, light the candles and sing in candlelight. Donations from this service will go to the Children’s Society, which supports vulnerable children and young people throughout England and Wales. 

During Advent we will be trying out different ways in which we can encourage our congregation members to support the work of the church. Many people these days don’t carry cash, so instead of the collection plate being passed around it will be at the back of church, along with information about planned giving, gift-aid, standing orders and other cashless methods of donating towards our work.

On Wednesday 5th December from 7-9 pm the Diocese is delivering Safeguarding Training at St Barnabas’ Church, Clarksfield. The training is for Sunday School teachers and all who have safeguarding responsibilities. Booking is required to ensure that there are sufficient handouts, certificates etc. are available, and can be made by visiting bookings@manchester.anglican.org . 

The cold nights are definitely here now, and the organisations helping homeless people and others in need which we support are increasingly busy. Donations of warm clothing, food and toiletries are most welcome, but there is very little which we can’t find a use for. If you’re unsure about what to bring please see Paul and Liz at St Thomas’ or Frank and Philip at St Agnes’. 

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

News update 15th November

Just a little reminder of all the events and services for the coming week or so - the full printed newsletter will be back next week!

St Agnes' school Winter Fair is this Saturday from 11 am to 3 pm - so if you're not off to Llanudno with the Ladies of Leesfield why not pop along and join the fun.

On Sunday we celebrate St Hugh's day with a Parish Eucharist at St Hugh's at 11 am. There are no other services in the parish on that day, so if you're driving there please offer a lift to someone who doesn't drive.

The Ladies of Leesfield event at 7.30 pm on Thursday features guest speakers Ruth, Edwina and Liz telling the story of finding their mother's World War 2 identity bracelet. Everyone is invited to come along - you don't have to be a lady, or of Leesfield! 

Next Sunday, 3 pm at St Thomas', Churches Together in Lees and District are having a joint service "Advent Hymns". This is an opportunity to sing some of our favourite Advent hymns, and learn a little bit about them on the week before Advent begins.

Following the earlier Open PCC meeting in September, James Emmerson, the Diocesan Stewardship Advisor, is coming to St Thomas' for a further meeting at 7 pm on Monday 26th November. Please do come and join the conversation about how we can all play our part in the work of God in our parish. 

Tickets are now on sale for the Annual Dinner Dance at the White Hart on Friday 8th March 2019. The tickets are £35 each, to be paid in instalments of £15 by the end of December, £10 by the end of January, and £10 by the end of February. 

News update 8th November

Leesfield Parish 8th November 2018

On Saturday Rose Queen Ella and her retinue will be "At Home" at St Agnes' Church at 2 pm - please join us for refreshments, stalls and fun.

This Sunday is Remembrance Sunday so there will be a Parish Eucharist at St Thomas' at 9.15 am on Sunday - no service at St Agnes'. We will then assemble to walk together to Lees Cemetery for an Act of Remembrance.

Next Sunday, the 18th November we have our annual Parish Eucharist at St Hugh's, 11 am to celebrate the feast day of St Hugh. There are no other services in the parish on this day, so if you are going by car it would be really nice if you could offer lifts to those who don't drive.

On Thursday 22nd November at 7.30pm the Ladies of Leesfield are presenting a really interesting story by Edwina, Ruth and Liz about the finding of their mother's World War 2 identity bracelet. This promises to be an entertaining and informative evening so please do come along.

Advance notice - St Agnes' Rose Queen annual dinner dance at the White Hart, Lydgate will be on Friday 8th March next year. Tickets are on sale now and can be paid for in instalments, with the initial deposit of £15 to be paid by the end of December. Please see Jacqueline or any of the retinue mums for more details.

Newsletter 4th November

Leesfield Parish – 4th November 2018 

This afternoon we hold our service for All Souls at 4 pm. This is a quiet and peaceful service where we remember those who were dear to us whom we see no more, and light a candle for them. 

The Monday Emmaus Group meets on the 5th and 26th November at 1.30 pm, and the Wednesday group meets on the 14th and 21st November at 7 pm, both in St Thomas’ Community Room.  

On Saturday 10th November at 2 pm St Agnes’ Rose Queen Ella and her retinue are “At Home”. Please come along and join us for fun, refreshments and stalls.  

Next Sunday, 11th November, is Remembrance Sunday. We will have a Parish Eucharist at St Thomas’ at 9.15 am, and then assemble at 10.15 to walk together down to the cemetery for the Act of Remembrance.  

Continuing with the wartime theme, the Ladies of Leesfield have guest speakers at their meeting on Thursday 22nd November at 7.30 pm, when Edwina and Ruth will tell the story of finding their mother’s World War 2 Identity Bracelet. Everyone is welcome to come along to what promises to be a really interesting evening.

Our annual Parish Eucharist to celebrate St Hugh’s Patronal Festival is at 11 am on Sunday 18th November in St Hugh’s School on Wildmoor Avenue, Holts. This is the only service in the parish on that day, so if you’re driving there it would be really kind if you could offer lifts to those without cars.

The cold nights are definitely here now, and the organisations helping homeless people which we support are increasingly busy. Donations of warm clothing and toiletries are most welcome. 

Whatever job we do in life, we all get at least one day off each week to spend with our families and relax. Edith’s only day off in the week is Friday, so please don’t call at the vicarage, telephone or email on Fridays. 

On Sunday the 25th November at 3 pm, Churches Together in Lees and District will be joining together at St Thomas’ for a special service “Advent hymns”. This is an opportunity to sing some of our favourite Advent hymns, and learn a little bit about them on the Sunday before Advent begins.

A further Open PCC meeting has been arranged for Monday the 26th November at 7 pm in St Thomas’ Community Room. We will be discussing how we can all use our time, talents and money to serve God in this parish and beyond, and everyone is warmly invited to join the conversation. During Advent we will be trying out different ways in which we can encourage our congregation members to support the work of the church. 

Please send your articles for the next issue of “Voice” magazine to Paul ( paulmdent@gmail.com ) by the 11th November. 

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