Hi everyone,
The Christmas lights are lit and the festive season is now upon us, so there is much to do! I hope that you are managing to get your gifts and parties sorted, manage your consumption of mince pies, and find time for the normal things of life.
This Weekend in Paulton we have our Christmas Sing Along at 7pm on Friday and our Bazaar on Saturday from 2-4pm. Please share these events and come along to support them if you can. We would particularly like donations of cakes for the Bazaar if you can bring one along on Friday or Saturday.
CHRISTMAS HAMPERS!:
We have nearly raised the money to complete the hamper project, so a huge thanks to all those who have already donated. If you have not given yet and are able to do so please make sure that you get it in this week so that we can give the hampers before the end of term.
This project is to prepare hampers for families that may be facing hardship in all three villages and show God's love through a bit of luxury! As usual, we are working with the two church schools and also with Paulton infants school to distribute the hampers to those who need them in the villages. Our target this year is a whopping of 48 hampers.
This is a fantastic opportunity to give away something really meaningful and grow closer to God. The hampers will cost £40 pounds and we are hoping that people will donate a hamper each (or more if they want :), but anything you can give is greatly appreciated.
Details of when we will be assembling the hampers will follow soon.
To donate the bank details are:
A/c PCC of Paulton sort code: 60-14-24 A/c number: 71428127
Use the reference: Hampers
WINE TASTING:
Katie, a parent from the Paulton toddler group (whose job is organising wine tastings) has offered to arrange a tasting session in support of the charity 'Voices' who work with people escaping domestic violence, a charity we give to regularly as a church.
You can find out more about Voices here: https://voicescharity.org/
Her company is donating all the wine, so all the money raised will go to the charity.
The event is on Friday 13th from 7pm to 9pm - Ticket cost £20 and can be bought in church or using the bank details. There are 25 tickets available.
Account name: - P C C of Paulton
Account No: - 71428127
Bank Sort Code: - 60-14-24
Use reference - wine tasting
I really hope you can support this event, and the great news is that you can donate even if you can't make it.
Here are all the dates for your diary:
Christmas Dates 2024
5th Dec Thursday 6.30pm HTP Guides District Carol Service
6th Dec 7pm HTP Christmas sing along
7th Dec Saturday 2pm - 4pm Paulton Christmas Bazaar (please donate cakes!)
11th Dec Wednesday 7pm - Farrington Carols in the pub (already sold out)
13th Dec Friday 7pm - HTP wine tasting evening
16th Dec 7pm Hallatrow Carols
17th Dec Tuesday 9am - FG toddlers christmas
17th Dec Tuesday 10am - Paulton Christmas coffee morning
17th Dec 2pm Paulton Infant Christmas Assembly in church
20th Dec Friday 10am - Paulton Toddler group Christmas party
20th Dec Friday 6pm - Paulton Christingle
21st Dec Saturday 2pm - Carols at Bloomfield
22nd Dec Sunday 6pm - Paulton carols by candlelight
22nd Dec Sunday 6pm - High Littleton carols
23rd Dec Monday 3pm - Paulton Nativity
24th Dec Tuesday 3pm - Farrington Christingle
24th Dec Tuesday 4.30pm - High Littleton Christingle
24th Dec Tuesday 11.30pm - Midnight service Paulton
25th. Wednesday 11am - Paulton Christmas day
29th Sunday - benefice service
We are always after volunteers so let me know if you want to help with and event, and please share the events with everyone that you can to help make this a great Christmas season.
If you want to continue tracking with some of the sermon ideas as they develop I have included some more links to useful content that can help to keep us on the same 'wavelength'. This week, the lectures on John from Rowan Williams that were given at the Advent retreat this year:
Rowan Williams - reflections on John
Putting on Christ - Kevin Vanhooser
Malachi 3.1-4, 13-14, Philippians 1.3-11, and Luke 3.1-6
See all below for all the other details of our groups and upcoming events.
Next Sunday we will be meeting 9.30am in High Littleton 11am in Paulton
If you want to access resources in the meantime, we have a wealth of materials available.
You can use the YouTube link to get yourself tuned up and ready to sing with us on Sunday.
If you don't feel able to attend in person, we will continue to provide online worship options as well. The link to Twitch is at the bottom of this email.
Knit and Natter meet in the back room of Paulton church on the first Wednesday of each month from 2 to 4pm. The next meeting is on Wednesday 8 th January 2025. (Please note second Wednesday).
Everyone is welcome to come along and join the group, enjoy a cup of tea or coffee and a cake and have a good natter!
TGIF is on every Friday and Monday from 10am to 11.30am for coffee, cake, playtime and good chatting - you can find the latest details on Facebook here. (Not during the school holidays)
Morning prayer is taking place at 9.30am Wednesday in Paulton and Thursday in High Littleton. It begins with 15 minutes of quiet reflection, followed by Common Worship morning prayer.
The Church of England have updated their Morning Prayer APP. You can now listen to morning prayer from the app. I would encourage you all to take this up as a daily practice, it is a great way to grow a pattern of prayer and learn the rhythm of responses each day.
You can download the app here: https://www.chpublishing.co.uk/apps/daily-prayer
view the live service and re-watch previous services here: https://www.twitch.tv/holytrinitychurchpaulton
Every blessing to you all.
Adam
