Weekly Update – 8th December
Update for Sunday 8th December 2024
Morning Prayer is held every weekday morning 8.30am in our Chapel
(Please note there will be no morning prayer from 25th December until 2nd January 2025)
Sunday 8th December – 2nd Sunday of Advent
The readings this week are Philippians 1: 3-11 and Luke 3: 1-6. At 8am we gather for a traditional BCP Communion Service Canon David Lindsay will lead and preach.
At 10am we gather for our annual Together Gift Service. Amanda Hillyard and team will take the service in aid of Stop Domestic Abuse, which works with families affected by domestic abuse. All are welcome to stay for refreshments served in our church hall after.
At 6pm we gather for Evensong. Peter Mitchell, our Licensed Lay Minister (Reader) will lead and preach. All are very welcome.
Sunday 15th December – 3rd Sunday of Advent
The readings this week are Zephaniah 3: 14-end, Philippians 4: 4-7 and Luke 3: 7-18
At 8am we gather for a traditional BCP Communion Service Revd. Emma will lead and Peter Mitchell, our Licensed Lay Minister (Reader) will preach.
At 10am we gather for a Holy Communion with groups for Kids and Youth at Ten. Revd. Emma will lead, Revd. Buffy will preside and Peter Mitchell, our Licensed Lay Minister (Reader) will preach. This service will be live streamed. All are welcome to stay for refreshments served in our church hall after.
At 6pm we gather for our annual Carol Service. Join with us for a traditional mix of Carols and Readings followed by refreshments and mince-pies in our church hall. Do bring a friend, family member or neighbour as we reflect together on God’s salvation story. At this service we will be taking up a collection for the Rowans Hospice.
Mothers' Union Advent service
All are warmly welcome on Tuesday 10th December at 2.00pm, followed by tea/coffee and mince pies. We hope that non-members will come along and find out what the Mothers Union is all about, whilst spending time at this busy time of year to focus on the meaning of the season. Kim, Liz and Angela
HELP NEEDED – Mini Choir for Christmas singing at local Care Homes
We are looking for some extra tuneful voices to help sing Christmas Carols at our local care/residential homes. We need help on:
- Monday 16th December 3pm at Copper Beeches PO7 6YQ
- Tuesday 17th December 3pm at Denmead Grange PO7 6XP
- Monday 23rd December 3pm at Wellington Vale PO7 7TY
If you can help at one, two or all three sessions please let Karen Rose know.
On the day, please arrive 10 mins early at the home, sign in at reception and we’ll be there to meet you. With thanks, Revd. Emma and Revd Buffy
HELP NEEDED - Packing hampers for the Waterlooville Foodbank
We still need one or two extra hands for the foodbank on Thursday 19th December (9.30-12noon) We will meet in our church car park at 9.15am where we can organise car shares over to the foodbank. We should be back around 12ish noon. If you can help on this date, please let Karen Rose know. With thanks, Revd. Emma
Waterlooville Food Bank Collection box
Thank you to all who place food items/toiletries in our collection box. As we approach Christmas can we ask that items donated have a festive feel. Items like Christmas crackers, Appletiser, Shloer and other fizzy non-alcoholic drinks, boxed cheese biscuits, chocolate yule log, boxes of chocolates, stuffing and gravy, children’s chocolate selection trays, cheese straws, mini chocolate rolls etc. Please remember the food bank asks that no alcohol is gifted.
HELP NEEDED – Scouts Carol Service
On Friday 20th December at 6pm the Scouts are holding their annual Community Carol Service in our church car park. As a church we will be serving refreshments (mulled wine/mince pies/chocolate treats) which we will be handing out in the car park. We would like a couple of people who could assist between 5.30pm and 7.00pm. If you think you can help, please let Karen Rose know. Thank you. Revd. Emma
Countdown to Christmas!
Each day during Advent we'll be posting a link to an Advent/Christmas song, hymn or carol - each different in style, some new, some old - but all sharing the joy of knowing Jesus. Hope you enjoy! (facebook.com/allsaintsdenmead) You don’t need to be a member of Facebook; you can just log in and view each day.
Alpha 2025
Exciting news!
All Saints will be running The Alpha Course starting on 15th January 2025. It will run for 8 Wednesday evenings (with a week’s break during half term) sharing a meal and exploring the Christian faith. Each evening looks at a different question around faith.
We will also be having an Away day on Saturday 8th March.
- 15th Jan. Is there is more to life than this?
- 22nd Jan. Who is Jesus?
- 29th Jan. Why did Jesus die?
- 5th Feb. How can I have faith?
- 12th Feb. Why and how do I pray?
- 26th Feb. Why and how should I read the Bible?
- Saturday 8th March Alpha Away Day 10am-4pm The Holy Spirit.
- 12th Mar. Faith – ‘The good, the bad and the ugly.’
- 19th Mar. Taking the next step
Alpha helps create space for people to explore faith and get to know Jesus, in a friendly and open-minded environment.
We need your help…
- Please would you pray for the organisation and practicalities for running the Alpha course.
- Could you help prepare a delicious meal to be shared on one of our Alpha evenings?
- If cooking is not one of your gifts, could you be part of the “Refreshments Team” that runs things smoothly in the kitchen behind the scenes.
- And most importantly please could you pray and ask God’s guidance to see if you would like to come to Alpha yourself or ask and encourage any of your friends and family who you could invite to join us on the Alpha course.
To find out more speak with Revd. Buffy or contact her on 07747 819918
or curate@allsaintsdenmead.org.uk
Concert by the Band of His Majesty's Royal Marines, Portsmouth
We were once again treated to a fabulous concert by the RM band last week. Always a popular event, the concert was an overwhelming success with the band playing to a packed out and very appreciative audience. The band were very grateful for the welcome and hospitality they received once again, and I am hugely grateful for the hard work of the team that helped to look after them. For those that don’t know, we welcomed the band in the afternoon and between their rehearsal and the start of the concert, we hosted 52 of them for a delicious 2 course meal cooked by the catering team from Oaklands School. The audience were full of praise for the refreshments served in the interval so thank you very much to all who provided the tasty platters we enjoyed. The band have been coming to us for over 20 years and we are delighted that they have already confirmed a date for next year - 26th November 2025. Watch out for when the tickets go on sale next year. Many thanks, Tina Cottam, Concert Coordinator
Saturday February 22nd - Quiet Day
Quiet Days are a wonderful time to reflect, pray and just be. All are welcome to come to All Saints Quiet Day at Wisdom House, Romsey. The day will start at 10.00am and run until 16.30pm. Canon David Lindsay will lead us. The cost this year is £31.50, this includes a simple lunch, with tea, coffee and biscuits available throughout the day and tea and cake will be served before we leave.
If you would like to attend, please contact Karen in the Parish Office to be added to the list, Karen will also be collecting the money, but payment by bank transfer is available. Parking is limited at Wisdom House, so we will car share.
If anyone would like to know more, maybe you are not sure what a Quiet Day entails, please contact Kim Markham 9224 0150 or email kim@markhams.me.uk We need to know numbers and have payment by Monday 6th January, please.
Contacts
Karen Rose Parish Administrator. 023 9226 8757 parish.admin@allsaintsdenmead.org.uk
Revd. Emma Racklyeft Vicar. 023 9226 2647 vicar@allsaintsdenmead.org.uk
Revd. Buffy Langdown Curate. 07747 819918 curate@allsaintsdenmead.org.uk
Lewis Jones Youth & Families Community Leader. 07780 981235 youth@allsaintsdenmead.org.uk
Peter Mitchell Licensed Lay Minister (Reader) peter.mitchell@allsaintsdenmead.org.uk
Amanda Hillyard Churchwarden. 07808 198827
Mike Gaskin Churchwarden. 07734 325284