OFFICE OPENING HOURS Please note: The Centre Office will only be open for a limited time over Christmas owing to annual leave. Can anyone with additional items for the Notice Sheet please make sure they are given to Joan, John or Murray in writing, before Wednesday morning 30th December. Many thanks

'CREATING A SUCCESSFUL WEBSITE FOR YOUR CHURCH' If anyone is interested in web design and would like some tips, on Wednesday January 26th at 1.30 pm at St Mary's Conference Centre on Bramall Lane, there is to be a free seminar on church websites. Please see the MP notice board for further information and how to register for the seminar.

We are very grateful  to Jana for her hard work in setting up and maintaining St Paul's Church website and send her our  many thanks.

REMINDER TO ALL GROUPS Most of our Community Groups have given us their return dates for 2010 but we don’t have any dates for St Paul’s Home Groups or Worship Group rehearsals.  Please could you let the office have a list of your meeting dates for 2010 as soon as possible, in writing or by email please. This is very important as we need the information to book your room, for heating purposes and also for the notice sheet. Thankyou

GROUP LEADERS Please check the wording for your entry on our “What’s on” leaflet before we print the new one. Please let Joan or John know of any changes. Thanks

CHURCH ROTAS JAN - MAR 2010are now ready for collection from the back of church. If you haven’t managed to let us know about unavailability due to holidays etc. please could you make sure that you arrange to swap duties. Thank you

CARD SALES Thank you to all those who have bought greetings cards – we have made £95.00 this year. Many thanks also to Jacqui for organising sales.

CHAIROBICS Beginning at St Paul’s on Thursday afternoons from 3 – 4.00 pm, starting on January 14th. Aerobics type exercises done to music with participants seated.  Further information to follow.

CHRISTMAS FLOWERS Many thanks to the flower ladies (and Robert & Hyl!) for doing such a wonderful job decorating the trees and the church for the Christmas season. There’s a box in the Meeting Place if anyone would like to make a contribution for extra flowers. (Larger amounts should be left at the office.) Thank you.

ROUNDABOUT wrote to send thanks for the Harvest Festival donation from St Paul’s. Perishable items were given out immediately & the remainder made up into food parcels or given out to young people in immediate need.

CHRISTIAN HOLIDAYS 2010 Booklets are now available on the bookcase at the back of church.

Mikes Ministry
Sun 27th – Zimbabwe Focus with Sheila & Dave Gill at 10 am

Prayer Focus:
Murray & family, Barbara, Robert,
Dick, Josephine, Doug,
Sadie, Michael, Fran,
Pat, Andy's mum, recovering from emergency surgery.
Vin has had his hip operation and is now at home.
Pray for Hazel as she awaits her operation.
Hazel after the death of her friend Marie
Pete’s father who is very ill in hospital – pray for Pete’s Mum and all the family.
For all those who will be attending our Christmas Services.

THANK YOU! I would like to take this opportunity to offer my sincere thanks to the fantastic team who have given considerable time and continued to volunteer their help this year in running the centre office. In particular, I’d like to thank Joan & John, Pam, Helen and Irene for their valuable support and especially for keeping things going earlier this year during my absence.  Thanks too to Konrad for all your work on the Access Audit & our Health and Safety Policy. Wishing you all a very Happy Christmas and a wonderful 2010. Cathy

From Murray’s Diary
Thank you all for your support.  I was quite worried about how I would cope with all the Christmas services, but I am amazed how well I have coped! – And they have been brilliant!!!

Lent 2010
Things are beginning to shape up for next year.  For the first part of year we will be exploring God’s transforming power in different ways.  We will also be trying something different during Lent.
After a few years of following Lent books both in Sunday sermon and in home groups, we will be offering four Lent sessions in church this year. The sessions will be on Tuesday evenings on the 9th and 23rd of February and 9th and 23rd of March.  We will all get together in the Meeting Place and follow a course which will help us think about how we as a church connect with and minister to the community around us.
We have made huge progress as a church in the way we now work with our community in our building though I am sure that there is much more for us to learn.  It is all part of the way God is transforming us as people as well as the way he is wanting to transform the community we live in! 
So please put the dates in your diary!

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
Carol Singing in the parish – Tues 15th Dec – meet at 7pm
Candlelit Carol Service - Sunday 20th December   6.00 pm
Christmas Eve Family Service - Thursday 24th Dec 6.00 pm
Midnight Service        - Thursday 24th December 11.30 pm
Christmas Day Service    - Friday 25th December 10.00 am
Zimbabwe Focus with Sheila   – Sunday 27th Dec 10.00 am
Please note:  No 8.00 am service on Sunday 27th Dec
New Year’s Eve Service        – Thursday 31st Dec 8.00 pm

URGENT! CHURCHES TOGETHER CHRISTMAS CARDS Norton Lees Residents’ Association have delivered most of the cards for us. There are just a few roads left for us to do now. If anyone can help deliver them in time for our remaining services please, they are in the MP.  If the last few bundles are a bit big for you why not share a route with someone? Thank you.

CHRISTINGLE & FAMILY CAROL SERVICE
The cash collection at these two services will go to The Children’s Society.

REMINDER TO ALL GROUPS Please could you let the office have a list of your meeting dates for 2010 as soon as possible, in writing or by email please. This is very important as we need the information to book your room, for heating purposes and also for the notice sheet. Thankyou

GROUP LEADERS Please check the wording for your entry on our “What’s on” leaflet before we print the new one. Please let Joan or John know of any changes. Thanks

CHURCH ROTAS  JAN -  MAR 2010Can everyone volunteering for Church Rota duties let the office know of dates that you’re not available for the New Year by Tuesday 15th December at the latest please. Thankyou

BROWNIES  N.B. The contact details have changed for joining Brownies (There is currently a waiting list of two.) Please call Amy on 07783407183 or Jo on 07527268295.

 HOMELESS AND ROOTLESS AT CHRISTMAS
Once again, St Paul’s has chosen H.A.R.C. as the Christmas charity we’d like to support. Please see Ken with your gifts of non-perishable foods for our Christmas hamper raffle. Many thanks.

CARDS FOR GOOD CAUSES  Multi-Charity Card Shops at Scout HQ, 60-68 Trippet Lane and also at the Cathedral are open until Dec 19th  from10 am to 4.00 pm. All charities receive at least 75p in every £1.

LOST SPECTACLES Mrs Kelly has lost a pair of glasses should anyone find them in church. Thank you

CHAIROBICS  Beginning at St Paul’s on Thursday afternoons from 3.00 – 4.00 pm, starting on January 14th. Aerobics type exercises done to music with participants seated.  The session is an hour long and consists of exercises to improve aerobic fitness, strength, balance, mobility and flexibility.  Each of the exercises can be adapted to meet the needs of the individuals taking part.  This session is suitable for those either new to exercise or those who haven't completed any exercise for a significant amount of time. Further information to follow.

DECORATING CHURCH FOR CHRISTMAS  There’s a box in the Meeting Place if anyone would like to make a contribution for flowers to decorate church for the Christmas Season please. (Larger amounts should be left at the office.) Thank you.

ROUNDABOUT wrote this week to send their thanks for the Harvest Festival donation from St Paul’s. Perishable items were given out straight away and the remainder made up into food parcels or given out to young people in immediate need.

Mikes Ministry
Sun 13t  – St Paul’s H.C. – 8.00 am & Southey Elim
Tues 15th  – St Paul’s 10.00 am H.C.
Sun 20th  - St Paul’s 8.00 am H.C.
            - St Paul’s 10.00 am H.C.

Prayer Focus:
Murray & family, Barbara, Robert,
Dick, Josephine, Doug,
Sadie, Michael, Fran,
Pat, Andy's mum, recovering from emergency surgery.
Vin has had his hip operation and is now at home.
For all those who will be attending our Carol Services in the next few weeks.

From Murray’s Diary
This week I am taking part in two carol services at Talbot School and a third here at St Paul’s with the school.  Talbot had close links with St James’ when they were in Norton so it is good that they are keen to continue those links with us at St Paul’s.  And a big thank you to those who will be helping out with the lunch next Thursday.

I also have my next session at the ME clinic.  We booked this one deliberately so that we could work on dealing with stress.  It is one of the things which ME makes more difficult for me so I am hoping for some tips on how to keep calm, and what better time than during a week when I knew there would be lots of pressure!!

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
Christingle Service        - Sunday 13th December 10.00 am
Candlelit Carol Service - Sunday 20th December   6.00 pm
Christmas Eve Family Service - Thursday 24th Dec 6.00 pm
Midnight Service        - Thursday 24th December 11.30 pm
Christmas Day Service    - Friday 25th December 10.00 am
Zimbabwe Focus with Sheila   – Sunday 27th Dec 10.00 am
New Year’s Eve Service        – Thursday 31st Dec 8.00 pm

TREE LIGHTS - does anyone have a set of (working) Christmas tree lights that flash on and off (ideally with an adjustable flash speed) that Barbara can borrow for the service on 13th December please?  If so see Ann or Barbara.  Many thanks

NO 8.00 SERVICE ON SUNDAY 27TH DECEMBER   As no one has expressed particular interest in having this service, we will all meet at 10.00 am to hear from Sheila Gill about Zimbabwe.  (It does take the pressure off a bit just after Christmas!)

CHRISTINGLE & FAMILY CAROL SERVICE The cash collection at these two services will go to The Children’s Society.

CHURCHES TOGETHER CHRISTMAS CARDS Many thanks to everyone who came to help with collating the Christmas Cards and Newsletters last Thursday. Special thanks also to NoLRA who will be taking on the bulk of the deliveries. There are just a few roads left for us to do. If anyone can help deliver them please, the last few are on a table in the Meeting Place.  Thank you.

HOMELESS AND ROOTLESS AT CHRISTMAS
Once again, St Paul’s has chosen H.A.R.C. as the Christmas charity we’d like to support. Please see Ken with your gifts of non-perishable foods for our Christmas hamper raffle. Many thanks.

REMINDER ! CHRISTMAS FLOWER ARRANGING DEMONSTRATION THIS EVENING at Woodseats Scout Unit on Helmton Road, Sunday 29th November 7pm.  Tickets £5 in aid of the Scout Unit. 

CARDS FOR GOOD CAUSES  Multi-Charity Card Shops can be found at Scout HQ, 60-68 Trippet Lane from Oct 9 to Dec 19 and also at the Cathedral from Oct 12 to Dec 19. Both shops are open from10.00 am to 4.00 pm. All charities receive at least 75p in every £1.

CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION St Oswald’s MU invites you to a Christmas Celebration on Tuesday 1st December at 2.00 pm in St Oswald’s Church, Bannerdale Rd. All welcome!

TALBOT SCHOOL (for pupils with learning disabilities & comprehension difficulties) is now based in our parish at the new Newfield Campus. They have arranged to hold their Christmas Service here on Thurs 17th Dec.  It’s very short notice but if anyone can help serve a buffet for around 30 students on arrival at 3.30 pm, and teas/coffees for visiting parents, it will be very much appreciated. Please see Liz Warren or Cathy. Thanks.

DECORATING CHURCH FOR CHRISTMAS  Contributions for flowers to decorate church for the Christmas Season can be left at the office. Thank you.

CELEBRATION OF CAROLS  The Cathedral Archer Project will be holding their Celebration of Carols followed by a buffet lunch for clients, volunteers and supporters on Friday 11th Dec at 12.30 pm. We need to reply by 1st Dec so please can you let Cathy know if you’d like to attend. Thankyou.

“RAGS ARE US”- COLLECTION OF TEXTILES
Would you like to help Meersbrook Park U.R.C. with raising funds for their new church building? They collect rags, textiles of all kinds, linen, shoes (paired up) in the orange bags provided. The last collection raised over £700. If you are able to help please see Cathy for a collection bag. Please keep your bags at home and return them on Tues 8th or Wed 9th December, but not before.

ANCIENT BRETONS – a folk evening for Christmas. To be held at Mount View Methodist Church on Saturday 5th December at 7.30 pm. Tickets £5 with pie and pea supper. Please Tel. 2555637 or 2558357.

Mikes Ministry
Mon 30th – Ashdell Preparatory & Carfield Infant
Tues 1st – St Marie’s Junior
              Wooldale Junior          
Wed 2nd – St Marie’s Infant
            Windmill Hill Junior
Sun 6th – Chapeltown Methodist (B.B. Carol Service) 

Prayer Focus:
Murray & family, Barbara, Robert,
Dick, Josephine, Doug,
Sadie, Michael, Fran,
Pat, Andy's mum, recovering from emergency surgery.
Vin has had his hip operation and is now at home.

From Murray’s Diary
As many of you know I had a good trip down to see my Aunt in Sevenoaks.  I was very worried that I had taken on too much and would just end up being ill and a burden to others, but it all worked out much better than expected – more evidence that I am getting better.  So thanks for managing without me and enabling me to go, it was very important to me!