We are very aware of how special the arrival of a new baby is to the family! This Christmas we celebrate again God’s gift of Jesus: ‘Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!’ (2 Corinthians 9:15). What can we say about this baby?He is God Himself

The unthinkable has happened: God has become a human being! The eternal, creator God enters the world of time and space, both fully human and fully divine. This divine baby can bring hope to our messy world, because He has fully become part of it. He doesn’t stand apart but demonstrates a commitment to be with us and on our side in the midst of sin and suffering.

He is human like us: Jesus fully engaged with the jungle of human experience. By His cross and resurrection, He can release us from the power of wrong, hurt and shame to secure for us a life of love, peace and forgiveness. Remember, the crib and cross are made of the same wood!

He is one with us: In the coming of Jesus, God doesn’t draw us simply into a cosmic event, but into a relationship. Just as we can hold and hug a new baby, so we have a God who wants to be intimately involved in our lives. As Emmanuel, ‘God is with us’ (Matt 1:23).

Therefore, the question is: Are we with Him? Are we ready to make space for Him at the centre of our Christmas Celebrations this year?‘At Christmas time, when we receive presents which we don’t really need, God offers us a gift we cannot do without.’ (J John).

A very blessed and happy Christmas to all our readers!

From the editor

Giving ThanksDo you ever say thank you?Do you ever take a step back and give thanks for what you’ve got?

So many people go through life looking at what they can get next, wondering what their next goal will be, wondering what the future holds for them that they miss out on what is happening right now.

I’m a firm believer in living in the moment because we can be so caught up in looking into the future or hankering after what some people perceive the good old days that we are missing what is happening now this minute. Some people think of it as actually taking time to smell the roses.

I wonder then how many of us ask for things in our prayers, perhaps believing that God can help us in reaching our goals when we should perhaps be stopping for a moment and saying thank you for what we already have.

The Bible has many quotes relating to giving thanks:

1 Thessalonians 1:2“We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers.”

Samuel 2,2:6“May the Lord show you kindness and faithfulness, and I too will show you the same favour because you have done this.”

It’s fascinating how saying thank you can have such a positive impact on other people. When we say the peace at church one particular lady always holds my hand, says peace be with you, and also thank you for all you do. I don’t think she ever realises how much these words mean to me.

I try to make a conscious effort in my prayers to give thanks for my family and friends, my life, food on the table, a roof over my head, good health. However, by the very nature of the people we are, perhaps we can’t help ourselves adding a little foot note in our prayers for help if we need it or indeed help for someone we know.Just as lately in our prayers we are asking for help and guidance for our new vicar, perhaps, like you, I am also asking for help in getting a response from the powers that be to move things forward a bit and get a response from the Diocese.

Sandra’s thoughts

Perhaps in our prayers if we all make an effort to say thank you to all those people who are working together at church but also give a nudge to hurry things up a bit!!!!

I’ll leave you with one of my favourite quotes from Numbers 6,24-26.

The Lord bless you and keep youThe Lord makes his face shine upon you,And be gracious to you,The Lord lift up His countenance upon you,And give you peace.”

On November 1st at the afternoon meeting we had tea and cakes and a catch-up with members who attended the meeting.

On November 22nd at the evening meeting we welcomed Carole Pilling who demonstrated decorating Christmas Wreaths. Members were also invited to try to decorate their own wreaths.Many thanks go to Carole on an enjoyable evening.

On December 6th afternoon members are meeting at Burnside Nurseries to view the Christmas Decorations and enjoy refreshments.

For the evening meeting on 13th December we are organising a meal at the Trafalgar at 7pm. If you would like to be included, please sign the list at the back of church or speak to Susan.

Please note there are no meetings in January.

Finally, we wish all members a happy and peaceful Christmas and hope to see you all in the New Year.

Mothers’ Union Notes

We are beginning a very busy time as we enter December. Below and on the next few pages are details of these planned events. Please support them if you can.

Christmas events poster

December activities

Fleetwood Churches Together Advent Carol Service

To be held at St Nicholas’ - Sunday December 2nd at 6.30 pm

The Blackpool Male Voice choir will be performing at this service as will members from all the churches in Fleetwood.

Light refreshments will be served in the hall afterwards

Advent carol Service poster

St Nicholas Church

Fleetwood

PATRONAL

FESTIVAL

EUCHARIST

We are pleased to welcome as

celebrant and preacher –

The Right Rev’d Jill Duff – the Bishop of Lancaster

SUNDAY DECEMBER 9th

at 7.30 pm

All welcome

Refreshments in

the hall after the service

Join Fleetwood School Children for an hour of music and readings

at St Nicholas’ Church

on Tuesday December 11th at 6.30 pm

featuring performances from

Charles Saer School Choir:

Shakespeare School Band

St Mary’s RC School Singers:

The Strand Music School

St Nicholas Church members.

Thursday December 20th

from 10.00 am in the Jubilee Room

Join us for a cup of coffee and light refreshments:

Grand Raffle to be drawn:

Christmas 100 Club:

All welcome

Entry - £2

Thursdays at 9.30 am, 5 pm and

7 pm

In the Broadway Rooms, St Nicholas’ Church, Highbury Avenue.

Telephone Stacey on 07891 125525 or Emma on 07725 839798

Christmas Eve

Monday December 24th at 5.00 pm

followed by the 1st mass of Christmas.

Bring your family for a true start to Christmas

A Poem for December (By David Ashworth)

A poem for December, what should I write?Sitting and staring at the computer all night.Just sitting and thinking about how it might go,Then out pops an idea - maybe Christmas and snow.

Yes - Christmas, snow, or both it might be,But then another idea, what about a tree?A tree for Christmas, whether large or small,But put it up properly in case it might fall.

A tree all decorated with an angel on top,With sweets and baubles, where do you stop?With tinsel, crackers not forgetting the lights,To give a warm glow on dark winters nights.

Why stop at a tree, let’s add more lights too,Something pleasant to look at, for me and for you!Some might be flashing, some still as the night,One thing’s for sure, they make the place bright.

With decorating done, there’s shopping to get,Presents for the family, not forgetting the pet.What to buy, struggling, got no idea!Trying to avoid buying the same as last year.

With presents wrapped and more shopping to do,For food for the dinner, so give us a clue.Is it turkey, beef or pork we should eat?With all the trimmings, before having a sweet.

When all said and done, is that what it’s about?Thinking as Christians, have I left something out?Not something but someone, as you all know!Time for Mary, Joseph and Jesus to show!!

The main reason for CHRISTmas, is often a blare,Because we’re busy, it’s not that we don’t care.Giving gifts and good wishes is caring and kind,But on Jesus’ Birthday let’s not become blind.

He was born as our Saviour, to bring peace he was born!Let’s spare a thought for Jesus on Christmas morn.Let’s spread love, kindness and good will to all men,And pray for peace around the world, again and again!!

The next magazine will be published at the end of January ready for February.Therefore, I would appreciate any material for this magazine to be submitted by Sunday January 13th. A news sheet will be available immediately after Christmas with details of dates/rotas etc, for January. Thanks. Ruth

An explanation of the different candles used of the advent ring:

Advent

Advent’s upon us once more!A season to fast, and adoreOur Jesus who cameSalvation to gainAnd worship, as shepherds before.

But is it a season of hush?Or Christmas commercialised mush?We miss Advent’s joysBuying trinkets and toysFor Advent’s the season of rush!

Nor is it a season of fastAs it was in the days now long past;We don’t get much thinnerWith pre-Christmas dinnerOr parties with edibles vast!

But we who love Jesus decideTo set Christmas hurry asideAnd spend time each dayTo read and to prayAnd discover the true Advent-tide!

Prayer for Christmas Joy

Loving, generous Father,

This Christmas, please help us to keep you at the centre of our preparations and celebrations. May our thankfulness for the gift of your precious son, Jesus, motivate all that we think and say and do. May the joy of His coming shine from us and attract those who don’t know what Christmas really means, so that they want to find out!In Jesus’ name and for His glory,Amen.

Saturday 1st. 11.00 am Healthier Fleetwood event in the hall

Sunday 2nd. 9.00 am Said Mass10.30 am Sung Mass 1.00 pm Holy Baptism 6.30 pm Advent Carol service

Monday 3rd. 7.00pm PCC meeting

Tuesday 4th. 2.00 pm Mass 2.30 pm Ladies’ Fellowship

Thursday 6th. MU visit to Garden Centre

Sunday 9th. 9.00 am Said Mass NO 10.30 am MASS (Patronal Festival later) 7.30 pm Patronal Festival

Monday 10th. evening Decorating Christmas treeSound rehearsal for concert

Tuesday 11th. 10.00 am Prayer Circle 10.30 am MU Committee meeting 2.00 pm Mass 2.30 pm Ladies’ Fellowship 6.30 pm Christmas concert

Wednesday 12th. 7.00 pm PCC meeting

Thursday 13th. evening MU meal

Sunday 16th. 9.00 am Said Mass10.30 am Sung Mass 2.00 pm Holy Baptisms

Tuesday 18th. 2.00 pm Mass 2.30 pm Ladies’ Fellowship

Thursday 20th. 10.00 am Christmas coffee morning

Sunday 23rd. NO 9.00 AM MASS 10.30 am Sung Mass (Archdeacon Mark)

Monday 24th. 5.00 pm Crib service and 1st mass of Christmas

Sunday 30th. 9.00 am Said mass 10.30 am Sung Mass

Support the local food bank.

Bring gifts of food to church or give cash donations to Muriel. Thank you

Fleetwood Cricket Club

If you have a special event (baptism, wedding, funeral etc) and need

Caterers look no further than us to provide your food in a very

pleasant environment.

Also available for private parties (minimum 15)

Call Linda on 07932959008 to make enquiries or book a reservation

Baptisms

November 4th Maisie Patterson aged 10 monthsNovember 4th Millie Patterson aged 10 monthsNovember 18th Aquila Ayomide Ajayi aged 10 months

FuneralOctober 29th Yvonne StirzakerNovember 9th John RhodesNovember 13th Hazel Fitzgerald

Karen Hay Sandra Foulkes Trudie Blinkhorn

Paula Meekins Ruth Aspinall Joanne Ashworth

Wendy Fleming Elizabeth King Harold Dadson

Helen Reynolds David Ashworth Ron Newton

June Young Carole Pilling

Parish Statistics

PCC Members

Sides Persons

Date

December 2nd Maureen & Margaret PDecember 9th /////

December 16th Barbara & Margaret S

December 23rd Susan & ChristineDecember 30th Maureen & Margaret P

Readers at 10.30 am

Date 1st Reading & Psalm 2nd Reading

December 2nd David SandraDecember 9th // //

December 16th Elizabeth L KarenDecember 23rd Paula Elizabeth KDecember 30th Margaret P Muriel

Baptisms

Date Time Team

December 2nd 1.00 pm Dorothy C & MurielDecember 16th 1.00 pm Karen & Sandra

Coffee after 10.30 am

Rotas for December

Date TeamDecember 2nd BerniceDecember 9th //

December 16th Karen & JuneDecember 23rd BerniceDecember 30th Karen & June

6, Chapel StreetPoulton le Fylde

Independent Travel Agent – price matchCoach trips: Cruises: Holidays

01253 – 884403

Accounts

Treasurer’s accounts (PCC account) for October 2018

Opening balance £1994.14 Closing balance £ 2176.23

Payments in £5010.58 Payments out £ 4828.49

Receipts for October 2018 Payments for October 2018

Sunday collections 1038.83 Parish share 2000.00Baptism collections 95.60 Hall cleaning (September) 120.00Funeral collection 13.00 Church water 54.63Hall lets 553.50 Wells organ tuners 273.60100 Club 140.00 Vicarage water 55.56Flower festival 1257.00 Church insurance 168.36Coffee morning 50.00 Council Tax 254.00Sunday teas 26.95 Total GP (church gas & electrics) 46.79Magazine donations 8.70 Total GP (hall gas & electrics) 85.68

Funeral fees 395.00 Hall insurance 120.42CBF Interest 78.44 Weekly sheets 15.90Blackburn (towards priests) 340.00 Candle lamp oil 64.74Blackburn (towards Council Tax & water rate) 928.76 Lettering on notice boards 54.00Votive candles 84.80 Gift Aid envelopes for 2019 90.84

Treasurer’s travel expenses 31.50Rev’d Keith 37.00Extra parish share (Sept & Oct) 1000.00Verger (funeral) 40.00Rev’d Derek (funeral) 120.00Rev’d Mark 68.00Photocopier 127.47

5010.58 4828.49

Money matters

100 Club

Results from last month’s 100 Club draws are as follows:

1st prize (£10) 2nd Prize (£5) 3rd Prize (£5)

October 27th Dorothy Warren Marjie Meekins Dorothy Jones

November 4th Chris Jones Daniel Ashworth Freda Wayman

November 11th Barbara Quirk Beryl Clarkson Dorothy Angel

November 18th Paula Meekins Christine McLellan Margaret Forshaw

Recipe of the month

Chocolate Brownies

Ingredients

10g butter, melted

200g caster sugar

2 eggs

60g self-raising flour

30g unsweetened cocoa powder

¼ teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

60g chopped walnuts (optional)

50g chopped chocolate (add as walnuts)

Method

Prep:10 mins > Cook: 25 mins. Ready in 35 mins

1. Preheat oven to 180C/ Gas 4. Grease and flour a 20c square tin.2. In a medium bowl, beat together the butter and sugar.3. Add eggs and mix well4. Combine the flour, cocoa and salt; stir in the sugar mixture.5. Mix in the vanilla and stir in the walnuts, if using.6. Spread evenly into the prepared tin.7. Bake for 25 – 30 minutes or until the edges are firm. 8. Cool before cutting into squares.

If you are interested in attending this day, please see Ruth for more details

Taxi advert

A message from the Healthier Fleetwood Group who use our hall for various events during the week

Healthier Fleetwood is a resident-led group which connects local people with the many activities, events and organisations offering support for better health and wellbeing. These could be sports and fitness programmes, hobbies, training opportunities or something as simple as a group that meets for a cuppa and a chat. Residents are encouraged to take an active role in improving their own health and the community as a whole. Healthier Fleetwood holds a monthly Open Meeting, a weekly drop in at the Library on Wednesday mornings and has a website with further information www.healthierfleetwood.co.uk 

With Christmas in mind....

What do you call a cat in the desert? Sandy Claws.

What goes oh, oh, oh? Santa walking backwards.

What did the dog get for Christmas? A mobile bone.

Who delivers presents to sharks at Christmas? Santa Jaws.

What did Adam say in the Garden of Eden on Dec. 24? It's Christmas, Eve.

Why do turkeys never go hungry at Christmas? They're always stuffed.

Which Christmas carol is most popular with new parents? Silent Night!

Why do mummies like Christmas so much? Because of all the wrapping!

What’s impossible to overtake at Christmas? - The three wide men!

How do snowmen get around? On their icicles.

What does Santa call reindeer that don't work? Dinner.

**

If there had been three wise women...

they would have asked for directions they would have been on time they would have assisted with the birth they would have cleaned the stable they would have brought more practical gifts (i.e. disposable nappies!)

**

Santa a man?

How do you know Santa is a man? Well, no woman is going to wear the same outfit year after year.

Smile Lines

Too long in the army

I knew I had been in the army too long when my five-year-old daughter sang her version of "Silent Night." It went like this: "Silent night, holy night, all is calm, all is bright, Round yon virgin mother and child, Holy infantry, tender and mild ..."

**

Christmas stamps

Maria went to the Post Office to buy stamps for her Christmas cards.' What denomination?' asked the clerk. 'Oh! Good heavens! Have we come to this?' said Maria, “Give me 50 Methodist and 50 Church of England ones please.'

**

New Year's Eve

Youth is when you're allowed to stay up late on New Year's Eve. Middle age is when you're forced to.

**

Poster found in a church in France (translated)

As you visit this church this Christmas, it is possible that you may hear the call of God. However, it is unlikely that He will call you on your mobile, so thank you for turning it off. If you want to talk to God, please choose a quiet corner here, and talk to Him. If you want to see Him later, send Him a text while driving.

**

And finally, ...

Christmas is weird. What other time of the year do you sit in front of a dead tree and eat sweets out of your socks?

Puzzles for December

Word search

The nearly four weeks leading up to Christmas is Advent meaning ‘coming’. It refers to Jesus’ first coming as a baby, but it also looks forward to a day when Jesus is expected to return in triumph at his ‘second coming’ to establish perfect justice and a new order of peace. Originally Christians marked Advent as a time when they refrained from excessive eating and drinking. Then Christmas Day reintroduced them to the joys of feasting. Christmas celebrations lasted for twelve days, with gifts exchanged as a climax at Epiphany (6 January). Today, however, Advent is more likely to be associated with accelerating festivity, with the days following Christmas something of an anti-climax until ‘twelfth night’, on which decorations are removed. Many Christians worldwide are trying to revive the spirit of Advent by setting aside time to pray and address global poverty.

Four weeks advent coming JesusFirst baby return triumph secondEstablish perfect justice new order Peace eating drinking celebrations days Gifts epiphany twelfth decorations revive