Dear friends,

Hope you’re keeping well and looking forward to our Christmas events and services.

Just a quick reminder that this weekend – Fri 6th, 7th, 8th Dec we have our Christmas Tree Festival taking place at St Paul’s. 

We hope and pray that with all the events and activities going on in Sale town centre, folks will also take the opportunity to come into St Paul’s, enjoy a mince-pie, mulled wine and live music. 

We are extremely fortunate to have groups of musical volunteers giving up their precious weekends to be with us, so can I just please encourage you to invite friends, family and neighbours to come along to support. Our musical programme:
Sat 7th Dec 10.30am – 11am Sale Salvation Army Junior Band
Sat 7th Dec 2.30pm-3.30pm James Goodwin Ladies Choir
Sun 8th Dec 1-2pm Sale Brass Community Band
Sun 8th Dec 2pm-3pm Local organists will play a selection of music.

We also have Revd Lisa running story-time on Sunday at 3pm and there are lots of crafts activities for both grown-ups and children and Nativity dressing up if you’re still looking for a Christmas card picture.

We have the Blue Christmas Tree set up for those wishing to remember a loved one, Sale High school students added the first tag yesterday as they continue to mourn the sudden loss of a Yr 11 footballer. 

 Debbie from Christians Against Poverty will be with us on Saturday if anyone would like to have a chat, CAP are always on the lookout for volunteer befrienders.

We do have St Nick aka Father Christmas in residence with us too, however if you haven’t yet booked a ticket I’m afraid you might have to catch up with him another time.

Festival times are Fri 6th Dec 2pm-6pm, Sat 7th 10am-5pm and Sunday 8th 12-5pm.

We will be holding our usual pattern of services on Sunday- 10am All-Age worship with Wiggle the Bible bookworm and 6pm Holy Communion.

Sunday 15th Dec – 6pm Carols by Candlelight

Christmas Eve 5pm Christingle & Crib Service, 11.30pm Midnight Communion

Christmas Day 10am Family Communion

Those that have signed up to help on the rotas, a massive thank you in advance, these are really important events on our calendar and provide a great opportunity for visitors to come through the doors. 

Whether you’re a welcomer, helping on refreshments, selling raffle tickets, pushing around Henry hoover, decorated Christmas Trees or assisting Fr Christmas, a big -thank you.

And in the midst of the busyness let me offer a prayer from the Church of England #followthestar campaign,

“Lord Jesus, come at evening time with light, and in the morning with your glory, to guide our feet into the way of peace, this Christmas and always, Amen”.

If you’re struggling to pick up your daily prayer book, can I recommend an app called ‘Pray as you Go’ which has beautiful reflections, music and a time of prayer using scripture. There’s also Compline and podcasts which are really helpful if you’re thinking during this season how to refresh your prayer life. 

Hope to see you over the weekend,

Yours in faith,

Becky

Revd Becky Mathew 

Vicar of St Paul’s Sale