Thank you everybody who helped to decorate the church for Christmas and all who supported the Christmas Tree Festival.  The Christmas Tea & Concert was a spectacular success – with 160 in the church – regrettably a bit of a crush when it came to serving the tea.  Next year we will have to limit the ticket sales. The singing was great and it was good to see the children participating with such enthusiasm.

We had a good turnout on Christmas day with over 40 people in church. The Rector took the service which was very much on the theme of Celebrating, and we thank him for a good start to  the rest of the day.

The pattern of services for 2005 is going to remain the same as before – Communion on the first and third Sundays of the month, lay-led services on the second and fourth Sundays.  The 6pm Words & Praise service on the second Sunday remains popular – it is short,  the hymns are all popular ones, and the words are carefully chosen. 

We are grateful to the Friends of the Church for their continued support with repairs, paying for the electricity and the Insurance etc.
They have undertaken to finance the re-wiring of the building over a period of time.  The work needs to be done as soon as possible and you can help in two ways.  We need to raise a minimum of £12,000 straightaway to pay for this.  You can help by offering to lend the church a sum of money now towards this and the Friends will undertake to repay you within two years, or you might be able to make a donation - however small - it will help.  If we can raise the money now, the work will be carried out sooner rather than later, when costs will go up and the Chancellor might re-impose VAT on church repairs.

Do also continue to support the regular fund-raising events.  It all helps.

A major event this year is to be a May Ball.  The marquee and the band have been booked.  It will be an event not to be missed  -  May 21st.

This month there is a Race Night at the village hall on 26th Feb. 
 

THE BENEFICE CHOIR

The Benefice Choir are taking part in Elsing’s Words & Praise Service on Sun 30 January at 1030am. 
Do come along and enjoy their singing - and your own too!
 

JULIAN GROUP MEETINGS

 4th February, 18th February
Details from Irene Ames, opposite Bawdeswell Church.
 

Take down your lantern

Take down your lantern from its niche and go out; 
you may not rest in firelight certainties
secure from drifting log of doubt and fear;
you may not build yourself containing walls, and say thus far
and thus far
and thus far shall I walk
and these things shall I do and nothing more. 
Go out,
for need calls loudly in the winding lanes,
and you may seek Christ there;
your pilgrim heart shall urge you
still one more pace beyond,
and love shall be your lantern flame.
Anon

This was read earlier this January, taken from the final edition of Christian Community, the magazine of NACCAN (the Association of Christian Communities and Networks).