Christmas is a wonderful time of the year and I love it!

I love Christmas, I always have and I guess I always will.

The decorations, the presents; giving and receiving, yes, socks as well, I don’t really mind as long as they are colourful and comical.

Oh yes, the food and the drink, I love my Christmas dinner.

And Jesus! I mustn’t forget Jesus, sadly many people do.

I’m not talking about the baby Jesus, rather I am talking about The Lord Jesus, the greatest gift that this world has ever received.

Jesus is God’s gift to the world and Jesus is the reason for the season. The heart of the Christmas message is ‘God is with us’.

This Christmas, in the midst of all the busyness make sure that Jesus is at the heart of your celebrations you won’t regret it!

A very happy, Christ centred and blessed Christmas.

Graham

The Circuit Prayers will be held on Thursday 13th December at 1:15 pm at Northstead Methodist Church.  We look forward to you joining us to pray together in church.  Please come into church and ‘Journey to the Stable’.  Refreshments will be available.

A Cappella are holding a concert at Westborough Methodist Church on Saturday 8thDecember at 7:30 pm. The proceeds will all go to Christian Aid’s 2018 Christmas Appeal. Under the musical direction of Ralph Earwicker and with guest soloist Rev Mike Leigh, the group will be singing a varied programme of seasonal songs and carols.

The focus for the Christmas Appeal this year is ‘Peacemakers’. Peace, we know all too well, is broken every day – but it is also being built every day through the tireless work of peacemakers across the world. Funds raised will help bring peace to families affected by violence and conflict all over the world. For example, by supporting the work of Diana Abbas, a psychologist providing counselling at a children’s centre for young Palestinian refugees in Lebanon, children who are scarred by conflict in the homeland they have had to flee.

‘Blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called children of God’, Jesus told his followers. We can all be peacemakers this Christmas, locally in our community and family, and globally by supporting the Christmas Appeal.

Entry to the concert is by ticket (phone Chris Garforth 01723 882159) or donation at the door (suggested minimum £5).

Chris Garforth, Chair, Scarborough Christian Aid Group.

If you have lost a loved one recently, or a long time ago, and feel that loss especially at Christmas, please come and share in our Memorial service at Westborough Methodist Church on Sunday 9th December at 3:00 pm. We shall have a short time of sacred and secular music, readings and reflections.

There will also be an opportunity to write a personal message on a Christmas gift tag and hang it on the Memorial tree during the service.

There will be no charge and no collection, but there will be refreshments afterwards if you are able to stay.

In case of any enquiries, please telephone 01723 374801 Reverend Pam Ward