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CHURCH NEWS - December 2010

Dear Friends,

How do you prepare for Christmas? 

I guess there are lots of different answers to that question, and certainly some people seem to have more preparation to do than others.  I often find myself thinking of my mother at this time of year, with sadness, because she never really enjoyed Christmas.  She was only conscious of all the extra work involved and in her later years, she and my dad would go away for Christmas, so that the burden of preparation was lifted from her. 

For others it can be a sad time, as they think of loved ones no longer here to share the festivities, especially if this is the first Christmas without them.  The superficial ‘jolliness’ of the season seems to strike a discordant note, and can make people feel very isolated from others who seem to be enjoying it all. 

It’s good to remind ourselves that the true meaning of Christmas is not about cooking the perfect Christmas dinner, nor about working ourselves into a tizzy over endless preparations.  It’s about rejoicing in a God of love, who came to identify with us in all the messiness and imperfections of this earthly life, becoming one of us, literally ‘pitching his tent among us’ (John Ch.1 v.14), suffering as we suffer, and embracing our death and overcoming it in order that we might be reconciled and reunited with him.  Jesus Christ holds out to us the possibility and the promise, that by turning to him and trusting in his love, we too can overcome and find our rest in him. 

I so enjoy working with children in Monday Club and FUSION, and I’m grateful for those moments when I catch a glimpse of the world through their eyes – simple and uncomplicated.  They love re-telling the Christmas story, readily identifying with the different characters and enjoying the wonder and drama of it all. I think perhaps it’s this sort of perspective Jesus had in mind when he said “Unless you become like a little child, you cannot see the Kingdom of Heaven.”

So when the telly ads, the canned carols and the glitz and glamour of the shopping malls become just too much, and you’re faced with that intimidating ‘to do’ list, stop for a while, close your eyes, and imagine yourself back in the stable at Bethlehem.  Take time to pause, to wonder, and to kneel in worship at the manger.

Christine

We give thanks to God for another happy year in Odell,

and wish you all a very happy and wonder-ful Christmas.  As we rejoice in God’s never-ending love,

 may each one of us recognise and delight in his presence with us throughout the coming year.

With love from Christine & David

The Prayer Group 

What is the Prayer Group?  It is made up of members of All Saints’ Church who undertake to pray regularly, on an individual basis, for people who ask us for prayer support.   

Who do we pray for?  Anyone whom we are asked to remember; these might be people from our church, from our local community or others known to us.   

What do we pray about?  Anything which you would like brought before God; maybe anxiety due to illness, stress or loneliness.  You can also tell us of a special day you wish to be remembered – perhaps for an interview or an exam.  Any information will be treated in strictest confidence. 

How can you let us know if you would like us to pray for you?  You can either telephone Christine (720234), or drop a note through the Rectory door, or complete a card (anonymously if you wish) and place it in a box kept near the church door.  Prayer requests will be collected from the box each Sunday morning after the 10.00am service.

Christine

Churches Together in Harrold & Carlton with Odell

Meditation for Advent: Peace in the Preparation

Tuesday 14 December

8.00pm at Harrold United Reform Chapel

a reflective time of worship

giving the opportunity for space and quiet in the busy season

prepared for us by the ‘Martha and Mary’ group

New Year … new start?

Would you like to meet up informally with a small group to explore and discuss the basics of the Christian faith?  What’s your understanding/experience?  What else would you like to know?  What do others think?  Does any of it make sense?

Contact Christine on 720234 for more details.

All Saints’ Amblers

Get some healthy exercise in after the Christmas excesses, and enjoy the company of others – join us on New Year’s Day for a walk in the country followed by a pub lunch. Meet outside The Bell at 9.45am – transport provided to start of walk if needed.  Everyone welcome, including children and dogs on leads! 

Discover and Enjoy the Power of God in Your Life this Christmas 

 Power is something everyone seeks in one form or another.  God has placed a desire within each one of us to be powerful, whatever our status in life is!  Many who are in a wrong relationship with God seek power in the wrong ways.  They seek to have power over people: in the business world, in promotions etc. even in world affairs and also in wars. 

As Christians we should seek the power that comes only from God.  We should reach out to everyone we meet and come into contact with in our daily routine, and communicate our experience of the deep richness of the love of Christ Jesus which we have gained by reading a portion of God’s word every day.  Remember, Jesus paid the price and set the rules for us to have the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives. 

It would be worth obtaining a book called ‘Daily Light’ and reading it diligently for guidance and encouragement.  For example, to-day it reads: John1 7v.17 “Sanctify through thy truth; thy word is truth”.  What is simpler than that?  Going on to consider extracts from the Books of Proverbs, Psalms and Job it gives us wonderful words of wisdom and knowledge to keep us full of power and in tune for the Birth of our great redeemer this Christmas. 

Don’t forget, when we fail we have a great advocate and mediator to encourage us and to keep us going on to win the prize of the high calling of God through Jesus Christ – the prize of eternal life and glory.

Every Blessing, Sarah Bennett

Tea-Point Appeal Fund 

31^st December not only marks the end of 2010 but also the end of our Tea Point appeal.  After two years of fund raising activity the PCC will close the fund, and any balance remaining will be paid for out of the Church’s General Fund.  The balance remaining is incredibly small, £839.95, bearing in mind the sum we were looking to find two years ago, and how daunting it all seemed.  There has been the most terrific enthusiasm and energy not only from the church membership but from the entire village, for which we are all most grateful.  We have all learnt a number of lessons, chiefly being what  can be  achieved if we put our minds to it,  and also if you air an idea in Christine’s presence it is likely to become a reality, so be prepared!. 

The entire project will have cost £60,977 starting off with £7,100 of Church funds that had been earmarked for many years to be spent on bringing mains water into the Church.    Below is a summary of how the money was raised, and spent.  Most of the building work was completed in the first quarter of the year and only a small amount of retention money remains to be paid.

Helen Chapman

PCC Treasurer

 Meeting Point

December

8^th 10.30am at Eileen Shakespeare’s, Rushden.

January

12^th 10.30am at Sarah’s, 9 Horsefair Lane, Odell.

26th 10.30am at Christine’s, The Rectory, Odell. 

Churches Together Harrold and

Carlton, with Odell

Sharing the love of Jesus Christ

Supporting Drop Inn Ministries

 Belarus/Ukraine Christmas Shoe Box Appeal 

This year’s appeal is now complete, thanks to all the churches, schools, and villages in and around Harrold and Carlton.  We collected in and made up a total of 475 boxes for all ages of children between 5 and 16, and received over £500 towards the shipping costs, and humanitarian aid from donations.  This year we were also approached by Pinchmill School, in Felmersham, who joined in the appeal. 

Once again local ladies had been very busy knitting hats, scarves and mittens and beautiful coloured blankets.  Over 14 ladies turned up at various times over a three week period at Emmaus to help with the checking, adding customs leaflets, and making up new boxes, which were then all shrink-wrapped into bundles of 8 and now await the lorry to take them overseas to their destinations in early December. 

None of this would be possible without the help of the Emmaus Village Community allowing us to use their chapel for a number of weeks, and then to store the bundles until the lorry comes.  And, of course, again nothing would be achieved without the marvellous generosity of everyone.  Thank you to everyone who took part in any capacity. 

Sue Brown – Organiser.

Coffee Morning at Hobbs Green Farm 

Christmas Hamper Coffee Morning

on 3^rd December

at Hobbs Green Farm, Church Lane, Odell

from 10.30am – 12 noon

Admission free            Please bring Christmas fayre

Churches Together in Harrold and Carlton

require a

Part-time church administrator

based at Church House Office, 3 The Moor, Carlton,

to provide a focus for church administration.

6 hours per week.

Starting salary £8 per hour, with review after 6 months.

Further information available from Mrs Jenny Quillen,

Church House, 3 The Moor, Carlton, Bedfordshire, MK43 7JR.

Tel 01234 368564  Email: churchestogether@btinternet.com

Closing date 6^th December 2010 

Our Giving in December will be to the following Charities:

The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children,

Christian Family Care and The Bedford Area Schools Christian Support Trust (SU).

Senior Citizens’ Christmas Lunch

Odell Senior Citizens’ Lunch Club invites you to the

Christmas Lunch

on

Friday December 17^th

From 12.30

In Odell Village Hall

Please RSVP Jill Cheadle 720261 by Sunday 5^th December

(Sorry we had to change the day of the lunch to a Friday – this was due to a previous booking at the hall). 

All Saints’ Flower Rota

December

5^th Jane Eshelby

11^th    Church Decorating for Christmas 

January 2011

2^nd  after Church, all help to clear 

Birthdays in December and January

Happy birthday to Charlotte Lloyd whose birthday is on the 24^th January

And to everyone else with a birthday in December or January. 

Diary 

December

3^rd 10.30am Christmas Hamper Coffee Morning, Hobbs Green Farm.

5^th 10.00am Advent service at All Saints’ and hand bells.

8^th 10.30am Meeting Point at Eileen Shakespeare’s, Rushden.

9^th 10.30am Walking for health, HOCP.

11^th 10.00am Church decorating, All Saints’.

14^th 7.30pm WI meet at Rectory Farm.

14th 8.00pm Meditation for Advent, URC.

17^th 12.30 Senior Citizens’ Christmas lunch, Village Hall.

19^th 6.00pm Carols by Candlelight, All Saints’.

20^th 10.00am HOCP Conservation Friends Christmas celebration.

23^rd 10.30am Walking for health, HOCP.

25^th 10.00am Christmas Day Worship Together and Holy Communion.

January

1^st 9.45am All Saints’ Amblers meet at The Bell.

6^th 10.30am Walking for health.

11^th 7.30pm W.I. meet at Village Hall.

12^th 10.30am Meeting Point at Sarah’s, Odell.

17^th 7.30pm Odell Parish Council, Village Hall.

20^th 10.30am Walking for health.

22^nd 7.30pm Burns Night, Village Hall.

26th 10.30am Meeting Point at Christine’s, The Rectory, Odell.

31^st 10.00am Conservation tasks day HOCP. 

Magazine Deadline

Please send all entries for the February 2011 magazine to Tricia Hudson (mag1@odellbeds.net) or Catherine Corkery by January12^th 2011 at the latest.  May we remind you that the editorial team exercises the right to edit, shorten or alter any items that are submitted.  Also, the opinions expressed in the articles are those of the contributors and are not the responsibility of the editorial team.

Last revised: December 01, 2010.