from the Vicar . . . Church Services
On behalf of
everyone at
St Peter’s and
St Guthlac’s
churches, may I
extend our very
best wishes
for a joyful
Christmas!
Two
dominant
themes during
this season are
Presents and
Families. And we do tend
to get a bit carried away with buying stuff to make it happen!
But these two themes are at the root of Christmas.
The first the great gift of God’s son in Jesus Christ – and how many of us
can keep a dry eye when we hear the children sing ‘Away in a manger..’?
Perhaps the earliest awareness for many of us of the gift of Christmas
was when we were little and sang that carol, praying for Jesus ‘to stay close
by me for ever...’
Secondly, the theme of family, both the family of Jesus, struggling in
poverty to find a safe place to be; but also the universal family of God, of
which all people are members.
Jesus’ life of course was not just as a child, but as a young man who tried
to show people what it meant to be part of God’s family; loving others, being
prepared to sacrifice for the sake of others, seeking peace, living in joy. And
very significantly all this he showed from the starting point of poverty.
Joy and peace and God’s family don’t depend on being wealthy!
Geoffrey Boult
Prayer Group
St Peter’s Prayer Group has started up again, meeting on Wednesdays at
7.30pm
Many people find it very helpful and comforting to know that they are
being prayed for in times of illness, grief or trouble.
Also, it can be a source of support to know that other people are sharing
our concerns about the disturbing news that we often see in the news.
Our prayer group is a small group that gather each week to pray for
particular situations or people.
If you would like us to prayer for something or someone in particular, or
indeed yourself, please email this to the vicar using this email address;
prayers@arlesey.org.uk or telephone 01462 731227.
Remembrance Service –
Sunday 9th November 2014
The annual Remembrance Service was held at the war memorial and this
year saw a larger number of people paying their respects to our fallen
soldiers from the two world wars. The service was organised by the Arlesey
and Stotfold Royal British Legion along with Arlesey Town Council.
ARA Chairman Hugh Harper and Town Council Chairman Nick Daniels
took the service withnew vicar, reverend Geoffrey Boult, also taking part.
As in previous years, the procession by local groups started from
Lymans Road to the memorial prior to the service, with flag bearers from
the British Legion.
This years service was more poignant being 100 years since the start
of the first world war, and children representing Arlesey Remembers
You also laid the last nine crosses to complete the cross-laying for the
community project.
4 |
December 2014
|
St. Peter’s church
Some dates for your diary for December
A
rlesey Ecumenical Bible Study for Advent
Thursdays 4th, 11th & 18th at the Methodist Church, 7.45pm
We will be looking at the concept of the Messiah in the Old Testament,
the New Testament and its meaning for us today.
Led by Rev Bob Forrester and Rev Geoffrey Boult
C
hristmas Tree Festival
Sat – Sun 13th – 14th
St Peter’s Christmas Tree Festival
Services
Monday 15th at 7.00pm
Carol Service
St Guthlac’s, Astwick
W
ednesday 17th at 7.00pm Arlesey Town Carol Service St Peter’s
W
ednesday 24th Christmas Eve
4.00pm
Children’s Nativity service
St Peter’s
11.30pm
Midnight Mass St Peter’s
10.00am
Parish Communion
St Peter’s
11.15am
Parish Communion
St Guthlac’s, Astwick
10.00am
United Service, Holy Communion St Peter’s
T
hursday 25th Christmas Day
S
unday 28th
Led by Rev Geoffrey Boult
....and don’t forget our regular Coffee Mornings at St Peter’s Church:
Coffee, Tea, Home-made cake and company every Tuesday from
10.00am until 11.30am.
Arlesey Methodist Church
Services in December are as follows:
S
unday December 7th: Preacher at 10.30 a.m. Mrs Barbara Cook of
Stondon
S
unday December 14th: Preacher at 11.00 a.m. Rev Bob Forrest
S
unday December 21st: Preacher at 10.30 a.m. Rev Julian
Blakemore of Stevenage
S
unday December 28th: United Service at St. Peter’s at 10.00 a.m led
by Rev Geoffrey Boult, Vicar
On Christmas Day there will be a United Section Service at Stotfold
Methodist Church at 10.00 a.m. led by Rev Bob Forrest
A series of Advent Meetings has been arranged jointly by the Methodist
Church and St. Peter’s Church, the subject being ‘Messiah’. These will
be held at the Methodist Church on Thursday 4th December, Thursday
11th December and Thursday 18th December at 7.45 p.m. and will be
led jointly by Revs Geoffrey Boult and Bob Forrest. Everyone is welcome,
of course.
On 17th December, at 7.00 p.m., at St. Peter’s, the annual Village Carol
Service will be held. Refreshments will be served afterwards and gifts of
mince pies will be very welcome.
All are welcome at these Services.
Minister at the church is Rev Bob Forrest. Tel: 01582