on the button Issue 40 | Page 4

from the Vicar . . . Church Services St. Peter’s church Some dates for your diary in December Advent Bible Studies – joint with Arlesey Methodist Church Thursday 3rd, 10th & 17th December, 7.30pm at St Peter’s Theme; Kingdoms of Earth and Christ Someone said to me the other day “Christmas is a time of judgement you know.” I confess I didn’t really. I asked them what they meant. “Well, you spend all this time choosing presents, decorating the house, preparing the Christmas lunch, meals and parties and things – and hope that they’re all going to be alright. If people don’t enjoy themselves then you might feel you’ve not done well enough – that’s what I mean by being judged.” It’s true, isn’t it. All the adverts on TV and in the papers tell us what we ought to be doing and buying to make people happy. And I know that for many people, mums especially, it can be a daunting and sometimes really depressing time. Which is a pity. Because really Christmas is about something that God has done that makes us all happy. That’s why we call it a holiday – from Holy Day. Holy days are times when we really don’t have to do anything. Just relax and give thanks. That’s why Holy Days = holidays = time off! So this Christmas time, see if you can find a way to take some time off, relax, give thanks for the birth of Jesus, and not feel that you are going to be judged! It’s a holiday after all! With all best wishes for a peaceful and joyful time.  unday 27th S  uesdays T Contacts Vicar Churchwardens 11.30 pm Midnight Mass 10.00 am Parish Communion, St Peter’s 11.15 am Parish Communion, St Guthlac’s 11.00 am Joint service at Arlesey Methodist Church 10.00 am Coffee Morning in Church – everyone welcome Reverend Geoffrey Boult 01462 731227 vicar@arlesey.org.uk Helen Frost 07982 614028 Linsey West 07930 410164 The Village Carol Service will be at St Peter’s Church on Wednesday 16th December at 7.00pm This will be a candle lit service with lessons being read by members of village organisations. All are welcome to come along and join in the singing of favourite carols. The collection this year will be for Crisis at Christmas. Tea, coffee and mince pies will be served at the end of the service. St Peter’s church and Arlesey Methodist church will be grateful for donations of mince pies. Services for November are as follows: Sunday 6th December of Stevenage Sunday 27th December Preacher at 11.00 a.m. Rev Bob Forrest. This will be a service of Holy Communion and will be united with St Peter’s Church Saturday 12th December 12 noon to 5.00pm and Sunday 13th December 11.30am to 5.00pm Christmas Concert Saturday 12th December at 7.00pm Admission by ticket only £12.00 Other Events There will be a series of Advent Bible Studies on Thursdays 3rd., 6th and 10th December at 7.30 p.m at the Methodist Church on the theme ‘Concepts of the Kingdom’. These will be united between the Methodist and St Peter’s Churches, full details being arranged by the Vicar, Rev Geoffrey Boult. with supper Phone 01462 638286 or 01462 640882 for concert tickets and more information if you would like to put a tree in Church. | P  reacher at 10.30 a.m. Mrs Jennifer Rogers of Lrtchworth Sunday 13th December Preacher at 11.00 a.m. Rev Bob Forrest Sunday 20th December Preacher at 10.30 a.m. Rev Richard Byass St Peter’s Christmas Tree Festival December 2015 Christmas Day Arlesey Methodist Church With all best wishes Geoffrey Boult, t: 01462 731227, e: vicar@arlesey.org.uk 4 |  ednesday 2nd 12.30 pm Parish lunch W  onday 14th 7.30 pm Astwick Carol Service M Wednesday 16th 7.00 pm Arlesey Town Carol Service Thursday 24th 4.00 pm Crib Service Stewards Minister at the church is Rev Bob Forrest. Tel: 01582 727880 Mrs Doreen Archer Tel: 731392 Mrs Betty Joyce Tel: 731647 Miss Ann Archer Tel: 731392 Bookings should be made with Mr Jim Webb Tel 731309 Everyone is welcome at all these events, of course on the button, 32 Stotfold Road, Arlesey. Bedfordshire. SG15 6XT www.onthebuttonarlesey.co.uk