Prince of Peace, one of the titles given to the Son of God – “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end.” Isaiah 9:6-7.

In our war-torn, divided world, Prince of Peace may seem a misnomer but God’s peace is not about the political divisions there may be, violence or physical safety, though God’s peace may work in all these situations. What God’s coming in that baby, Jesus, means is that we can have a relationship with Him and live with the Holy Spirit in our hearts.

When the Holy Spirit works in our lives we are filled with love, joy and peace which spills over into all our relationships. Jesus didn’t tell us that this would mean life would be easy but whatever problems and hardships we may face, with God’s peace in our hearts we can face the world.

It’s good to know that with the powerful love of God we are not dependent on our own strength. As we  celebrate again Christ’s birth, may you know the deep peace which is beyond our understanding, and be glad for His coming to rescue us, guide us and walk with us whatever our situation. Christmas blessings to you all.

How silently, how silently the wondrous gift is given!
So God imparts to human hearts the blessings of His heaven.
No ear may hear His coming, but in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive Him still, the dear Christ enters in.

Services in December and January

December 2023

3rd – Revd T M Nowell – Holy Communion
10th – Revd J Matthews
17th – Folk Carols – 3pm
24th – Carols and Readings
Christmas Day – Revd T Nowell – 10.30am
31st – NO SERVICE

January 2024

7th – Revd T Nowell, Holy Communion
14th – Own Arrangements, Cafe
21st – A Measures
28th – Revd Jennifer Matthews.

Annual Gift Service for Young People leaving Care

For many years our church has supported young people leaving care. Barnado’s Lincolnshire Leaving Care Service supports young people leaving foster care and children’s homes at the age of 18 and helps them from the age of 16 to their mid-20s make a successful move to living in the community.

As we think about our own families and our own children we pray that those leaving care in the near future will find support and make a good life as they begin to live alone. Can you give a monetary donation to ensure these young people get a good start in life?

Our Gift Service will be held on Sunday, 10th December. There is a basket at the front of church for your donations which will be dedicated in the service.

Folk Carol Service

You are warmly invited to our Folk Carol Service on Sunday 17th December at 3pm

Come and share Christmas with us in an informal and lively celebration of old yuletide carols and songs. Music led by Jonathan Nowell and friends.

Dates for your Diary

December 2023

Mon. 04 – Craft & Friendship – 10.30-noon including Warm Welcome
Tues. 05 – First Tuesday Circle Christmas Evening at Lynne’s 6pm
Wed. 06 – Advent Group – 10.30am in the lounge
Mon. 11 – Craft & Friendship – 10.30am-noon including Warm Welcome
Wed. 13 – Advent Group – 10.30am
Mon. 18 – Craft & Friendship – 10.30am-noon including Warm Welcome
Wed. 20 – Advent Group – 10.30am

January 2024

Mon. 08 – Craft & Friendship – 10.30am-noon including Warm Welcome
Mon. 15 – Craft & Friendship – 10.30am-noon including Warm Welcome
Mon. 22 – Craft & Friendship – 10.30am-noon including Warm Welcome
Mon. 22 – Prayers for Christian Unity – 11am
Sat. 27 – Coffee Morning for NOMAD – 10-11am
Mon. 29 – Craft & Friendship – 10.30am-noon including Warm Welcome

Advent Study

Our Advent study will begin on Wednesday morning at 10.30 on 29th November. The title of the study this year is “Out of the Ordinary”. Put it in your diary now and come and think on the real meaning of Christmas.

Coffee Morning for NOMAD

NOMAD is Lincoln’s centre where emergency shelter can be accessed for the homeless. Adults aged 18 and over can be provided with an en-suite room, laundry facilities, three meals a day and a safe and supportive environment with the support of a Case worker. The Day Centre is able to bring together a range of professionals who can give support to those experiencing homelessness and mental health and physical well-being services.

Their aim is to help those with the greatest need move forward. This is another cause that our church has supported for many years. We recognise that homelessness can happen to anyone and we thank God that our situation is stable and we long for others to have a safe & stable life so again we ask for your help.

Can you support our Coffee Morning for NOMAD on Saturday, 27 January and help those less fortunate than us?

Environmental Concerns

UNICEF’s latest report highlighted that 1 billion children are already suffering because of climate change. Christmas, a beautiful time for giving to family & friends but what will you be giving? – a gift that is useful, readable, pretty, environmentally friendly, or a donation to a needy cause?

We mentioned last year that cards with glitter on cannot be recycled so ensure what you buy doesn’t damage the environment. We throw away about 1 billion Christmas cards – that takes the equivalent or 33 million trees! This year we will have a CHURCH CARD for everyone to sign and save trees.

There are ways to wrap & decorate with string & ribbon, and before you buy wrapping paper check that it can be recycled and is environmentally friendly – some paper & packaging can even be composted. We live in a rich part of the world so it’s vital that we who have everything do not damage the environment any further, either for ourselves but more importantly for our neighbours in other parts of the world who are suffering with climate change and degradation of their land and livelihoods.

Lord Jesus, thank you that we are all your children. Teach us day by day how you would have us live. In all our ways help us to live and love as you would have us live and love so that others may live safely and come to know your greatest gift of love and care. Amen

Fundraising

Christmas Fair

A big thank you to everyone who supported this event in any way. This event helps us meet our community and keep our church open and there for everyone. So far we have raised £838.03 – fabulous!

Other News

Family News

To all our friends unable to worship with us we send Christmas blessings as we celebrate again the birth of our Saviour. Please pray for our church that we will be a beacon of hope and blessing to those around. Thank you for your support.

Deadline for February Newsletter – 21st January 2024

If you have any news to share then please be aware of the above date and let us have your item a few days before.

Closing Thoughts

Light of the World, help us to see the world in the light of your understanding. The greatest news ever was given to the lowly and outcast. May we all receive your love, and care for those less fortunate than ourselves.
Amen

Download a copy of the PDF

If you would like to download a PDF copy of the newsletter, you can do so here.

 

Advent – Why? Dietrich Bonhoeffer said of Advent “The celebration of Advent is possible only to those who are troubled in soul, who know themselves to be poor and imperfect, who look forward to something greater to come. For these, it is enough to wait in humble fear until the Holy One himself comes down to us, God in the child in the manger. God comes. The Lord Jesus comes. Christmas comes. Christians rejoice!”

Advent is almost opposite to Christmas. It is good to celebrate at Christmas that Christ is born but Christmas often becomes more about shopping, busyness and having a good time – all of which are okay in their own right as long as they don’t come to dominate what Christians should be celebrating. Advent gives us the opportunity to prepare for celebrating in the right way what the coming of Jesus means; it is a time of quiet reflection and we should deliberately set aside time to reflect on Jesus’s birth, his time on earth and His going to the cross to recompense for our sins.

Reflect on the most wonderful gifts we could ever have – faith and a friend and brother in Jesus. He was the Prince of Peace so how his heart must be breaking over the wars and terrors of the world in our time and we need Advent to help to realise what His coming really means to us and our troubled world.

Come and help consider Advent on the four weeks prior to Christmas and prepare yourself to be able to worship fully when Christmas comes. The first Advent session will be on Wednesday, 29th November at 10.30am in the lounge off Walmer Street.

Services in October

Worship at 10:30am

-5th – Revd T M Nowell, Holy Communion
12th – Revd T M Nowell, Parade
19th – Own Arrangements, Cafe
26th – Revd J Matthews

Dates for your Diary

Mon. 06 – Craft & Friendship – 10.30-noon
Tues. 07 – First Tuesday Circle – 2pm speaker from Green Synergy
Mon. 13 – Craft & Friendship – 10.30am-noon
Mon. 20 – Craft & Friendship – 10.30am-noon
Sat. 25 – Christmas Fair – 10-11.30am
Mon. 27 – Craft & Friendship – 10.30am-noon
Wed. 29 – Advent Group in the lounge – 10.30am

We invite everyone to join us at theme above meetings, you will be warmly welcomed. Monday mornings are open to anyone to bring along their own craft or just come for a chat and a drink. We share a simple lunch from midday and look forward to sharing our time together.

In the colder months we will also invite in those who need a Warm Welcome on Monday mornings. Starting in November, these sessions will run alongside our friendly craft group until February.

Our First Tuesday Circle is open to everyone. Come and listen to our interesting speakers and share refreshments. On Tuesday, 7th November our speaker will be from our local Green Synergy charity. Come and learn how the Green Synergy charity works in the community to help support and create an inspiring & therapeutic environment in so many ways.

Our Advent study will begin on Wednesday morning at 10.30 on 29th November. The title of the study this year is “Out of the Ordinary”.

Put it in your diary now and come and get into the real meaning of Christmas.

Come and share in this fun morning. There are several stalls – craft & toiletries, cakes, bric-a-brac, tombola, raffle – come and find Christmas gifts, toys, jigsaws and a whole host of other items, and enjoy refreshments.

If you can donate wrapped biscuits towards the refreshments please see Ros or Irene.

Environmental Concerns

Do you use an electric toothbrush? Lots of us do to help our oral health. Perhaps you know that you can buy recyclable heads for your toothbrush. They can be bought on line and are cheaper than the leading brand. Six are sent in a box and when they are all used just replace them in the box and post free back to the retailer who will recycle them – just one more way we can avoid plastic getting into the world’s oceans.

For women, recycle your bras. Visit againstbreastcancer.org.uk/recycling/bra-recycling. Odd socks? The London Sock Company’s sock amnesty collects old, odd, holey, unwanted socks and turns them into fingerless gloves and neck-warmers for Crisis. Visit londonsockcompany.com/amnesty to create a Freepost label. These are just a few ways that we can make sure we can reuse, recycle, reduce to help protect God’s world and help others.

Lord Jesus, again, lead us out of apathy. Give us the strength to do what is right and not to leave it to others. Where there is need, guide us towards helping. Let us not sit comfortably while others suffer but disturb us
enough to lift our thoughts, prayers and ways to what you would have us say and do, for we know that in your strength and with the Holy Spirit’s power your will can be done and our commitment will be honoured. Amen

Fundraising

Donations given to other causes:

Hope Shoebox Appeal £ 60.00
Macmillan Coffee Morning £190.25
EDAN £ 40.00

Thank you for your generosity to all these worthwhile and needy charities.

Other News

Family News

To all our friends unable to worship with us we send our love & prayers and blessings. Your prayers and support for our church is vital to all we do in our Father’s name, thank you.

New Telephone Number

Please Note: Irene & Terry Nowell NO LONGER have a landline. If you need to contact Terry his number is 07579 768910.

Deadline for December/January Newsletter – 26th November

If you have any news to share then please be aware of the above date and let us have your item a few days before.

Closing Thoughts

Are You into Being………a Christian? You might think you committed your life to Jesus a long time ago, a few months ago, a few weeks ago, even a day ago – if recently you might be still full of the fire that comes when the Holy Spirit is invited in – if a while ago you may have settled into a steady way of life not thinking about what it means as much as you once did. Whenever you became a Christian, we all need some help at times.

Indeed we need to keep our faith alive and not become complacent. Our friendship with Jesus should be building and developing each day no matter how long we have been His friend. Being a Christian is not a decision that should be taken lightly because we need to work at it if God’s light is to mean anything and shine into those around us. Whether you take the title of Methodist lightly or are an out & out Methodist because of our history and what it has meant since the movement began, this is our way of being Christian and it’s very similar to the commitment of other denominations.

To help our discipleship our Church has provided us with “A Methodist Way of Life”. Sending us on a journey from a train station we can jump on and off at any point and receive help with all aspects of our Christian life – get off and pray, get back on and the next station shows us where we might serve others; get back on and find challenges on the route and work out what needs to be done as we travel on.

Life can be difficult and scary at times but our pocket guide to “A Methodist Way of Life” offers so many ways in which we can build and strengthen our faith. If there’s an area of your Christian life that needs attention – the guide will help you think about that too. Don’t get off the train and stay off – even at sticky times God and Christian friends (and you are a friend too) will encourage you with His love – a love that never ends and is often beyond our understanding.

Download a copy of the PDF

If you would like to download a PDF copy of the newsletter, you can do so here.