You shall call his Name Jesus

Later on Christmas Day, at 10.00 a.m. there was another Communion service, when children brought the gifts that they had received to tell us about. In his sermon, Steve showed us a gold heart. And said that Jesus was the gift of God the Father to us at Christmas. A gift that showed that he loved us. He encouraged us to value that gift – and to make it our own.
May we all know the presence of Jesus in our lives in the coming year.

Glory to the Newborn King

The great day has come. It started with the First Communion of Christmas, starting at 11.30 p.m. on Christmas Eve. The Communion reminded us that the baby who was born in Bethlehem 2000 years ago, was the same Jesus who died a criminal’s death on the cross in Jerusalem thirty years later – died to forgive our sin and to open the way for us to return to God.

Crib and Christingle Servicve

On Sunday afternoon, 24 December, St Pauls was nearly full for its annual crib and Christingle service. Many of the visitors were children (and grandchildren) of former members of St Paul’s, who had now moved away.

The service was very family friendly, led by Lou, our youth worker, using video clips, some of which had been prepared by our own young people, to explain the Christmas story. We also sang traditional Christmas carols.

The next of our services – the midnight Communion – will be the first of the services properly “of Christmas.” Do join us.

See Amid the Winter Snow

Well not quite, because the snow had melted by then. But mid-morning on Friday 22^nd December, a number of people from St Paul’s (and led by the rector) joined other members of Oadby churches to sing carols in the Parade. All were in good voice as we sign right through the carol book. It was good to be able to remind everyone passing by of the real meaning of Christmas.

Carols by Candle-Light

Choir in Rehearsal

Nearly 100 people met in a darkened St Pauls on Sunday evening 17 December 2017 for a celebration of “Carols by Candlelight.” Apart from individual candles around the wall, every member of the congregation had a candle, that was lit at the beginning of the service. There was a mixture of readings from the Bible which either predicted the coming of Christ or recounted the events of the first Christmas Day; poems and reflections on the event; an opportunity for the congregation to sing the traditional carols and pieces for a specially assembled choir that also told of Christ’s coming. It was a wonderful time to reflect on all the implications of Christ becoming man for us.

After the service, we all enjoyed each other’s company, with and mulled wine and mince pies.
 

Christmas day is fast approaching.

Carols at Sainsbury's

At 11.0 a.m. on a chilly Saturday 16 December, fifteen members of the congregation of St Pauls, together with the rector, Steve Bailey, met in the trolley park in the front of Sainsbury’s. It was our opportunity to share the joy of Christmas and the love of Christ, with passing shoppers. Not only to did we sing many of the much loved Christmas carols, but offered chocolates to all who were not diet conscious! It was our chance to do something for the community, so we were not there to collect money. Anyone who insisted on giving a donation was pointed to the in-store charity collection.

We also gave invitations to the St Paul’s Carols by Candlelight, happening next day, and to the rest of the Christmas programme.

Gifts with Love

Our next Christmas activity has been our gift service, today, when the congregation was encouraged to give gifts to people whose Christmas might otherwise be rather spartan. After contact with local women’s refuges and mother and baby hostels he got a list of children likely to be there at Christmas and the congregation took away gift tags with the child’s sex and age. They then went away and bought a present for a child of that description. The gifts were brought up during our service this morning and placed under the church Christmas tree. These gifts will be delivered to their homes in the next few days.

There was also an opportunity for those who had not taken tags to give appropriate gifts for the refugees in contact with the Welcome Project run at Leicester Cathedral.

At a time when we remember Jesus coming as the greatest gift of all it’s important to show his love bygiving to those who have much less than we do.

Coffee Pot Carols

Although Christmas Day is still two weeks away, we seem well into the Christmas season at St Paul’s. On 5 December, the Parkinson Society Choir who use old buildings regularly, held a session of carols, led by the former member, Revd Richard Curtis, who has now moved to Wiltshire, but came back from vacation. They had invited our congregation to help swell the noise! It was a good time.

Two days later Coffee Pot are regular Thursday group held their Coffee Pot Carol service. It was led by our curate Gillian Gamble, with readings, a talk – in which the Christmas story was told using some hideous puns on the names of popular snacks (but it made it memorable) – and of course lots of carols. The service was held grouped round tables and afterwards there was tea and coffee and mince pies.

Lots more events are planned. Do come and join us.