St Pauls Church
was packed with over 160 people at the All Age service last Sunday morning. It
was a busy service with a lot going on. It was not just all age in the
congregation, but all age in the music group as well.
We had the great
joy of welcoming the Jones family, with their friends, for the baptism of
Freya. As her parents have taken this step of faith for her, we pray that Freya
may grow in a knowledge and love of Christ.
Our curate,
Gillian Gamble, spoke of the giving of presents in general – a feature of life
at Christmas time – with lots of interaction with the congregation
(particularly the younger members) about their favourite presents. But she also
spoke about Jesus, the baby at Bethlehem, as the greatest gift of all. But
Jesus was not given just as a gift for Christmas; he wants to know our love, and
to give us his love, all through the year.
This was also a
gift service, when the congregation brought up toys they had bought specially
as presents for children in refuges and homeless hostels. Gift were also
brought up to be used by the Welcome Project as gifts for asylum seekers.
This was the
first of the Sunday services relating especially to Christmas. We continue next
Sunday at 7.0 pm with our Carols by Candlelight Service. Everyone is very welcome.
