December / January E-Magazine 2022/23
In this edition:
Reflection
Christmas Tree Festival
Celebration of Baptism
Dates for your diary
Ruby Remembers the Christmas Season
Mothers' Union Yate - News for December 2022 and January 2023
Collection for Ukrainian Refugees St Nicholas Day 4th December
Follow the Star
Services throughout the Parish
Please click below for a printable copy of the magazine:
Reflection
After two years of pandemic, I think we were all hoping that Christmas 2022 would not be overshadowed by any threat that would disrupt our dreams of a perfect Christmas and rob it of its joy. Yet here we find ourselves amid a global financial crisis with fears of being unable to heat our homes, with war having once more returned to Europe and, ironically, with climate change scientists again warning us of catastrophe because the world is too warm. Why can’t we just enjoy Christmas for once without all this other stuff getting in the way? I have a suspicion that it was ever thus. We too easily forget that our grandparents had to celebrate Christmas under the cloud of World War 1, our parents under the shadow of the blitz and the threat of doodle-bugs, and some of us may remember recalling Christ’s birth as the world teetered on the edge of nuclear war during Advent 1962 with the Cuban Missile Crisis. But isn’t that part of the point of Christmas? Christ was not born into a perfect world of beautifully lit Christmas trees and a jovial old man chuckling ‘Ho, ho, ho!”, but into a dark and broken world. He came to pull it back from the brink of self-destruction. After all Jesus himself was born at a time of oppressive rulers and tyrannical kings and had to flee an infanticidal pogrom and live as a refugee. One of the most joyful Christmases I can remember was spent among Ugandan refugees camped around the church in Moyo, a small town in the far south of what was then Sudan (now South Sudan). During the preceding months and years, the people inMoyo camp had been forced to flee for their lives from the tyrannous rule of Idi Amin. Many had left all their worldly goods behind them. Yet when the hub of an old lorry serving as a church bell was rung, they all came flooding up the hill to the church singing and dancing and dressed in the best clothes they could find. The church throbbed with a palpable sense of joy that Christmas because the refugees recognised that Jesus had come to them at their point of need and that is what gave them hope. The first of the Beatitudes spoken by Jesus at the Sermon on the Mount says that those who are poor in spirit are blessed. Another translation renders it as “How blessed are those who know their need of God”. Maybe what really robs us of the joy of Christmas is not the external threats, which will always be there in our broken world, but the fact that we have lost sight of our need of God and therefore lost sight of the significance of Jesus coming to rescue us at the point of our greatest need. I pray that this Christmas you will rediscover your need of God and in so doing also rediscover the joy of Christmas. Happy Christmas! Ian Wallace
Christmas Tree Festival 2022
This year’s Christmas Tree Festival at St Mary’s Church Yate runs from 3 to 11 December. For the first time alongside the traditional decorated tree display you can also enjoy paintings featuring trees - 30 trees and 30 paintings. Sean Suleman, a local artist, is a founder member of local charity Blonde Angel Street Team, created by a group of volunteers in 2019 to help homeless people on the streets. They collect donations for distribution at weekly drops in Bristol, providing hot food and drinks, snacks, toiletries, clothing, bags and other essentials. The Team is a 5,000-strong non-profit Facebook group who deliver these items to homeless people in Bristol so that they feel human again. They also have an enthusiastic mobile team covering other areas of Bristol, Bradley Stoke and Yate, and they support shelters and newly-housed people. They aim to give back, bringing kindness, happiness and smiles. Their big goal is to help to get people off the streets into container homes, hostels or rented accommodation, and into jobs – thereby saving lives and building hope. The focus of the Christmas Tree Festival has always been to involve and engage with a broad spectrum of the local community, helping to convey the true message of Christmas. You are invited to experience the sights and sounds of Christmas over a cuppa and a warm mince pie. Funds raised during the Festival will be shared 50/50 between St Mary’s Refurbishment Projects and the Blonde Angel Street Team to support their ongoing works in the community. Entry to the Festival is FREE!! The Team’s drops and supplies have never been in greater demand - Bristol currently has over 80 homeless people on the streets and the most basic items are needed. Throughout the festival there will be opportunities to donate towards our fundraising and there will be a collection point at St Mary’s Church for items which the Blonde Angel Street Team can distribute – they have asked in particular for scarves, hats, gloves, socks, jackets, pot noodles, hand warmers, small torches with batteries. Monetary donations are passed on as Greggs Food Vouchers so the homeless can enjoy food and a hot drink. This event is a fantastic chance for anyone to be part of a Christmas celebration and community event whilst raising funds for local causes.
Ruby Remembers the Christmas Season
A tribute to celebrate the life of Ruby Hart nee Bezer 1930-2022 a faithful member of St. Peter’s Church congregation. Ruby’s memory was amazing. No one else remembered the organ had been at the front of the church as can be seen in the Murray Dowling post card. Now it is at the back of the church. Ruby recalled her early memories at St Peter’s Church during the Christmas season: “Gran, Gramp and Mary Philpott sang in the choir, also Ivy Bezer (Ruby’s father’s middle sister), Bert and Worthy Philpott, (his brothers-in-law) were bell ringers, so we were always in church, as in those days the bell ringers went to the church service: this was around 1932. I would sit alongside my Gran. There were twenty-five in the choir, and Mr. Albert Willis was the choir master, a lot for such a small community; but of course, the majority had large families. Kate Anstey from Cliff Farm played the organ. There were a full set of Wapley and Codrington bell ringers of whom Reuben Bezer was the captain. Every New Year’s night they held a choir supper with everyone doing a turn, it seems Jim Bagg was well known for performing his monologues, after a good “sit down” meal. At ten minutes to twelve the bell ringers would go to the Church and ring out the old year and ring in the new.” Ruby Hart remembers St. Peters Church in the 1930’s as a happy church with dances and concerts. Ruby especially loved the carol service. This year the Carol Service is on the 11 December at 6.30pm if you would like to join us; while singing the carols I will spare a thought for a quiet lady who enjoyed her life and supported the church for so many years. Jenny Shiles
A Murray Dowling postcard showing where the organ used to be located at St. Peter’s
Mother's Union Yate - News for December 2022 and January 2023
“From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me, holy is his name.” Mary, mother of God, carried Jesus Christ her son. During this time of Advent let’s look to this most special mother, the one chosen to carry the Son of God. The Mothers’ Union will meet on Thursday 15 December in St Mary’s church at 2pm for mince pies and celebrations of the season. Please bring your favourite poem, carol, prayer, story, craft to share with us all. Please dress warmly and come ready to share some of your Christmas spirit! Blessed Advent, Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year! Our Annual General Meeting will be held in St Mary’s church at 2pm on 19 January.
Bless everyone, Louisa
Collection for Ukrainian Refugees
St Nicholas Day 4th December
This St Nicholas day we are asking all our churches to donate small items to be taken
to Poland for Ukrainian refugee children. The items will be picked up, put in small draw string bags and taken to Poland by a team in Chepstow. Each child will receive a bag full of some of the items from the list below.
Please bring into church some items from the list below on 4 December for our St Nicholas celebration. You can donate one item or as many items as you can.
Key ring Cuddly toy Colouring pencils Pencil sharpener Pens Notebook Sweets (long life) Toothbrush Toothpaste Small toy Comb or hairbrush Scarf / hat / gloves Socks Game to share with friends Water Bottle Windup torch Roll on Deodorant Flannel Sanitary Towels
Sunday 11 December St Mary’s 6.30pm Contemporary Carol Service St Peter’s 6.30pm Carol Service Saturday 17 December St Nix 4.00pm Messy Church Christingle Sunday 18 December St Mary’s 6.30pm Traditional Carol Service St Nix 6.30pm Carols by Candlelight St James 4.00pm Carol Service Saturday 24 December St Mary’s 4.30pm Crib Service for all the family 6.00pm Crib Service for all the family 11.00pm Midnight Communion St Nix 4.30pm The Christmas Story St James 11.00pm Midnight Communion St Peter’s 11.30pm Midnight Communion Sunday 25 December St Mary’s 10.00am Christmas Celebration Service St Nix 10.00am Family Christmas Communion Sunday 1 January St Mary’s 10.00am Family Communion Service
Services throughout the Parish
Sunday 4 December
2nd Sunday of Advent—Purple
Isaiah 11:1-10 Romans 15:4-13 Matthew 3:1-12
St Mary
8.15am Communion
10.30am All-Age Service
6.30pm 630 Praise
St Nix
10.30am Communion
St James
10.30am Communion
St Peter
4.00pm Evening Worship (Book of Common Prayer)
Sunday 11 December
3rd Sunday of Advent—Purple
Isaiah 35:1-10 James 5:7-10 Mathew 11:2-11
St Mary
8.15am Communion
10.30am Parish Communion with Bishop Viv;
Also welcoming Jean Yates as an LLM
6.30pm Contemporary Carol Service
St Peter
6.30pm Carol Service
Sunday 18 December
4th Sunday of Advent—Purple
Isaiah 7:10-16 Romans 1:1-7 Matthew 1:18-end
St Mary
8.15am Communion
10.30am Morning Worship
6.30pm 630 Praise—Traditional Carol Service
St Nix
10.30am Communion
6.30pm Carols by Candlelight
St James
10.30am Communion
4.00pm Carol Service
St Peter
4.00pm Evening Worship (Book of Common Prayer)
Saturday 24 December
St Mary
4.30pm Crib Service for all the family
6.00pm Crib Service for all the family
11.00pm Midnight Communion
St Nix
4.30pm The Christmas Story
St James
11.00pm Midnight Communion
St Peter
11.30pm Midnight Communion
Sunday 25 December
Christmas 1—Gold or White
Isaiah 9:2-7 Titus 2:11-14 Luke 2:1-14 (15-20)
St Mary
10.00am Christmas Celebration Service
St Nix
10.00am Family Christmas Communion
Services throughout the Parish
Sunday 1 January
Christmas 2—Epiphany—White
Numbers 6:22-end Galatians 4:4-7 Luke 2:15-21
St Mary
10.30am Parish Family Communion Service
6.30pm 630 Praise
Sunday 8 January
Baptism of Christ—1st Sunday of Epiphany
Gold/White
Isaiah 60:1-6 Ephesians 3:1-12 Matthew 2:1-12
St Mary
8.15am Communion
10.30am Communion
6.30pm 630 Praise
St Nix
10.30am Morning Worship
St James
10.30am Christingle
St Peter
4.00pm Communion (Book of Common Prayer)
Sunday 15 January
2nd Sunday of Epiphany—White
Isaiah 42:1-9 Acts 10:34-43 Matthew 3:13-17
St Mary
8.15am Communion
10.30am Morning Worship
6.30pm 630 Praise
St Nix
10.30am Communion
St James
10.30am Communion
St Peter
4.00pm Evening Worship (Book of Common Prayer)
Sunday 22 January
3rd Sunday of Epiphany—White
Isaiah 9:1-4 1 Corinthians 1:10-18 Matthew 4:12-23
St Mary
8.15am Communion
10.30am Communion
6.30pm Joint Service with the churches of Yate & Chipping Sodbury to mark the Week of Christian Unity.
Details of Venue to follow
St Nix
10.30am Morning Worship
St James
10.30am Morning Worship
St Peter
4.00pm Communion (Book of Common Prayer)
Sunday 29 January—Vision Sunday
4th Sunday of Epiphany—White
1 Kings 17:8-16 1 Corinthians 1:18-end John 2:1-11
St Mary
10.30am Parish Communion
6.30pm 630 Praise
St Nix
10.30am No Service
St James
10.30am No Service
St Peter
4.00pm No Service
Join a community of women in St Mary’s Church at 11am every Friday (term time only). Mammas Club is a drop in café for you and your family. Come along and enjoy the company of other women on the journey of parenthood. We will have tea, coffee and light bites!
Third Saturday of every month 10am at St Mary’s Youth Centre. Come for breakfast with the children. Toys and chat, share precious time with the little ones.
Morning prayer in Yate Parish
Do you find prayer a little difficult? Would you like some inspiration? Go to the Yate Parish Facebook page to join in Morning Prayer led by our ministry team. You can watch live at 7.30am Monday to Saturday, or watch at any time later in the day. Many people have found it a great start to their day.
Weekly at St Mary’s
Thursday Communion at 10.00am
Compline @8pm
Before the lockdown happened, we had recorded the saying of Compline. We ask that each evening at 8pm we light a candle in our window and pray together for our nation using the words of the Compline service - it takes just over 5 minutes.
Visit the parish website and click on the recordings to listen; you will find the words of the service there too.
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