Christmas 2024

Dear friends,

The season of celebration is almost upon us and so I wanted to take a moment to write to you and share some of the many things happening over the next month. Maybe there are things you will find helpful or something you might invite a friend or neighbour along to.

This year we will be following the Theme of The Methodist Church “Hush The Noise”, which says “Christmas is loud, isn’t it? So much expectation. So many voices. Telling us how to celebrate, what to wear, what to eat and drink, what to watch and what to buy. Instead, we are inviting you to Hush The Noise- to join the love song this Christmas”. The love song of the Angels who sang to proclaim the birth of Jesus into a broken and divided world. The Christmas carol “It came upon a midnight clear” invites us to hush the noise and hear the Angels sing. Each week through Advent our Sunday worship will follow this theme, inviting us to recognise the “noise”, listen to the love song, and take our place in sharing that love with those around us as we proclaim the birth of Jesus. Alongside our Sunday services, there will be other opportunities for us to reflect on this theme, and join the love song.

There is a full diary of events, which I encourage you to take a look at, but wanted to highlight a few of them. On Tuesday 26th November I will be offering an adult craft session, you don’t need to be an artist (trust me I am definitely not!). We shall be having a go at making Angels to give away. So if you can knit or crochet Angels, please bring your needles along! There will be felt, beads, and many other materials for us to have a go! Tea and coffee will be available throughout. Why not come along 2.30-4 pm Tuesday 26th Nov in the lounge.

The Christmas tree will return to the entrance once more, this year we will be collecting items to support the work of Fylde Coast Women’s Aid. There is a list of suggested items. (Please do not wrap your item). We pray for the work of FCWA as they join the love song in their vital work and help to hush the noise of violence and abuse faced by so many, especially at this time of year.

Advent reflections will run each Thursday 28th Nov, 5th Dec, 12th Dec at 2 pm. We shall focus on Paula Gooder’s book “Women of the Nativity” as we hush the noise of Christmas and focus on God’s promise. (There are other times and days across the circuit if you can’t make one!)

Thursday 12th Dec 11.30 am a short service of carols and Communion offers exactly as the name suggests!

Thursday 19th at 2 pm is our “Remembering Christmas” service. This is a quiet reflective service designed specifically for anyone who may find Christmas difficult. There will be an opportunity to light a candle in memory of a loved one, or simply reflect on the Christmas story.

Finally, on Sunday 22nd December we shall turn up the volume as we invite our uniformed organisations and their families to join in our interactive Puppet Nativity service.

Please do look at the diary list for all that is going on over this period, there really is something for everyone. If you want to read more about the theme, please visit methodist.org.uk/HushTheNoise and sign up for the free weekly emails. (You might even see a familiar face in one of the craft videos!).

I look forward to journeying through this season together and hope to see you at some of the special events on offer. May we all find space to Hush The Noise, and join the love song the Angels bring this Christmas.

With love Rev Sarah