District News – 23 December 2024

This Week's News

The final newsletter of 2024. The office will re-open on 2 January 2025.
It has been lovely seeing all the Facebook posts about Christmas events and services – and seeing how many churches have engaged with the "Hush the Noise" Christmas campaign. Do let us know how it all worked out for you! We are always very glad to share stories!

Victoria Stafford Road Methodist church, were featured in the Methodist News last week. Bridget, a local preacher and steward there commented "The resources are reminding people of the real meaning of Christmas, that God is still relevant and part of the seasonal celebrations. Even the people at church can be too busy to remember God, so having less to create ourselves allows us more time to ask for God's help in how we can serve him better in this season."

Whirlow Spirituality Centre

The Centre will close after Reflective Communion on Christmas Day until 'Space to Be' on Sunday 29th December. Communion will be as usual on Tuesday 31st (New Year's Eve). A few places are left for 'The Turn of the Year' event happening later that day. Tickets can be purchased here.

A quiz from the Learning Network

Can you name the Christmas Carols?

1. CNRYLDVDSCTY
2. LTTLDNKY
3. CMLLYFTHFLL
4. SLNTNGHT
5. LTTLTWNFBTHLHM
6. JYTTWRLD
7. WYNTHMNGER
8. GDRSTYMRRYGNTLMN
9. NTSCHLDSBRN
10. HRKTHHRLDNGLSSNG

And finally ...

Loving God,
Whose song of love is being sung always,
Offering unconditional love and grace to all you have made.
Thank you for your love.

Living Lord Jesus,
Who came to share our humanity, our fragility, and our pain.
Thank you that you do not leave us alone.

Holy Spirit,
Who came upon the Virgin Mary,
Bringing the eternal Son into the world through a human body.
Thank you for bringing God's love to us.

Eternal God,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
An everlasting communion of love,
Whose song of love the angels sing,
We confess that so often our ears are closed to you.

There is so much that drowns out your song of love.
We hurt ourselves and others, and others hurt us.
And sometimes we are simply sick and sad
And our pain makes it hard to pay attention.

Please forgive us for the things we can control
And help us with the things we can't.
Break through the Babel sounds of our world
And help us hear the song of the angels
And send back their song to you.

We pray in the name of Jesus,
Whose birth we are here to remember.
Amen.