Weekly Notices 29th November

Sunday, November 29, 2015

Thank you to all who helped at the Christmas Fayre, making it such a great success! Sue Russell.

H.A.R.C. (Homeless And Rootless at Christmas). The church will be sending a donation to help this worthy cause which provides meals and shelter for homeless people over the Christmas period. If you would like to support H.A.R.C. in their work, please hand your donation to Di or Margaret P. as soon as possible, but in any case by Sunday 13th December and it will be added into the church cheque. Many thanks.

Christmas Posting Box (only cards for people who attend church) will be available from Sunday 6th December. The final collection will be at 10:30am on Sunday 20th December. Please try to post early to assist the sorters. Thank you.

Cake/Bun Sale during coffee morning on Sunday 29th November. The Senior Section are raising funds for a 'Century Camp'. Thanks, Amanda.

David Battye House Group will meet on Wednesday 2nd December at 2:30pm, at the usual venue.

Prayer evening for all the S6 Network Churches on Wednesday 2nd December at St. Polycarps church, starting at 7:30pm with coffee and then prayers 8:00-9:00pm. This is a time for all the churches in the network to come together and pray for each other and the S6 area we serve. If you would like more information, please speak to Katie.

Christmas Fayre at Trinity Church on Saturday 5th December 10:00am-4:00pm, followed by Wisewood Community Singers & Chapeltown Band's Christmas Concert at 7:30pm. Tickets for concert £6 (£3 children) and can be purchased on the door or in advance from Becca.

Christmas Festival on Sunday 6th December, outside Wisewood Sports Centre. The Lord Mayor will be turning on the Christmas tree lights at 4:00pm to open the event (you might want to arrive a little earlier than that). There will be stalls, tombola, food from RIVA cafe, Santa and his reindeer. Please come and join the Wisewood Community Singers and boost the carol singing led by Stannington Training Band. Becca.

Wellbeing of Women invite you to 'Songs for Christmas' on Tuesday 8th December at 7:30pm at our Church, led by the Waldershelf Singers, with a guest appearance from the Sheffield Decibelles. Tickets available from Cliff / Becca. More details on our notice board.

Sooper Troopers' Christmas play on Wednesday 9th December at 1:15pm at Hillsborough Arena, Middlewood Road. Tickets are £3 and can be obtained on the door. Si.

Christmas Tree Festival at Brightholmlee Methodist Church Thursday 10th to Saturday 12th December, 3:00-7:00pm. 25 trees are decorated by local people. All proceeds to the Friends of Sheffield Hospital, Sheffield Bowel Cancer Support and Cystic Fibrosis Charities.

Christmas Wreaths are are being sold by Loxley Valley Community Farm, to raise funds for the project, at £7 each, available to collect after the service on Sunday 13th December. If you would like to order one please speak to Wendy or Harry or email info@lvcf.org.uk. If anyone wants to get crafty with us, we will be making them on Friday 11th December evening (please ask for details).

H.A.R.C. Vivacity Choir Christmas Concert is on Saturday 12th December at 6:30pm, at Wesley Hall, Crookes S10 1UD. Please see the poster on the noticeboard for details or vivacity.co.uk/events. Tickets £6 (on the door £7.50), 16 and under free.

Token cards. There will soon be a panel at the rear of the worship area for those who wish to display a token card for their friends at Wisewood church. By doing so, we ask for a donation to 'Medecins Sans Frontieres' (Doctors Without Borders) in lieu of money spent on a card. Thank you. Margaret T.

Local Carol Sing on Tuesday 15th December at 7:00pm, in the church hall.

Christmas Activities Afternoon (incl. short film) on Saturday 19th December, 2:00-5:00pm, in the hall. Suitable for all ages. Children to be accompanied, please.

Carol Sing at Wadsley Jack pub on Sunday 20th December (2:00pm for 2:30pm start) followed by Traditional Carol Service at Wisewood Church at 4:00pm.

Parker Knoll chair in excellent condition. If interested, please speak to Bridget.

Prayer Group Report

We read from Psalm 37 - 'Do not fret because of evil men -like the grass they will soon wither'... etc. We prayed for God's Holy Spirit to touch the hearts of terrorists (Isis, Boko Haram, Al Qaeda etc...). May they realise that their way is not God's way.

Our prayers continued for all those affected by the recent attacks in Paris and the ongoing fear this has generated across Europe. We also remembered all the areas of the world which have not made the headlines but where extremist groups are causing so much fear and bloodshed. We gave thanks that the United Nations has one voice when it comes to dealing with terrorism and with the perpetrators of recent attacks, and prayed for the various meetings taking place to discuss the way forward.

Closer to home we prayed for the meeting of the leaders of religious and council groups and MPs in Rotherham where there is concern that recent events in Paris may lead to a backlash against the local Muslim community.

May those who endorse hatred wake up to the fact that we must be Spirit led into love and kindness.

The people of Central Africa Republic and the Democratic Republic of Congo have been living in fear of violence and war for some time because of fighting between rival groups. Many have died but thankfully there does now seem to be a glimmer of hope that peace may be returning to these places and people are beginning to go back to their homes. Tearfund has been working in these situations and we gave thanks for their work.

Thanks too for all the agencies promoting peace by using the Nativity story, thinking especially of those working in the Middle East and Gaza where all faiths are being encouraged to join together to seek peace.

We prayed for Kinder Kalsi and the work being done to build God's kingdom in the centre of Sheffield, where more volunteers are needed and for the leaders and young people attending the Methodist '3Generate' youth weekend.

We continued our prayers for her and others mentioned in our Prayer book.

Lord, lead us in ways of righteousness and peace.