Notes from around the Parishes, December 2016

for Great Massingham, Little Massingham & Harpley

Christmas Bring it on!
I dont know if youve seen Tescos Christmas Advert
showing on our TV screens at the moment featuring Ruth Jones
and Ben Miller and Slades, Merry Christmas where the lady
shopper is daunted by the thought of getting ready for Christmas
and its only mid-November!
Well, as I write this in mid-November, I know just how she feels! So many Carol
Services to plan and prepare for as well as all the special things that happen in
our churches and villages in December all this and more - and normal life
doesnt stop because its Christmas. I admit to feeling a little daunted. I suspect
there are many of you who are thinking of all the shopping and planning and
preparing to be done over the next few weeks who feel the same.
And yet like the character in the advert we too can pause, take a deep breath,
look afresh, see the joy, love and hope in Christmas (not necessarily the mince
pies!) and say to ourselves; Yeah Bring it on!
Christmas is such a special time of year, candle lit churches, family fun, children
laughing, there is an abundance of good things coming up for us all to enjoy
including the mince pies.
Christmas is full of love and joy and hope and new beginnings.
It is the beginning of the Christian story when God, because he so loved the
world, sent His son to earth to live among us and show us the right way to be
to live. That, when we take it seriously, is life-changing.
It is the beginning of the churches new-year and it heralds the New Year to
come. It is a time when we can all pause for a while from our normal routines
and amidst the tinsel, wrapping paper, turkey and trimmings, reflect upon the
potential and possibilities that lie ahead.
So lets not be daunted lets turn around together and say Bring it on
And remember that this child we celebrate every Christmas time, born in
controversy, threatened by kings, would forever change the course of human
history. His story is our story. He can transform our lives too.
So will you embrace him as the most wonderful and life-changing gift that we
can ever receive? I promise you it will take you until eternity to unwrap His
treasures.
I pray that your Christmas this year will be full of Joy and Love and Hope for the
future.
Every blessing

Team Rector
Team Vicar

Revd Jane Holmes,

Revd Judith Pollard,

Reverend Jane
The Rectory, Gayton
The Rectory, Grimston

01553 636227
01485 601251

SERVICES Across the Group for DECEMBER 2016

Sunday, December 4th ~ Second Sunday ofAdvent
0930 Family Service
St Lawrences,
1100 Holy Communion
St Marys,
0830 Holy Communion
St Andrews,
1030 Holy Communion
St Botolphs,
1030 Morning Praise
St Nicholas,
3pm Prayer Meeting
St Nicholas,
Weds, 7th Dec
Holy Communion at St Lawrences, Harpley

Harpley
Great Mass
Ashwicken
Grimston
Gayton
Gayton
9am

1030

Sunday, 11th December ~ Advent 3

Group Holy Communion at St Marys, Great Massingham

3pm

Carol Service

4pm

The Gap

School Services:
Weds, 14th at 2pm
Thurs, 15th at 2pm

St Andrews, Little Massingham

Methodist Chapel, Pott Row,

Massingham @ St Marys
Harpley @ St Lawrences

Sunday, 18th Dec ~ Advent 4

0930 Sung Holy Communion
1030 Holy Communion

St Lawrences, Harpley
St Botolphs,
Grimston.

Carol Services around the Group ~ Advent 3

18 Dec

St Nicholas, Gayton

St Marys, Gt Massingham
20 Dec
21 Dec
22 Dec
23 Dec

All Saints, Roydon

St Botolphs, Grimston
St Marys, East Walton
Rotary @ St Andrews, Congham
St Andrews, Congham

St Lawrences, Harpley

St Marys, Gayton Thorpe

Weds, 21st Dec at 9am

3pm
3pm
7pm
7pm
7pm
6pm
6pm
6pm
7pm

Holy Communion at St Botolphs, Grimston

Saturday, 24th Dec ~ Christmas Eve

St Marys, Great Massingham,
4:30pm
Christingle
11:30pm
Midnight Communion
4pm
11:30pm

Family worship
Midnight Communion

St Nicholas,
St Botolphs,

Gayton
Grimston.

Sunday, 25th Dec ~ Christmas Day

0930
1115
0830
1030

Holy Communion
Family Worship
Holy Communion
Family Holy Communion

St Andrews,
St Lawrences,
All Saints,
St Nicholas,

Lt Massingham
Harpley
Roydon
Gayton.

Sunday, January 1st 2017 ~ Second Sunday of Christmas

0930 Family Service
St Lawrences,
Harpley
1100 Holy Communion
St Marys,
Great Mass
0830 Holy Communion
St Marys,
East Walton
1030 Holy Communion
St Botolphs,
Grimston
1030 Morning Praise
St Nicholas,
Gayton
3pm Prayer Meeting
The Rectory,
Gayton
Weds, 4th Jan 9am
Holy Communion at St Lawrences, Harpley

Carols in the Stable

Saturday 17th December 3pm

At 5 Acre Fen, Cliff en Howe Road, Pott Row, PE32 1BY down
to the bottom of Cliff en Howe Road; the stables are on the left
where the road divides. Parking, seating and refreshments provided, (inc mulled wine!)
Bring family and friends and plenty of warm clothing!
And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed Isaiah 40 v5
Let all the angels worship Him ~ Hebrews 1 v6
Music for Christmas (and Easter) at St Nicholas Chapel, Kings Lynn:

Saturday, 17th Dec at 7:30pm

(The complete) Messiah, composed by GF Hndel in 1741, will be performed by Kings
Lynn Festival Chorus with the Meridian Sinfonia playing period instruments. Soloist
Dame Emma Kirkby is one of the worlds most renowned early music specialists. It
promises to be a splendid performance. Tickets only available from the Corn Exchange
tel : 01553 764864 or www.kingslynncornexchange.com
Worthy is the Lamb that was slain ~ Revelation 5 v 12
Hallelujah, for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth ~ Revelation 19 v6

Queen Elizabeth Hospital League of Friends raised over 100,000 in the last year to support the
hospital. A big part of their fund-raising is the Christmas Appeal with envelopes circulated round
houses in the villages. In recent years, Harpley has not been included but this year envelopes
should arrive in each house in Harpley in mid-December. Although there are many charities
worthy of our support please consider making a donation (please gift aid if you can ~ it increases
your donation by 25% ie it makes 5 worth 6.25). Amanda & Ian have kindly agreed that filled
envelopes can be left at the Rose & Crown or Hectors Barn from 20th Dec until 20th January. If
you prefer to have your envelope collected please contact Lesley Farnsworth on 01485 529260
A list of items bought with donations recently will be displayed on the village notice board so you
can see how funds raised are used to support the hospital.
Samaritan's Purse Christmas Shoebox Appeal.
Over 170 shoeboxes, lovingly crammed with an exciting selection of gifts, were blessed at the
families service on Sunday, 20th. They were collected from St Marys, Great Massingham on
Tuesday 22nd Nov heading for Peterboro, on the first step of their journey to a needy child.
Samaritans Purse asks for a 3 donation towards the cost of shipping each box; ~ many of our
boxes contained donations but on top of that many people contributed to the appeal and
Margaret Bowes has been able to send off a sizeable cash donation as well.

THANK YOU everyone for your huge generosity!

Take a look at the website www.samaritans-purse.co.uk to see what joy a box can give a child.

Monday 12th December at 7pm

To get you into the festive mood a gentle and humorous evening of poetry with sherry
and mince pies at Abbey Farm, East Walton

Poetry night at East Walton

Childrens Workshop at St Lawrences, Harpley:. Advent is the four weeks when we

look forward to Christmas
~ Jesus BIRTHDAY!;
Why not come along and join us as we prepare?
Advent Part 2 Tuesday 20th December from 10am
Decorate a birthday cake and help us make the church ready with a Nativity scene.
All ages welcome Contact Lucy Brown 01485 520252

Advent Study Group ~ Will meet on Tuesdays at 7pm in Grimston Rectory from
29th Nov for four weeks. Revd Judith has chosen to base the study on the book
Walking Backwards to Christmas by Stephen Cottrell (Bishop of Chelmsford); she has
a few copies available to buy. If interested contact: Revd Judith (01485 601251)
at Barrack House,
Tel: Domi Bernardin 01485 521835

Prayer Group WEDNESDAYS: 8.15 pm

Great Massingham; (next to Dabbling Duck)

Afternoon Teas ~ Every Weds from 2pm

in the warmth of 34, John Morton Crescent .
~ leave when you like; dogs also welcome!
Thanks to Dickie Nally & Bryan Jones for their hospitality

Please send items for inclusion in the next issue of the Parish Notes to the editor
by 17th Dec~
Rosemary Mehers
rosemarymehers@hotmail.com
2 Old Post Office Court, Harpley. PE31 6GW;

or Tel: 01485 521866