Announcements Sunday 21 & 28 December Welcome to Worship In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ we welcome everyone including those who join us through the DVDs. Visitors are especially welcome, and can find out more about the congregation from any of the stewards in the vestibule. Sunday 21 December Advent 4 Over this season we’re exploring the Colours of Advent. Today’s colour is blue. This morning members of the Ark, JCBs and Bible Class will lead us as we explore further into the coming of Jesus. Andre Alves-Areias will speak on God’s faithfulness. Immediately after the service there will be a band rehearsal for Christmas Day. Alistair Bill is preaching in Great Victoria Street Church. This evening at 7.00pm the Service of Lessons & Carols will feature the Children’s Choir, and a reflection on the Christmas Truces of 1914. Refreshments will follow. Christmas Day Worship is at 10.15 am. Rejoice that the Lord has come. The offering is taken for PCI’s World Development Appeal, this year entitled Building Hope. Sunday 28 December Worship focuses on our response to what God has done in sending Jesus, thinking about how some of the Bible Characters went away from meeting the Christ child. (There is no evening service.) Refreshments will be served after the service in the Coffee Bar. A Crèche meets every Sunday - if necessary ask for directions in the Hub. Large print copies of the morning praise items are available in the vestibule www.srpc.org.uk [email protected] Stewards today: Malcolm Buchanan, Gary Anderson, (District K) Alison Mullen and Irene Young. Refreshments Rota: 21 December - Iris Francey, Iris Crowe, Diane Barron 28 December - Linda Moore, Gavin Rodgers, Marc Campbell Boxing Day/St Stephens Day, 26 December. 10.00 am Football at Hydebank Playing Fields. Refreshments will be available for all those playing or watching football on Boxing Day morning at the Thomson’s (6 Greer Park Avenue). The invitation though is open to anyone to call in during the morning for mince pies and coffee. The midweek meeting resumes on Wednesday 7 January. Friday Cafe - none on 26 December or 2nd January. Reopens Friday 9 January 2015. Finance. As we approach the year end, David Thomson, Treasurer, would like all expenses claims, or other costs which need to be met, to be given to him before the end of the year. Sunday, 11th January 2015 will be the last date for receipt of income for 2014 and any income received after that date will be accounted for in 2015. Could all treasurers of church organisations (those which are under the direct control of the church) let David have their accounts by end of January at the latest please? These need to be incorporated into the church accounts and included in the returns we provide to Church House in mid-February. Some members of the congregation use the Stewardship organisation to make donations. They have changed their support forms (and address) and have asked those who make donations to use the new ones. David Thomson (Tel 9069 1068) has further details Contributions to Church Funds (FWO & Support Fund). For purpose of checking, a listing showing contributions up to 30 November 2014 is available on the vestibule table. Alternatively, contact David McAuley for an update. Tel. 9070 4058, email – [email protected] Appointment of Administrator. As a result of the process through the autumn we can now announce that we have appointed Mr Jordan McGrath to the position. We expect Jordan to begin work during January 2015. More details in due course. Calling all Organisations. Leaders are reminded that, unless the outside door into the Halls is manned, it should be kept locked, especially in the evenings. (Recently there have been some casual ‘visitors’). “Connectedness”. Further opportunity is available to enter into Connectedness. Please take one of the forms from the vestibule and return your response to one of the boxes. Copies of ReachOut Connect for December and January are available in the vestibule and The Hub. Orders are being accepted for 2015 for both the Presbyterian Herald, £10, and ReachOut, £8. New contributors are welcome. Subscriptions should be placed in the offering plate. Car Parking Policy. Car parking is limited in the car park which can lead to congestion and risk of an accident at busy times. Congregational Committee has decided to limit the use of the car park, when activities are in progress, to “Blue Badge” holders, users who find it difficult to walk a distance and leaders who need to transport equipment ONLY. Those who do use the car park should drive cautiously and beware of small children who can be very difficult to see. All others should park on the roads surrounding the church taking great care not to park near exits from neighbouring houses. This will apply on a Sunday morning as well as during the week. Christmas at Home. Friends International would like to enlist your help with an initiative to offer hospitality to 200 international students during the Christmas holidays (any day from 24th to 30th December - no overnight hospitality.) We invite you to open up your home to one or two students and show them how Christians celebrate Christmas. Further details from Alistair Bill or Cosmin Pascu, 07788411236 Wyclife Words for Life Winter 2014 edition and John and Ruth Hamilton’s Prayer Letter are available in The Hub. Prayer Points Advent. Give thanks for the colours of Advent, enabling us to see the light that God has brought in the coming of the Christ child, his one and only Son. Christmas. “Lord Jesus, we rejoice with all our hearts at the wonderful truth that you came and lived a human life on earth, the Light of the World, to save us from sin and reconcile us to your Father in heaven.” Amen World Development Appeal. Give thanks for the opportunity to help the reconstruction taking place in Haiti, and development work in Burma / Myanmar. Pray for a good offering throughout PCI Christians under pressure. Pray for our brothers and sisters across the world for whom celebrating Christmas will be a wary experience, given that extremists from various backgrounds see it as a time when they can target Christians. Pray for peace around the world, in Palestine and across Syria and Iraq. If you would like prayer for yourself or anyone else today please speak to the minister or one of the elders. Everyone is encouraged to use the Prayer Request Cards Topics or individuals mentioned will be prayed for during the following week. Please be assured that this is confidential to those who do the praying. December 2014 & January 2015 Diary Sunday 21 11:00 am | Morning Worship. Advent 4 (Blue) – The Ark, JCB’s and Bible Class lead worship. 7:00 pm | Service of Lessons & Carols Christmas Day 10:15 am | Rejoice the King is Born Boxing Day Boxing Day Football and refreshments throughout the morning at 6 Greer Park Avenue Sunday 28 11:00 am | Going away from Christmas (no evening service) 4 January 11:00am | Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper (No ark. Little Stars meets) 7: 00 pm | Evening Worship – The Fruit of the Spirit. Office Hours | Christmas 2014 Open Tuesday 23 December: 9.30 am – 12 noon Closed 24, 26 and 31 December Open Wednesday 2 January 2015: 9.30am – 1:00pm Tel: 9040 3333 | [email protected] | [email protected] Church Office Hours: Wednesday & Friday 9:30am – 1:00 pm An Induction Loop (AFILS) is provided on the ground floor for the benefit of Hearing Aid users. Please switch your hearing aid to ‘T’. If you are new to the congregation we have a Welcome Pack, which gives an excellent overview of the congregation, its ethos and activities. Please ask one of the Stewards at the door.