December Services at Ansley Churches
| 7th December
Advent 2 |
St John’s
|
10.45 a.m. | Holy Communion |
| 14th December
Advent 3 |
St Laurence | 10.30 a.m. | Christingle |
| 21st December
Advent 4 |
St John’s | 10.30 a.m. | Morning Worship |
| 21st December
Carol Service |
St Laurence | 6.30 p.m. | Nine Lessons and Carols |
| 24th December
Christmas Eve |
St John’s | 3.30 p.m.
|
Holy Communion |
| 25th December
Christmas Day |
St Laurence | 10.30 a.m. | Holy Common |
| 28th December
Christmas 1 |
St Michael’s
Arley |
10.30 a.m. | Ley Group Joint
Service |
From the Registers
Funerals and burials
The funeral of Mary Elizabeth Newnes took place on 22nd October at St Laurence, followed by burial in her husband’s grave.
Margaret Riley’s funeral service was held at Ridge Lane Methodist Chapel on 29th October. Her coffin was placed in her husband’s grave in St Laurence churchyard.
We remember both families and their friends in our prayers.
Christingle at St Laurence
You will be very welcome at this special service which is very suitable for a range of ages from children to the more mature.
The significance of Christmas is demonstrated through decorating oranges, which can be taken home at the end of the service. Donations are sent to The Children’s Society, which works alongside young people, their families and communities, providing specialist support to empower positive change and rediscover hope for the future.
Nine Lessons and Carols at St Laurence
This much appreciated service will be held on Sunday 21st December at 6.30 p.m. The colourful lights on the trees and the festive decorations filling the church create a special atmosphere for the retelling of the events of that first Christmas.
Sunday 28th December
There will be one service for the Ley Group at St Michael’s, New Arley.
Christmas Tree Festival 2025
Preparation Reminder
The trees will arrive on Monday 1st December. Any help with preparing the building and potting up trees will be greatly appreciated.
Decorating the trees will take place from 2.00 to 7.00 p.m. on Wednesday 3rd and Thursday 4th December.
The festival will be open to the public on the following weekends; 6th, 7th; 13th, 14th and 20th, 21st December. Opening Times are 11.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. on Saturdays and 12 noon to 5.00 p.m. on Sundays except on 21st when it will be open until 6.00 p.m. (The Carol Service will be at 6.30 p.m. on that day.)
Do please let your friends and neighbours know about this event which always has a “Wow” factor for all ages, especially the young and the elderly.
During the Festival
Help will be needed during the festival, so if you can do any of the following, please let Margaret Antill or a church member know. Duty lists are available to sign.
Greet visitors and take the entry charge – £2.00 for adults. (Accompanied children have free entry.)
Proceeds are for church funds and a donation to Mary Ann Evans Hospice. A jar is available for your donations.
Stewarding in church.
Donate refreshments – mince pies.
Serve refreshments in the Annexe – tea/coffee etc.
Help to tidy at the end of each day.
After the festival
The festival will end at 6.00 p.m. on Sunday 21st December. Please remove your decorations on Monday 29th December from 2.00 to 4.00 p.m. or on Monday 5th January before 10.00 a.m. If you cannot manage these times/dates, please let us know. If you cannot dismantle your tree we will do it for you. This will enable us to clean and restore the church on that day.
Christmas Raffle
Printed tickets will be on sale through December and at the Tree Festival weekends. First prize –a luxury Christmas Food Hamper with beautifully decorated Christmas cake, second prize – Wellbeing Hamper, third prize – Luxury Drinks Hamper, other prizes – Christmas Hampers. The Raffle will be drawn at 5.00 p.m. on Saturday 20th December as stated on the tickets. This is earlier than in the original publicity.
Concert at St Laurence
A reminder that Jess and Richard Arrowsmith plus Jo Maher will be presenting a concert at St Laurence Church on Friday 12th December at 7.30 p.m. Tickets will cost £12 and can be obtained from Pat Arrowsmith or online.
Splat Messy Play at St John’s
A taster session will be held at St John’s on Friday 12th December from 9.30 a.m. to 12 noon. The organisers say,
“We are so excited to be bringing messy play classes, parties and events to North Warwickshire and Hinckley. Since 2009, Splat Messy Play has been helping thousands of babies, toddlers and children across the UK discover the joy of messy fun – and now it’s your turn. Phone 07425796040 for more details.
If you know someone with young children do let them know about this.
Prayer Meeting
The next meeting will be Tuesday 16th December at 2.00 p.m. in St John’s.
Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Appeal
The church received seven boxes for the Samaritan’s Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Appeal. Also as it is possible to send a donation direct we do not know how many supported in this way. Thank you for your gifts.
Spurgeons Childcare Fundraiser
Thank you to those who supported this event, either by coming along on the afternoon or by sending in donations. Your contributions of £315 will be much appreciated by the charity. It was a very enjoyable afternoon.
Remembrance Sunday
The service was well attended with new organisations in the parish being represented and bringing along wreaths. The weather was fine for the procession to the memorial, where the wreaths were placed and prayers completed this annual recognition of the sacrifices made in the two World Wars and later conflicts.
We wish all our readers a very Happy and Peaceful Christmas and New Year.
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Prayer Requests
If you would like someone, or a particular situation, to be remembered in prayer, please make contact by email or phone one of the contacts on the front cover.