November Services at Ansley Churches
| 2nd November
All Saints |
St John’s
|
10.45 a.m. | Holy Communion |
| 9th November
Remembrance |
St Laurence | 10.30 a.m. | Special Service |
| 16th November
2nd before Advent |
St John’s | 10.30 a.m. | Morning Worship |
| 23rd November
Christ the King |
St Laurence | 10.30 a.m.
|
Holy Communion |
| 30th November
Advent 1 |
St Laurence | 10.30 a.m. | Songs of Praise
Tree Dedication |
From the Registers
Interment of ashes
The ashes of Avril Parkes were buried in her husband’s grave on Tuesday 2nd October. We remember her family and friends in our prayers.
Remembrance Sunday 9th November
There seems to have been some confusion about this service. We would like to clarify that it will follow the same format as last year and at least the previous 25 years.
The congregation will gather in the church at the usual worship time of 10.30 a.m. Wreaths from the community will be taken to the altar rail during the first hymn. The service will continue, joining the BBC broadcast from the Cenotaph just before the observation of two minutes silence with the nation at 11.00 a.m. At the end of the service the wreaths are collected and the congregation walks in procession to the War Memorial. The laying of wreaths and prayers at the memorial conclude the Act of Remembrance.
We are aware that some people are not able to access the War Memorial because of the distance and the steps. Anyone who doesn’t wish to go to the memorial is welcome to remain in church or help themselves to a drink in the Annexe.
Confirmation
The Right Reverend Bishop of Coventry, Sophie Jelley, will be conducting a Nuneaton Deanery Service of Confirmation at St Laurence Church on Sunday 23rd November at 2.00 p.m. Refreshments will be served after the service. Everyone is welcome to come along.
Let a PCC member know if you can help with welcoming visitors or during the service. Providing and/or serving refreshments will also be needed.
This will be the first confirmation service at St Laurence for some years, so it will be very special.
Christmas Tree Festival 2025
Preparations have already begun for this event. Application Forms are ready, so please ask for one if you would like to decorate a tree. The cost is £17 this year.
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.)
Concert at St Laurence
We are delighted to announce 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.
Spurgeons Childcare Fundraiser
Diana K. will be hosting a fundraiser for Spurgeons on Thursday 6th November at 34 Nuthurst Crescent from 2.00 p.m. to 5.00 p.m. Bring your collection box for emptying, donations and/or bring and buy items to sell. There will be tea, coffee and cake plus chat, so do come along if you can. Online information about the ways Spurgeons supports and works with individuals and families can be found at spurgeons.org.
Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Appeal
Church members will be supporting this appeal by filling shoeboxes with suitable gifts for children. It is run by Samaritan’s Purse. The latest date for bringing the boxes to St Laurence is 9th November so that they can be taken to a collection centre and then
be distributed to children in need of a special Christmas surprise.. A search using ‘Operation Christmas Child 2025’ will send you to the website. Click on menu lines or scroll through pages for the information you need. If you prefer, leaflets are available with the information on how to fill your shoe box.
Christmas Raffle
This will be combined with the Cake Raffle this year. A fruit cake beautifully iced and decorated by a local lady will be the first prize, followed by a range of filled hamper/basket prizes. Tickets will be on sale up to the end of the Christmas Tree Festival and prizes drawn just before the Carol Service on Sunday 21st December.
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 25th November at 2.00 p.m. in St John’s.
Ansley Church Village Hall
The church architect has visited the hall and has identified the reason for most of its problems. Rainwater is not getting away from the building. Professional advice is now being sought as to how best to proceed. Once the building is dry, other issues will be addressed.
The hall is being well used and is well able to meet its running costs. Its reserves however are very low as over £2,000 has been spent this year on the much improved access to parking space in the new parking area at the rear of the hall and other improvements. Once costs are better known, we will be better able to decide how to obtain the funds for this necessary work.
Back in Time Donations
Following discussion by the PCC and the event organisers £300 has been donated to Acorn’s Hospice and £700 to Nuneaton Hospitals League of Friends. The latter had run the refreshment tent at the event and a representative received their cheque and thanked us for their donation at our Harvest Festival.
Acorn’s Hospice sent a letter of thanks for their donation and for those made over previous years. (See below.)
“That is so kind that you are able to donate such an amzing amount! I’m just looking at your record and over the years the church has raised an amazing £9,971 for Acorn’s Hospice, meaning this donation will take you over the £10,000 mark which is so amazing. We honestly cannot thank you enough for all of your support and commitment to fundraising for Acorns through the years. I hope you’re all pleased with that number!”
Harvest at St Laurence
The congregation gathered to thank God for his goodness to us in providing all our needs and to join in the traditional hymns. This year modern words were used with the traditional tune of “We plough the fields and scatter.” The hymn began instead with “We plough the fields with tractors!” The church was well decorated with gifts of produce. These have been taken with St John’s gifts to a local food bank. A total of £193 has been sent to the Salvation Army from collections at St John’s and St Laurence’s harvest donations.
Advance notice
We will be having visiting ringers at 10 a.m. 1st December. They are being led by one of the lead ringer in the diocese so it should be excellent ringing. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………..
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.