22^nd December 2019 – The Fourth Sunday of Advent

Welcome
St Andrew’s Church welcomes allcomers, whether this is your first time or thousandth time in church. You are welcome whatever your age, gender, marital status, disability, race or sexuality. You are welcome whether you have a deep and mature faith in Christ; are uncertain and still seeking; or have no faith. If you are new to church, please do take a welcome leaflet to be found in the pews; and do not hesitate to ask one of the welcomers if you have any queries.

Happy Christmas
A very Blessed Christmas and Peace-filled New Year to all our readers. There will be no Pews News now until January 12^th.

Holiday and Pews News
The Parish Administrator is now on holiday until Monday 6^th January. Any urgent enquiries should be addressed to the Vicar or Church Wardens.

Children’s Church
Children’s Church will not be meeting in the school today (22nd December). Colouring activities are available in the side room for children to use under the supervision of parents. The Children’s Church Christmas party will be held next Sunday (29th December) during the morning service. All members of Children’s Church are invited, but please let Becky know if your child would like to come. The new term for Children’s Church will begin on 12th January with more stories from the Bible, crafts and games. We would love to welcome more children. Phone Hilary on 07980 596646 if you would like more information.

Holiday Club 2020
Following the success of our two previous holiday clubs, we are planning to hold this event again in 2020 on 20th, 21st & 22nd July. We need a minimum of 6 volunteers each day to help with crafts, games and serve drinks and fruit. We currently have 4 volunteers, so if you can help, even if it is only for one day, please contact Hilary on 07980 596646. A decision as to whether we can run the holiday club will be made in the new year, so please get in touch asap. You will not be expected to run any activities single handedly and full training and information will be given. At St Andrew’s we are committed to safeguarding all our children and young people, so we will safely recruit all volunteers and expect a DBS check to be completed with the help of our Safeguarding Officer.

Donation
Through her talent for crafting, Rebecca Martin has raised a great total of £235.60 for much needed church funds. A great deal of patience is required to make such lovely items, and she informs me there will be more for sale throughout 2020, so please continue to support her. Well done!

Prayer Available
Please note that there is always someone willing to pray with you after the service about any need or concern you have. Please feel free to approach one of the prayer team direct or ask one of the clergy.

Norah Hall
We are extremely grateful to Norah, who has given a much appreciated legacy to St Andrew’s.

Nativity 2019
Many thanks to all those who supported the Nativity, whether by performing in it, helping out behind the scenes or by coming to watch it. Special thanks to Rob Shaw for the scenery and to Paul and Ying for the Alpacas.

Wednesday Communion
There will be no mid-week communion service on 1^st January.

PowerPoint
We are looking for an additional volunteer who would be willing on an occasional basis to operate the PowerPoint for the screens on Sunday morning. The volunteer would be expected to help once every couple of months or so.

Carols in Sutton Avenue
The church, working in conjunction with the My Eastern Green Facebook group will be providing carols in Sutton Avenue by the shops on Monday 22^nd December at 6pm.

Tots Praise
Tots Praise is going to have a holiday through January and February, restarting in March.

Crib Service
As in previous years, our Crib Service which seeks to bring the Christmas message to all ages will run twice over on Christmas Eve at 2.30 and 4pm. If you are willing to act as welcome/sidesperson for either of these services, please speak to Greg or Rebecca Martin.

Toy Appeal
Many thanks to all those who have so generously supported our Toy Appeal this year. The toys were taken to Coventry City Mission and will be distributed to children in the city who will otherwise have little or nothing to open on Christmas morning.

Catering for Marriage Preparation
We need two volunteers to provide up to 12 meals for our marriage preparation course in January; either 15^th or 22^nd. Please speak to Rebecca Martin if able to help.

Drama Club
Our drama club for 8-12 year olds has finished for the term. We meet at Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Church on Tile Hill Lane from 6-7pm. To find out, more speak to Greg or Carys. We start up again on January 14^th. All welcome.

Flower List
The new flower list for 2020 is now at the back of church. If you would like to pay for flowers for a particular week, please fill your name in as soon as possible to get the date you want. Thank you, Ann Dove.

Book Club
Our next book club meeting is on Thursday 23^rd January 2020, 7.30-9pm, at 55 Handsworth Crescent and everyone is welcome to come along. The book we are reading is: The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce a novel centred on a man who goes to post a letter and ends up walking 600 miles. The group is an opportunity to discuss the book and gain insight from others. Each person will need a copy of the book (or access an audio version of the book) and need to have read some of it before we meet. If you are interested please speak with Greg or Sue Masters.

Church Cleaning Opportunity
We have a very willing band of people who clean the church each week, but we are in need of more help please to share the burden. They clean the church on a Friday. The more volunteers we have the easier and quicker it is to clean. It would also mean we can set up two teams, so people aren’t required every week. The cleaning takes a couple of hours and is an important form of ministry. Many of our visitors comment on how lovely and clean the church looks when they visit and this doesn’t happen by chance, but by the efforts of those who clean. If you can help please speak to Jackie Lynch or one of the Churchwardens.

Christmas Services
Tues Dec 24^th at 2.30pm and 4pm – Crib Services
Tues Dec 24^th at 11pm – Midnight Communion
Weds Dec 25^th at 10am – Parish Communion

Sponsored Walk
Many thanks to all those who sponsored our walkers in September. Just in excess of £1500 was raised for the church and Kidz Klub, Tile Hill who will use the money for supporting children in the Tile Hill area, many of whom experience significant disadvantages.

Social Calendar
Rod Stewart – Feb 8^th (tickets on sale at £12 – see Rosemarie Over)

Service of Contemplation
From the new year, what was formerly known as the Ignatian Service has been rebranded as a Service of Contemplation. The format won’t change, with 20 minutes of reflection, exploring different spiritualities e.g. Ignatian, Julian, Benedictine, followed by 20 minutes of socialising with refreshments being served, followed by a candle-lit compline service. All welcome.

Transport for Medical Appointments
St Andrew’s new service, offering lifts to medical appointments at Coventry doctors and hospital has started. To book a lift, please contact Julie on 07756 918847 or administrator@standrews-eg.org.uk. It is important that as much notice as possible is given. We are enormously grateful to all our volunteer drivers who have freely offered their time. We still need more volunteers if you willing to offer a lift, perhaps once a fortnight.  his message of thanks shows how valuable the service can be:
“I just wanted to take this opportunity to thank you for organising my lift to Walsgrave Hospital today. I would like to put on record how fabulous both Hilary and Steve were getting me there in plenty of time. As I really didn’t know where I needed to go when I got there Steve escorted me to the outpatients department and to the correct reception desk for my clinic. The have certainly redeemed my faith in the human race, particularly at this time.”

Mission Partners
Our latest newsletter from Dan & Phillipa Munday, our Mission Partners, is at the back of church (in the red folder).

Prayer List
Please pray for Jane Caswell, Jean Carter, Beryl Poppitt, Colin Sanders, Flix Haynes, Josie Yates, Beryl Lee and Rosemary Pottinger. To add names to the list please contact Julie at administrator@standrews-eg.org.uk or 07756 918847.