What we know about God is that he doesn’t seem to be in a hurry. That’s not easy for a culture like ours that is about our demands being met 24/7. We expect text messages to be answered immediately. We grow twitchy if Evri haven’t delivered our parcels in 48 hours. We buy stuff and pay it off, when our grandparents saved up and then bought stuff.
We want it all – and we want it now!
Advent tells a different story. It reminds us of the long wait for the Messiah: the years of faithless kings, conflicted priests, frustrated prophets and suffering people. We recall the years of praying ‘How long, O Lord, how long!.- and then he comes. Under the nose of the king and the court officials, but under the radar of most people. Unexpectedly and just on time.
Now it’s our turn, to wait for the Lord to return and transform this tired world. We call together ‘Maranatha’. We pray it hopefully – but not in a wistful way – but with a bold voice, convinced that God is always true to his promises. That in the same way as he went – so he will come again.
This advent. may we know that confident hope that will keep us walking faithfully with perseverance with a sense of joy in every step of the way.
As you wait, enjoy this.
Coming Up
Growing Leaders Course – session 2
Tuesday 2nd December | 7:30pm | The Vine
There are some people who have been given positions of leadership, and there are some people who will be given these positions in the future. Leading others – at work, in church, in voluntary groups, or in families – is hard work. It’s easy to get stressed out, anxious and rather than helping things to go well, inadvertently make it all worse.
Neil will be leading 8 monthly sessions exploring how we can lead really well, lead a little like Jesus did, and lead in ways that really benefit other people. For novices, or for people who wish they could have done a course like this years ago, you are welcome!
The second session of the course is on Tuesday, the 2nd December in the Vine at 7:30pm. If you missed the first session but want to be part of the course, please come along.
Worship Evening
Thursday 4th December | 7:30pm | The Vine
Come and spend time worshipping the King. A chance to sing, pause and listen and rejoice together.
Daytime Carol Singing – Are You Available?
Tuesday 2nd, Thursday 4th, Tuesday 9th or Thursday 11th | 10:00am and 2pm | Salford Royal
The hospital would like to invite people to sing on some of the wards on these dates: 2nd, 4th, 9th, and 11th December at 10am & 2pm each day. Contact Ian if you are available.
Christmas Carols – the Lowry
Sunday 7th December | 2:30pm – 3:30pm | The Lowry Shopping Mall
This is as simple as it sounds. People from different Salford Churches come together to sing carols for the shoppers around the plaza at The Lowry, Salford Quays. The gathering area is outside the main shopping mall doors. Please come and support!
Christmas Wreath Making
Saturday 13th December | 2pm | The Vine
This is a time for women (only) to gather to use all their creative skills to create wreaths. Please contact Sarah asap if you would like to come along. It’s £10 which covers the cost of the materials.
Candlelit Carol Service
Sunday 14th December | 6:30pm | Church
Time to sing all the faves. A chance to invite family and friends to join you. Invite them – all they can say is ‘no thanks’!
Christmas Film Night
Friday 19th December | 6pm | The Vine
Come and share some food from 6pm and then watch the family film together. The film to be watched? Still being decided. If you would like to lobby Susie with suggestions, please feel free! But be prepared to be disappointed! Die Hard is unlikely to make the final cut!
Decorating The vine
Saturday 20th, Monday 22nd, and Tuesday 23rd December | From 9am | The Vine
Bored of Christmas decorating? Why not help us refresh the paint in the Vine instead? All offerings of time are welcome. No skill needed, though clumsy people may like to bless the church another way!
Contact Charlie if you are available.
Christmas Services
On Sunday 21st December there will be an All Age Service in the morning at 11.30am.
There is a service at 10.30am on Christmas Morning.
There will be NO SERVICE on Sunday 28 December – the one Sunday in the year where there is no service!
Foundation Course
Begins 6th January | 7:30pm | The Vine
What is it about?
Laying a solid, complete, reliable foundation for your faith, and through that, your whole life in Christ.
Who is it for?
Especially new Christians, for people who know they want to follow Jesus, but aren’t entirely sure what that means yet!
Also for those who may have been Christians for some time, but have never had a chance to put all the bits together to understand how faith impacts life.
By the end of the course, you will….
- Have confidence you understand what Christians believe
- Have confidence in your living relationship with Jesus, knowing that you know him, and
- Have your own stories of what he is doing in your life.
Watch here to find out more.
Giving
Thanks to everyone who gives so faithfully – through Givit, Standing Orders or in cash. We really appreciate it. However you give, if you pay tax (and most of us do these days – even those of you receiving pensions) we can reclaim that tax for the church through Gift Aid. You don’t pay anymore but we receive 25% more. If you haven’t already signed up for this, please take a sheet from the Information stand, fill it out and give it us back. If you want to chat about it, see Jo Parkinson (our Finance Officer) or one of the pastors.
