Swaffham Newsletter

Swaffham Baptist Church
Dates for December 2018
Saturday 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd and 29th December
Fellowship Prayer 9.30-10.30am
Sunday 2nd December (1st Sunday in Advent)
Toy Service with Holy Communion 10.30am
Sunday 9th December (2nd Sunday in Advent)
Morning Service 10.30 am
Sunday 16th December (3rd Sunday in Advent)
Morning Service with Holy Communion 10.30am.
Sunday 23rd December (4th Sunday in Advent)
Morning Service 10.30am
Carols by Candlelight 6pm
Tuesday 25th December
Christmas Day Service 10am to 10.45
Friday 28th December
Social and Games Evening in Church Hall 7.30pm
Sunday 30th December
Morning Service 10.30am
All are most welcome to join us to worship together
at any of the above Services and will receive a
warm welcome. This is a special time of year as we
celebrate the coming and birth of Jesus.
Swaffham Baptist Church
Do you remember the millennium? The days before
were full of anticipation, excitement and hope that the
the next 1000 years would bring a better world. I was
helping to prepare a large family party for millennium
eve when I fell and broke my arm. I went to the party,
plastered up, arm in sling, watching others enjoying
games and dancing, feeling sorry for myself.
During the evening, unexpectedly, someone with a
microphone asked me to tell everyone what my hopes
and dreams were for the next millennium. I said what
was uppermost in my mind - that my broken arm
would heal quicky, so I could get on with my life.
The next person who answered the question said
she hoped for peace throughout the world; others
following said for every single person to feel loved and
cared for, justice for all, food to be shared so no-one
went hungry, for more joy and happiness, and so it
went on.
Thinking it over later I realised my mistake - on a
momentous occasion like the millennium, all I could
think of was my own (temporary) situation. I forgot
the bigger picture.
During December we see all around us reminders of
the world we all hope for; on cards, decorations, in
the special music we hear. If we can all look beyond
our busy preperations to see the "bigger picture" of
peace, love, caring, bringing joy and happiness to
those around us and beyond, how much better would
our family life, towns, villages, country and beyond
be. I remember a song from around 2000:
'Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me'.
1 st December – 8 th December
St. Peter & St. Paul Church, Swaffham
The countdown is on for our eighth
Christmas Tree Festival starting
on Saturday 1st December until
Saturday 8th December at 4pm
Refreshments will be served every day
With 29 trees decorated by local charities
Do not miss coming along this year.
Open every day from 10am to 4pm
Sunday 11am to 4pm
Admission FREE
Everyone very welcome
For details contact Gill Creed on
01760 724559 / 721237
Swaffham Methodist Church
N.B. Venue SHOULD be at our own Methodist Church building.
Sat 1st Dec 9am - 12 noon Christmas Coffee Morning
with stalls. Swaffham Methodist Church and Schoolroom.
All morning breakfast £5.
Sun 2nd Dec 10.45am Morning Worship with Rev
Andrew King followed by refreshments.
Thurs 6th Dec 2.30pm Nativity Narratives. Advent
Bible study with Rev. Liz Jolly.
Fri 7th Dec 9.30am - 10am Power of Prayer.
Fri 7th Dec 7.30pm. Concert by The Phoenix Singers
& St Withburga Hand Handbell Ringers followed by
festive refreshments. Admission £7.
Sun 9th Dec 10.45am Morning Worship followed by
refreshments.
Wed 12th Dec 7pm Churches Together Carol Concert
in the Assembly Rooms.
Thurs 13th Dec 2.30pm Thursday Group Advent
Service followed by refreshments.
Fri 14th Dec 9.30am - 10am Power of Prayer.
Sun 16th Dec 10.45am. Carol Service led by Rev
Andrew King followed by refreshments.
Fri 21st Dec 9.30am - 10am. Power of Prayer.
Sun 23rd Dec 10.45am. Local Arrangement followed
by refreshments.
Mon 24th Dec 3pm. Crib Service.
Tues 25th Dec 10am Christmas Service led by Rev.
Andrew King.
Sun 30th Dec 10.45am. Morning Worship followed
by refreshments.
Just Hair/London Marathon Charity Ball
Just Hair/London Marathon Charity Ball for The
National Autistic Society. We would like to say a Huge
Thank you to everyone who supported our Charity
Ball at Lynford Hall on Saturday 17th November.
Special thanks to all our sponsors; Keith Dickerson,
Jayne Cross and Lucy Dickerson of Thain Wildbur
Dereham, Christine Moore of Necton Labour
Supplies, Gill, Keith, all the girls and customers of
Just Hair, Tony and Maggie Abel of Abel Homes, Gary
Evans ( DJ Gaz) Jim and Karl of Big Smiles Photography,
Royal Stud Sandringham, Wildbloods, Pedlars Gold,
Starlings, Laurie of Bespoke Cheesecakes, Amanda
Gulliver Jary of Jarrolds Norwich, Man Utd Football
Club, Norwich City Football Club, Ben Powley, Tanya
Pitt, Teresa Allen, Dean Moulton, Joan Simmons,
Karen Bowman, Necton Windmill, Val and John
Camish, Emma Wilson of 2cHolidays, Kay of The
Market Cross, Hannah Wing, Mike of The Busy Bee
and Lynford Hall.
We thank all our families and friends who came
on the evening, helping us to raise a grand total of
£10,065. You are all amazing as always, we thank
you all from the bottom of our hearts.
Love from the Just Hair Marathon Team
Gill, Tanya, Lucy, Terry and John xxxxx
Merle Boddy Centre
Sister Frances visited with two very lovely young
ladies to give us a cheque for £180, which was
raised by the pupils of the Sacred Heart. This was a
very unexpected surprise, but a very welcome one.
I was invited to give a talk about the centre at the
school's morning assembly and I loved every second.
The school made my visit such a delight. Thanks to
everyone who took part in my demonstrations, to all
who asked such brilliant questions and of course to
all who listened to my talk.
Some of my craft minded clients put their hearts and
souls into producing such a lovely poppy display and
with some Norfolk rocks. The poppies were displayed
in the East of England Coop funeral's window; thank
you for giving us the space.
After a wonderful meal perhaps this wasn't the best
idea, but rock and roll was on the radio, so a jive was
in order. Hazel and Doug put me through my paces -
they certainly have got twinkle toes!
We are a stand-alone charity so we have to constantly
fundraise. This is a plea for if you have a hidden
bottle of wine you're just not going to drink, or a gift
you will never use. Please could we have them so we
can use them for prizes for our forthcoming events.
I would like to thank the community for helping us
whenever we ask, you never let us down.
Fundraising: We have placed around the town some
wonderful gifts to win, so please have a go. At the
moment they are in Red Lion, Ceres bookshop, Hair
Unique, Tea Pot Cafe and the White Hart, but you
may find them in other places too, it's only a pound
a square.
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