Advent Sunday & Gift Day (27 November) 2011

Laying on of hands, with or without anointing and prayer for healing of spirit, emotions and body are available in the South Transept (to the right of the pulpit) immediately after 10.30am Sunday Worship, on request to any of the following: Andrew or Biddy Dawson, Kathy or Graham Lees, Alf Wild or Barbara Duxbury. If possible ask someone other than Graham or Andrew, as they are the least likely to be available. The person you approach will ask another member of the Healing Team to join you both in the South Transept for ministry.

Inviting residents to Christmas Worship: the Church Council has decided to deliver invitation cards to the 370+ non-Muslim households who live in St Thomas’ parish. The cards will give details of the Christingle Carol Service and the Holy Communions on Christmas Eve and Day. People can deliver cards in pairs and, if so moved, knock on doors or ring bells. Otherwise, people can deliver the cards on their own, probably without knocking on doors or ringing bells. We ask that the cards be delivered from next Sunday, 4 December, and the cards will be available from that day in St Thomas’. The cards will be in packs according to streets or groups of streets with approx 40 cards in each pack.

Prayer letter from Beth Jennings about the Children’s Uplift Programme in Dhaka, Bangladesh – copies at the back.

Colour photograph calendars with Scripture encouragements published by Word of Life, in English, Farsi, Urdu, and Bengali – all available at the back. Others can be ordered. £1.50 each. Usually well-received by non-Christians.

Mothers’ Union Christmas Coffee Morning: admission £1 including mince pie and coffee. Raffle and Bring & Buy. Saturday 3 December, 10.30am to 12 noon, in our School.

Festival of Light organised by the Interfaith Forum, contributions in speech, music and dance by Christians, Muslims, Hindus and Jews. At the Grand Venue (former Anchor Mill), Daisy Street, Featherstall Road, at 6.30pm on Thursday 8 December. Entry by free ticket from Andrew.

Advent Quiet Morning: two addresses by the Revd Sue Morgan, Eucharist led by Bishop Mark. 9.30 – 1.30 on Saturday 10 December at All Saints & Martyrs, Langley, Middleton.

‘Good News for Muslims’ is a booklet all about the beliefs of Islam, their history and customs. Pick up a copy from the back.

   THANKSGIVING AND PRAYER REQUESTS  

• Tudor Community Sports group – meeting on Monday
• Ourselves, as we listen to God during Advent
• Give thanks for one another at the Mothers’ Union Coffee Morning on Saturday
• Give thanks for teachers, assistants and children of our Sunday School
• People connected with our church engaged in outreach at home and abroad: especially all working for Word of Life in outreach to Muslims in Oldham, Australia and elsewhere; for those writing, using and marking correspondence courses on the Christian Faith; for the witness of Scripture texts on calendars used throughout the year
• Refugees and people seeking asylum: Give thanks that Andy, Azam, Marzia and baby Danny have refugee status. Pray for them as they change their income and housing arrangements. Pray for others still seeking asylum: David, Sobia, young Sara and Daniel William; Hawani; Maryam; Alireza; Azra; Nilou; Mahtab; Ali; Shabnam; Hooman; Masood; Afsana; Haleh; Mohammed; Arash, those taking part in home group.
• Those who are unwell: give thanks for progress in Joan Finlayson and Mavis Booth. Continue to pray for them, and for Ivy Reynolds, young Harry Pleasant, Jenny Bartlett, Comal Sankaran, Norman and Alma Flint, Andy and Ruth Sharrock, Beatrice Howard, young Aaron Funnell, Raymond Scott, Alan Broome, Enid Gregson, Dinah McLeod, Ron & Marjorie Spivey, Tom Parkinson, Chris Buckley, Carl Withers, Angela James, the victims of famine in East Africa, and others whom we know.
• The bereaved: in particular the families and friends of David Barnett, and those who have died of starvation in East Africa.

All material for the church bulletin should be given to Andrew no later than Wednesday lunchtime.

Please take this bulletin with you when you leave.

Please do not leave it in your service book or in the pew.