Fourth Sunday in Advent (18 December) 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.

Many thanks to all who have contributed to the Christmas decorations and tableaux.

Some sad news: John Allison has died. Funeral arrangements are yet to be made.

Home-made Gift Tags are on sale at the back, 25p each in aid of St Thomas’.

Prayer Letter from D and M W – copies at the back.

Prayer Letter from Joe and Denny Fleming, 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.

Leaflets which may be of interest to someone you know: “Struggling to find Childcare” and “Free Nursery Places”, at the back.

   THANKSGIVING AND PRAYER REQUESTS  

• Praise God for being human in Jesus
• Pray for all families, often under pressure in the holiday period
• Pray for all who are alone
• People connected with our church engaged in outreach at home and abroad: especially the Jennings family in Bangladesh: James, an education consultant; Diane, a teacher; Hannah, researching Bangladeshi remedies; Beth, leading a project for women and children who have been abused; Nathaniel and Donna, presently in Ulster seeking good care for Micah and baby Tabitha; Sarah, teaching in Ceuta (a Spanish enclave on the Moroccan coast); Andrew at university in the US. Also 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. Also Joe and Denny Fleming at the Christian Medical Centre, Vellore, India – engaged not only in medical work but in witnessing to non-Christians and equipping Christians among staff and students; D, M, K and K W, teaching English and giving Christian experience to adults and children
• 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; that Karimihussain should be safe after arrest
• 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 John Allison, Rashid Masih, David Barnett, Nellie Geraghty, and those who have died of starvation in East Africa.