Third Sunday in Advent (11 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.

Christmas Flowers for St Thomas’: donations may be placed on the dish so labelled at the back.

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

Posters advertising Christingle are available at the back. Do you know of somewhere to display one, where people can get close enough to read it?

Prayer Letter from Joe and Denny Fleming, copies at the back.

Christmas Holy Communion in Farsi: Tuesday 20 December at 6.15pm.

Gift Day: the current total is £6317, compared with £4616 in 2010. Many thanks to all, and thank God.

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.

Dr Kershaw’s Calendars at £3.50 are available from Ron Vickers and Maureen Yarwood.

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

Congratulations to D, M and K W! K was born on November 30th. All are well. They will be in Oldham in February.

   THANKSGIVING AND PRAYER REQUESTS  

• Christmas Experience – tableaux with years 4, 5 and 6 of our school, church members and teachers participating
• Christingle Carol Service – all taking part, all thinking about coming
• Residents receiving invitations to Christmas at St Thomas’
• Carol-singing at  the care homes
• Ourselves, as we listen to God during Advent
• People connected with our church engaged in outreach at home and abroad: especially Shelagh Wynne in Thailand, an administrator equipping serving Friends of China; and all involved in service and outreach at the Salt Cellar
• 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; Karimihussain
• 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, Nellie Geraghty, and those who have died of starvation in East Africa.

All material for the church bulletin should be given to Andrew not 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.