Hello Everyone,
As you see from the proliferation of festive events on this Newsy Email, ‘tis very much the season! While I have yet to surrender to the first mince pie of the year and I'm still in ‘Whamageddon,’ I am already very aware of what Mariah Carey wants for Christmas (apparently, it’s me – I was as surprised as you!).

And yet at Church, as excited as we are about Christmas, we are first called to sit with Advent. A time in the church year, like lent, which is usually marked with contemplation, a season of waiting – remembering both the wait of the people of God for their long-promised Messiah, and also our wait for God to come again and make all things new and good.

So, we at St. Wilfrid’s will be sitting with that tension as best we can.
We’ll be putting on carol services, lighting up the tree, gathering with joy, and cherishing the slight return to normal after last year.
We’ll also be finding time to sit in quiet, to grieve for those no longer with us, and to bear with those of us who find this time of year hard.

I pray you will all find what you need this season.
Come join us at church (if tickets permit) – we’ll be here to walk with you, on whatever part of this journey through Christmas you need us for.

Every Blessing,
Rev’d Rob

Advent Sunday Services
Christmas is fast approaching and that means Advent Sunday is tomorrow!
We have our usual Sunday morning services at 9am and 11am, and then in the evening at 7pm we have a very special Advent Praise Service. There will be live music from Jonathan on the organ, and mulled wine & mince pies after.
Come and join us as we prepare and look forward to celebrating the birth of Jesus. Due to regulations, numbers attending the evening service are limited.
To reserve a seat, please contact the [email protected], or speak Sandra or Dan in church tomorrow morning.

Quiet Hour: Midweek Advent Communion w/ Contemplative Prayer
This new service will take place in church every Wednesday at 12pm for the next four weeks during Advent. Led by Rob, it will be an opportunity to have some quiet time with contemplative prayer and receive communion.
We hope you’ll join us; everyone is welcome.

Messy Christmas!
The next Messy Church will soon be here. Look out for a special newsletter in your Inbox next week that will give you all the details.

Divine Advent Calendars
Have you got your Advent calendar yet? Countdown the days to Christmas with a Fairtrade Divine milk chocolate advent calendar. Available at the back of church for just £4.50.

Christmas Flowers in Church
Planning is underway for decorating our church ready for the festive season.
The tree is ordered and the lights are untangled! The Flower Team will be in church to decorate from 9am-12pm on Saturday 11th December.
Come along and lend a hand! The team will welcome anyone who would like to help. Donations of Christmas tree spruce, holly with berries, and green foliage are needed. Or donations in the green flower box on the Welcome Table will be gratefully received.
Many Thanks, Julie Horan.

Churchyard
Help is still needed in our churchyard, please contact [email protected] if you can spare some time.

Drive-in Carols
This year we're excited to be supporting the Drive-In carols event organised by Wortley & Farnley Parish Church. It's happening on Saturday 19th December at 5:30pm & 7:30pm in the Dunelm carpark, Holbeck.
Our initial support will be a donation from our offerings made in church at the Advent Sunday Services, but if you’d like to contribute before then you can click here.

They also require stewards to help on the day. It would be great if we could send a team from Calverley Parish. If you can lend a hand, please contact their vicar, the Rev’d Claire Corley, at [email protected].
And for more information about their Drive-In carols, please click here to watch their video.