A while ago, probably during the summer, we wondered about how we meet God and how God meets us – and the answers that came from people in the congregation were as beautiful and varied as the people who gave them. Last week, Rob mentioned that there are ways seek out in worship that we know we find helpful and that feed our souls, but that also how lovely it can be to be surprised by God in ways of prayer or worship that we might feel less comfortable with or that are new to us.

I wonder if you have ever tried the quiet communion service that happens in Church every Monday at midday? If you have never been, here is how it works: Sitting in the choir stalls, we use a simple said communion service, including reading a psalm together. So far, so straightforward. What differentiates this service is that it contains two prolonged periods of silence. The first comes after the Gospel reading. There’s a short reflection, we re-read it slowly, and then we then pause and wonder in silence about what in that reading we felt drawn towards. What might it say to us? What might we have said or done were we a part of the situation described. We allow ourselves time to immerse ourselves in the reading and sometimes we share what we discovered. It's an approach based upon the Ignatian tradition of lectio divina – an ancient monastic practice of praying with and through Scripture.

We use the second time of silence for prayers for ourselves and others. There are candles to light and we might burn incense – a fragrant symbol of our prayers rising to God. I don’t know how you ‘find’ God, or allow God to find you, but for me, times of stillness, silence, and reflection are really helpful. Sometimes, during the joyful bustle of worship on Sundays I find myself wanting to be a little quieter and it’s lovely know that on Monday at Midday there is a service of Holy Communion that offers longer periods of stillness and quiet.

So I would suggest if you are ever free on Monday at Midday and like a bit of peace and quietness, come along to Monday’s Quiet Communion. If you are someone who really loves the busy, active style of worship and has not tried a more contemplative style, come along to Monday’s Quiet Communion!
Come and be met by God in stillness and wonder. On a Monday lunchtime!

With love from,
Lizzie

Choral Evensong for Advent
Tomorrow evening at 6:30pm we have a Service of 'Choral Evensong' for Advent, with beautiful advent hymns & refreshments of mulled wine and mince pies available afterwards. Do come along and invite any friends or family who might appreciate the reflective and anticipatory atmosphere of a Traditional Advent Church service.

Ask Me Anything (AMA)
Then next Sunday 10th December is the next opportunity to ask Rob anything!
In particular, if you have questions around the recent Exodus sermon series or about Inclusive Church, this would be the perfect time to raise them – have a think and drop your question to Rob by email ([email protected]) or in the box at the back of church.

Knickers!
We would like to offer gifts of pampering lotions, potions, make-up, scarves, gloves, hats – and nice packs of undies – to women who have fled domestic abuse and are in refuges this Christmas. Please bring any gifts that might bring a bit of Joy to a woman in that situation to Church next Sunday 10th December. If you're wondering what size to buy, buy your size!

Memorial Carol Service
For all who are missing someone this Christmas, we're holding a Reflective Carol Service on Tuesday 12th December at 7pm in Church.

Decorating Church for Christmas
We'll be decorating Church for Christmas on Saturday 16th December between 9am-12pm. All are welcome to join-in, no experience is necessary – just bring some secateurs! Any donations of evergreen foliage or fir-tree branches are gratefully received and can be dropped off on Friday 15th outside Church on the grass by the porch, or by 9am on the Saturday morning.
Thank you, Kim Pollard.

St. Wilfrid’s Singers Choir Rehearsals
The next Rehearsals with Jonathan for St. Wilfrid’s Singers for our 7pm Christmas Eve Service are in Church on 9th December 11am-12pm, 11th December 6-7pm, 18th December 6-7pm, and 21st December 6-7pm. You are not expected to be able to attend all of these, but do come if you want to join in – it’s not too late! Any questions feel free to contact [email protected]

Christmas Services – Bookings Open for Christingle
Our leaflet showing services over the Christmas period are now available in church or online here. Please take one and pass on to family and friends!
If you can help out at any of our Christmas services with readings, prayers, chalice etc, please contact [email protected]
To book a place at either of our Christingle services (Saturday 16th at 4pm and Sunday 17th at 11am) please email the [email protected]

ChurchSuite
Here at Calverley Parish Church use a secure online database called ChurchSuite to safely store your contact details instead of paper copies. If you haven’t yet provided your information to us via ChurchSuite, it makes it very hard for us to get in touch with you, so please do sign up! For more information from Revd. Rob and to sign up, please click here, and help us be the strong connected community we're called to be.

Bradford North Foodbank
Margaret Roundhill would appreciate help getting all the donations we make to the Foodbank. It isn’t far to Eccleshill, and the more help, the fewer visits everyone makes! Let’s get our food on the move!
Donations requested for the Foodbank Christmas parcels are:
• Tinned Ham 
• Tinned Halal Meat
• Christmas Cake/Slab
• Christmas Pudding
• Box Chocolates/Bar
• Children’s Selection Box
• Chocolate Biscuits/Variety Packs
• Crisps/Savoury Snacks
• Custard
• Hot Chocolate

Parish Share
As I’m sure you know, I believe it is our privilege to pay Parish Share in The Diocese of Leeds. Parish Share is the main income supply for the Diocese, paying for the salaries of clergy like Lizzie and I, for housing, training, and all the staff that we lean on to do our ministry who advise and support of Children’s Work, Safeguarding, Finance, Tech, and so on. This year our Share was around £68,000, on top of our regular running costs of around £60,000 for wages, bills etc. By far the majority of our income is from the faithful regular giving of the congregation. As we approach the end of the year, we will only be around £4,000 short of that annual total of nearly £130,000, which is tantalisingly close! Your PCC would like to let you know that we will therefore be paying nearly all of our Parish Share this year, with the hope of paying the full amount in the New Year. Having told the Diocese this, we have received messages of thanks from the Finance Team, from Bishop Arun, and from Archdeacon Paul Ayers. Let me add my own thanks, this is a significant achievement! A message from Bishop Nick is available to watch online here.
If you would like to give to the work and ministry of our church, which includes missional giving such as Parish Share, do get in touch with Margaret Roundhill ([email protected]) to talk about the Parish Giving Scheme - a wonderfully simple and tax-efficient way to donate regularly, or see the link at the bottom of this email.
Yours with Great Gratitude,
Rob

Please send any items to be included in our Weekly Family Newsletter to:
[email protected]
The work and ministry of Calverley Parish Church is supported by the generous giving of the church community, and we receive no outside funding. You can make a donation or sign up to regular giving, including Gift Aid, via our Parish Giving page online here.
Thank You for your support.