I remember thinking at the start of my curacy in July how strange it was to have spent so long preparing for this time in my life – around five years – and that now I was finally here, wasn’t it lovely, and wasn’t it, well, fairly quiet actually! It was summer, and the service pattern changed, people were on holiday and in terms of what there was to do, well, whilst there was plenty to learn, things were pleasantly “steady away”. And part of me loved that, and part of me found it a little strange. This was the ‘now’ that I had been gearing up for, but it was also the ‘not yet’ for I knew there was plenty about to happen soon, the gentle summer start wouldn’t last too long, so I enjoyed it whilst it lasted.

Advent is a time of ‘now’ and ‘not yet’, particularly in churches, when the now is often about celebrating Christmas as often as possible through out December with schools and scouts and in care homes. But with the ‘not yet’ of Advent always hovering in the background. We are at once exactly where we are meant to be, and busily spreading the good news of the Christ child to everyone and anyone, but we are also told to wait as more is to come. The manger is still empty.

Someone described Advent as turning off the lights before you bring in the birthday cake. A moment of expectation and excitement. The air is charged.  I think our challenge is to enjoy that tension of ‘now’ and ‘not yet’, to be itchy for something new and exciting but patient and reconciled to the waiting, to make some space in our hearts and heads to appreciate that there is still an empty manger, and a Jesus who has both come to us and not yet returned. Enjoy the Advent ‘not yet’ in all the ‘now’ of Christmas.

With love from,
Lizzie

Sunday 17th December
Our services are back to their usual times of 9:15am and 11am, but it's a Christingle at 11am, so please book via the [email protected] if you plan to come along at 11am.

Decorating Church for Christmas
We'll be decorating Church for Christmas this 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.

Faith & Generosity Videos
We're continuing to think of ways in which we can be generous in our faith – watch out for some short videos from Rob & Lizzie over the Christmas period via our YouTube Channel online here. Episode 1 is already available now!

Christingles
Our Christingle Services will be on Saturday 16th at 4pm and Sunday 17th at 11am in Church. (Booking required, see above).

Christmas Eve Services:
10am Quiet Communion
2:30pm All-Age Carol Service
7pm Carols By Candlelight
11pm Midnight Mass

Christmas Day Service
10am Church Family Festival Communion

Sunday 31st December
10am New Year’s Eve Quiet Communion

St. Wilfrid's Choir Rehearsals
Are still ongoing but if you would like to join us there are still a couple of rehearsals coming up – tenors are particularly welcome!
Monday 18th 6-7pm, Thursday 21st 6-7pm in Church.
Please contact [email protected] if you have any questions.

Funeral Service – Brenda Cougan
The Funeral service of our dear sister in Christ, Brenda Cougan, will take place in Church next Thursday 21st December at 2:30pm. Please accept this invitation on behalf of Brenda’s family to attend and support them at this sad time. All are also invited to the Thornhill Arms after the service to share happy memories of Brenda.

Bradford North Foodbank
Margaret Roundhill would still appreciate some help delivering 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!
Please contact [email protected] if you can help.
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

Please send any items to be included in our Weekly Family Newsletter to:
[email protected]

The work & ministry of Calverley Parish Church is supported by the generous giving of the 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.