Rochdale Faith News: Saturday, December 10 |

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St Luke’s Church, Deeplish

St Luke’s Church, Deeplish will hold a Family Nativity service on 11th December at 10am.

Monday, December 12: Bible Study – 10.30am in the church side room. This is open to anyone who wants to find out more about the Bible in a friendly, informal setting. We are continuing our Advent course, you can still take part if your missed last week.

Wednesday, December 14: 2pm Board Games Club. Several board games will be out as well as Scrabble.

If you don’t know how to play Scrabble but would like to learn or you are an experienced player who want to have a couple of hours of friendly social chat and a game of scrabble come along. No need to book, just turn up.

Thursday, December 15: Ladies only Zumba at 10am. It costs £3 and you need to book, please contact catherine.szymanskyj2@yourtrustrochdale.com or ring 07814 712 271. This will be the last session before Christmas.

We look forward to welcoming our regular members and anyone who would like to join our very friendly, caring congregation.

Hebron Pentecostal Church

This week, December 11 – 18

10.30am Morning Service, 1pm Nepalese fellowship. Cafe open after the morning service.

Monday: Peek a Boo, Mother & Toddler Group 9.30am-11am.

Friday: 10-11am, Breakfast Club, Power Pack 5-6.30pm, Prayer Meeting 6.30pm, Youth 7-8.30pm.

Christmas events

Saturday, December 17: Christmas Concert 6pm for 6.30pm start. Hot chocolate and mince pies.

Sunday, December 18: Morning Service, 10.30am ‘Experience Christmas’.
Christmas Day: Family Service, 10.30am.

New Year’s Day: Morning Service 10.30am.

If you would like to book onto any of our events or just need a little more information, then please contact us on 01706 630 197 or email info@hebronrochdale.co.uk. You can also visit the website here. Hebron Pentecostal Church is at Howard Street, Rochdale OL12 6LB

Love and serve God, Love, and serve people, Share God with people.

Littleborough United Reformed Church

Tomorrow’s service is the 3rd Sunday in Advent, and will be conducted by Margaret Ogden and will start at 10.30 am. Coffee will be served after the service.

Tuesday: 6.30pm-7.30pm, Qigong.

Wednesday: 11.30am-12.30om, Armchair Assisted Yoga.

Thursday: 1.30pm, Tai Chi.

St Andrew’s, Dearnley

We have our Carol Service tomorrow (Sunday) at 3pm and we are delighted to announce that several members of the hugely talented Wardle Anderson Brass will be with us for what is always a very popular service.

Everyone likes a good carol singalong in the run-up to Christmas. All are welcome to ALL our services and communal activities, but this one especially signals that the birth of Jesus in the stable (our crib is up by the way) is fast approaching.

Christmas at St Andrew’s is like this:

December 11: Carol Service at 3pm.

December 17: We’ll be part of the Littleborough Churches Together’s ‘Carols in the Park’ – a big sing in Hare Hill Park, 2pm.

December 23: Christingle making in our parish room, 2pm.

December 24: Christingle and Nativity service, 3pm.

December 24: Midnight Mass, 11.30pm.

December 25: Christmas Day service, 9.30am.

January 1: We host a Combined Service at 10.30am, followed by brunch.

For more information please contact standrewsbooking@outlook.com

In the meantime, our community-based WWW (Warm Welcome Wednesday) project is up and running and will continue every Wednesday in Church from 9am to 4.30pm. St Andrew’s is a free, safe, warm, welcoming environment for anyone who would like to visit us.

We offer refreshments, lunch, Wi-Fi (all FREE), phone charging facilities, disabled toilets with proper access, board games, space to read and the opportunity to meet new people. We’d love to welcome ALL to our Christian sanctuary – and we do mean ALL – so why not pop in for a brew and a chat.

We look forward to seeing you soon.

Our Mothers Union hosted a joint Advent Service last Monday as part of our Mission Community program in which we are linked with St James, Milnrow and St Thomas, Newhey. Preacher was the Rev Janet Pitman, vicar of St James.

Talking of Advent, and the exciting few weeks used as our time of preparation for the coming of Jesus as a baby in the stable, it’s the third Sunday of Advent tomorrow when we will have two major services – our Sung Eucharist at 9.30am and then Carol’s at 3pm. Please feel welcome at either, or even at both.

St Chad’s and St Mary in the Baum

For more than 800 years, St Chad’s, on Sparrow Hill, overlooking the town centre, has been Rochdale’s Parish Church. With our sister church, St Mary in the Baum, we provide largely traditional forms of Anglican worship, and you are warmly welcome to join us.

Last Thursday, December 1, Springhill Hospice returned to St Chad’s for their splendid “Light up a Life” service of poems, prayers and carols, with organist Philip Lowe and members of Rochdale Music Service’s brass band accompanying the singing. The Rt Rev Mark Davies, Bishop of Middleton, led the service, which included the carols “Once in Royal David’s City”, “Ding Dong Merrily on High” and “Hark the Herald Angels Sing”.

St Chad’s choir sang “Like a Candle Flame”, and tenor Harry Sharples sang “O Holy Night”, accompanied by Celia Tope. Prayers were led by the Bishop; whilst the Vicar, the Rev Anne Gilbert, read from St Luke’s Gospel; and members of Spinghill Hospice read poems especially chosen for the occasion.

The choir of Broadfield Primary School sang “Power in Me” and “We Wish you a Merry Christmas”. As the church lights were dimmed, candles were lit for everyone to hold, and the giant Christmas tree at the front of the church was lit, symbols of the importance of light.

The Bishop spoke of the fear of darkness and the power of light. He said life and hope are both offered by the staff of Springhill, by volunteers and supporters.

At the heart of the Christmas message is the concept that God isn’t far away and comes into our lives. The baby in the manger is for everyone, of all faiths or none. Light and love will always triumph over darkness.

In a darkened world we are all ambassadors of light and love, and this will banish the darkness.

The Bishop closed the service by thanking the congregation for joining in the Light up a Life service and for their continuing support, which enabled the Hospice “to offer the highest quality of care to those in our community. We really couldn’t do it without you!” he emphasized.

Tomorrow, Sunday, December 11, is the 3rd Sunday in Advent. A service of carols is at St Mary’s at 9.15am, led by Hannah Currin.

Choral Eucharist and The Mayor’s Carol Service are at St Chad’s at 11.15am. Items by the choir include “My Lord and Savior is my Song” (Magnificat by Rizza) and “A Great and Mighty Wonder”. The celebrant and preacher is the vicar.

Each Monday, at St Mary’s, the Red Cross provides help for refugees from 10am until 2pm. Refreshments are served and admission is free.

On Wednesday next, December 14, at St Mary’s, the Toad Lane Lunchtime Concert features Notability, a mixed voice choir with accompanist Lesley Cavanagh. Admission is £6.

On Thursday next, December 15, at St Chad’s, Morning Prayers are at 10am.”A Place of Welcome” is from 10.30am until noon, with coffee, cake and fellowship. Admission is free.

Sunday next, December 18, is the 4th in Advent. The Eucharist is at St Mary’s at 9.15 am when the celebrant and preacher is Fr Darren Quinlan.

At St Chad’s at 11.15am the annual Candlelit Carol Service is held, with readings and items by the choir, and favorite carols for the congregation to join in. Led by the Vicar. Seasonal refreshments follow.

The Asian Christian Fellowship meets each Sunday at St Chad’s at 1pm.

St Chad’s thanks to all helpers and all who came to last Saturday’s successful Christmas Fayre.

St Mary’s, Balderstone

Can you believe it’s that time already?!

This weekend we’re starting the run up to Christmas. Beginning with this morning, we have a special Christmas themed coffee morning from 10am till noon.

Do you need a break amid all the planning and preparations? Why not pop in for a brew and a chat or mince pies and non-alcoholic mulled wine.

Christmas decorations and Christmas Hyacinths will be available together with the usual cake and craft stall. Perfect for those last-minute stocking fillers or perhaps a treat for yourself. Admission is free, and a warm welcome awaits.

We’d love to welcome you tomorrow at 10.30am as we revisit Christ’s birth in our nativity service. This family friendly service is always full to the brim with carols, drama, and lots of festive fun.

Feel free to come dressed as your favorite character from the Christmas Story. Light refreshments will be served in the parish room after the service.

There will be no prayer gathering tomorrow evening. The prayer group will resume in the new year.

On Tuesday SMuRFs will be celebrating with our Christmas party (1.30pm – 3pm in the parish room). There will be games, food and a special visitor too.

This will be the last session before the holidays. SMuRFs will resume on January 10 2023.

Advance notice: There will be a community carol sing on Saturday, December 17 at 11am in the church grounds (with minced pies and mulled wine).

If you prefer something a bit warmer, on Sunday evening (18) we have our annual carol service in church. A beautiful candlelit Christmas service with readings, carols and a message. All welcome, no need to book, just show up and sing.

For further information please get in touch by email stmarysbalderstone@gmail.com or see our Facebook page.

The Benefit of Littleborough.

Sunday, December 11. The Third Sunday of Advent.

9am is Holy Communion at St. Barnabas, Shore; 10.15am is Holy Communion at Holy Trinity; 11.30am is Holy Communion at St James, Calderbrook; 6pm Carol Service at Holy Trinity. Mince pies will be served after the carol service.

You are very welcome to join us at any of our services. For further information please click here or ring 01706 375 322 and leave a message.

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