Last night was the ‘Churches Together’ community carol service at the parish church in Goldthorpe. Our church – minus several members who were ill – provided the music for the evening and setting up the instruments and projector screen is always a challenge!
The service began outside in the darkness, symbolising our journey from darkness to light (Is 9:6-7).
Members of the Salvation Army represented Mary and Joseph’s journey with baby Jesus:
During the service, Alison from the Salvation Army spoke about the message of hope we have. Each person was invited to write their hopes and prayers on a gift tag which was then hung on a Christmas tree, which will travel around the local churches during December so that we can pray for all these requests. A collection at the end of the service raised £88.16, which will be divided equally between the Salvation Army Christmas Appeal and the missionary work of the Maris Convent.
This was the final ‘Churches Together’ event of this year, but as we look back on all God had done through these gatherings and on the excellent relationships being developed between local churches – people from the parish church in Barnburgh and the Methodist churches in Bolton-on-Dearne and Great Houghton attended, along with people from the Goldthorpe parish church, Salvation Army and Pentecostal church and the Maris convent in Goldthorpe – we are grateful for all that God is doing in our local area and look forward with eager anticipation to the next ‘Churches Together’ meeting on Saturday 17th January at 7 p.m. at Furlong Road Methodist Church.