Yesterday was a truly hectic but very blessed time as the community showed its support of the Goldthorpe Christmas Market. Many have said they have never seen our community room so full and certainly it was a busy afternoon and evening.

Such events could not happen without the tireless work and unstinting support of volunteers who gladly give their time, money and effort to make such times a success. Their ideas, ingenuity in fund-raising and dedication make it a pleasure to work with them. We don’t have photos for all the people who worked behind the scenes (please don’t be offended if you’re not on here… you’re probably camera-shy or too busy to be snapped), but here are a few photos of those whose dedication made yesterday such a resounding success. We salute you and want you to know that God sees your efforts even when we don’t.

Volunteers contribute so much to our society, not only in terms of the hours they put in  or the effect they have on the economy or the difference they make to individuals. It’s very easy to be disengaged or apathetic, to feel that there are so many problems that our ‘little bit’ doesn’t make any dent into problems as a whole. But as yesterday’s efforts showed, every little bit does help and there is tremendous power in working together cheerfully and unselfishly. Lailah Gifty Atikah says “Good deeds awaken the good spirit of every soul.”

God’s people serve others out of the overflow of what they have received from God. Jesus said, ‘Freely you have received, freely give.’ (Matt 10:8) People give generously and freely out of the overflow of all God has given them and it’s a privilege to work with such people. Our prayer is that the money raised (£500!!) will help those struggling financially at this time and give them a Christmas to remember for all the right reasons. Christmas is the time when we remember how God came to us when we were desperate, how He embraced our humanity and worked to bridge the gulf that sin had created between us and God. We long to help others so that they too may know His all-encompassing love and grace. We thank everyone for their help and pray each one will know God’s abundant blessings on their lives.

One of the highlights for us as a church was being able to host a community carol service outdoors opposite the Christmas market yesterday. It was wonderful to see so many people joining in the carols and celebrating the birth of Jesus together.

Thank you to all who joined us in singing traditional (and some not-so-traditional!) carols.

To say that the Goldthorpe Christmas Market was a success is an understatement. Certainly, those inside the church building can’t comment on what was happening outside, because we were too busy inside to venture out! It was wonderful to be able to serve refreshments to so many people and we are thrilled that because of everyone’s unstinting support and help, we raised £492.35 for the Salvation Army Christmas Appeal, which benefactors rounded to £500. THANK YOU SO MUCH!

Here are some glimpses into the hectic hours between 4 and 8 p.m…

A Christmas donkey piñata raised £45. Clearly, people enjoy hitting inanimate objects and winning sweets, way more than I anticipated! I am quite certain the donkey traditionally pictured on Christmas cards didn’t look like this one, but people clearly thought it was a winner!

There was the opportunity to paint Christmas pine cones for tree decorations:

There was also the opportunity to have refreshments:

… and to get involved in craft activities:

If you didn’t feel ‘crafty’ enough, you could buy things people had already made, including Christmas hats and decorations:

… or win prizes:

… or have your presents wrapped:

The thing that most people wanted, however, was the deluxe hot chocolate with whipped cream and marshmallows or flakes!

We started out with three tubs of hot chocolate, 8 flakes, 2 packets of marshmallows and three tins of squirty cream. Several supermarket trips later (thanks, Mark and James!), we must have made hundreds of these drinks alone!

Yesterday saw the first Goldthorpe Christmas Market in many years, superbly organised by the Goldthorpe Development Fund. Every single one of the 64 market stalls was occupied with some excellent crafts and items for sale, along with rides in the car park.

Here are some photos of the preparation before the event:

Inside, we had lots of baking and craft things kindly donated by people:

So by 4 p.m., we were ready!

Thanks to everyone who helped at or attended the Parent & Toddler Christmas Party yesterday. As always, people’s generosity in giving to this event is outstanding and there was masses of food as usual!

As well as playing as usual, there were party games:

Each child received a present from a special visitor:

Even the adults won some prizes!

Thanks to everyone for their support. The Parent & Toddler Group will re-start after Christmas on Friday 8th January 2016.

Read Ps 119:89-96.

New roads are being built on a regular basis and as a result maps become outdated. We can’t presume to know the way to a place based on past experience.

If we’re not careful, we apply this wholly sensible reasoning to our spiritual journey also, looking for new paths to God and being led astray to false roads which may well look initially promising (see Matt 7:13-14).

Ps 119:89 says ‘Your Word, Lord, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens.’ However arcane or archaic the Bible seems, it is an up-to-date map charting the way we should go. There is an immutability to God (Mal 3:6) which provides solid ground for us: ‘Your faithfulness continues through all generations; You established the earth and it endures.’ (Ps 119:90)

God and His laws guide us through the maze of life; without this guidance, we would go down blind alleys and end up in trouble. (Ps 119:92) There is a solidity and reliability to God which reassure us: ‘Your laws endure to this day, for all things serve You.’ (Ps 119:91) They become the means by which we’re kept safe on the dangerous roads of life (Ps 119:93), kept safe from malicious enemies (Ps 119:95).

Everything human ultimately has its limits (Ps 119:96, The Message), but God’s commands are boundless. We’re safe on His highway!