We are very pleased to announce that the church building on Beever Street was sold at auction in early December and contracts should be exchanged in early January. It has been a long journey to the new building and the sale of the old building will enable us to settle the remaining debts on the purchase of the Market Street property and continue to invest in the new building.

Holding the baptismal service in Beever Street a few weeks ago was a fitting way to say goodbye to the building and a reminder that we have grown as a church, because it felt very small in there!

Mark preached about stars last night. God made all the stars (Gen 1:16), including the Seven Sisters constellation:

God placed all the stars in the sky and when we consider the heavens, we are amazed that God is also mindful of us (Ps 8:3-4). The same God who ordained the places of each star, thinks about us.
Crab Nebula

God counts the stars and calls them by name (Ps 147:4-5); He knows us by name also. God used the star of Bethlehem to guide people to Jesus, causing it to appear at a certain time and move to guide the wise men to the Lord. They came because they had seen His star (Matt 2:1-2) and were aware that it signified the birth of a king (Matt 2:7-11).

The true star of Christmas is Jesus, however. He is the ‘Bright and Morning Star’ (Rev 22:16). He is the greatest gift given by God at Christmas time, so that we should not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16). He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, the One worth celebrating!

Wise men brought gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh to Jesus and Mark organised a treasure hunt for the carol service. We all had to find glitter balls and bells hidden in the community room.


Returning with our finds:

Claiming our prizes:

At the carol service last night, children and adults were involved in telling the Nativity story through actions and songs.






Our thanks to all who helped in this production and to all the children and young people for their enthusiasm and eager participation.

We also had birthdays to celebrate, though only one person was willing to be photographed!

Dave preached from Luke 2:6-16 yesterday morning, looking at the shepherds. This forms one of the many scenes of the Nativity which form the the ‘reason for the season’, a scene depicted in countless school plays and church services throughout the world at this time of year. It helps us to see what Christmas is all about. Santa may cater to our material needs, but Christ shows us that we have spiritual needs and He is the way to warmth, joy and peace.

The poor shepherds, separated from their families by the demands of their jobs, were included by God in the miracle of Christ’s birth – not forgotten by Him. The wise men in their wealth and wisdom realised there was something more – they were not forgotten by God. The power of Christmas is such that it includes everyone. It is the power of the ordinary and the humble. As Mary says in the ‘Magnificat’:
“My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant… He has lifted up the humble.He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty.” (Luke 1:45-48, 52-53)

God gave Himself to ordinary folk; God’s gifts often come in simple ways to us and we respond by simply caring for one another and loving one another as He has loved us.

Last night Paul Poulton and Viv Neville gave a Christmas concert at church, providing a modern musical take on traditional carols and Christmas songs.


In the band with Paul were bass player Ross Lander (from Huddersfield) and Aron Bicskey (from Hungary) on drums, with Viv singing some of her own songs and playing keys and percussion.