Page 36 - Phonebox Magazine December 2012

Combined Churches of Olney
Christmas with the Baptist Church
This year our annual celebrations of the birth of Jesus will have the theme of ‘The Promised Saviour’ thinking about the fact that for centuries people had been waiting for a special person to will look at some of the fascinating predictions in the Bible that were kept to the letter in the events surrounding the birth of Jesus! Better than any secret Bible code, these prophecies could only be about one man at one moment in history, it all points to Jesus. Why not come along and enjoy a warm welcome, uplifting worship and thought provoking teaching from the Bible. We will learn that the past can still be trusted today.
Remembrance Day Service
Carol service
We have our Sunday Club (children’s) Nativity service at 10.30am on December 16th, the ever popular ‘Carols by Candlelight’ service at 6.00pm on the 23rd. Come along to our Open air ‘Carols by Lamplight’ at 6.30 pm on Christmas Eve at the Talbots Hyde / Long Massey play area; A short, family-friendly gathering with familiar carols and hot drinks and mince pies provided. (In the event of adverse weather,
On Christmas morning we will have a short Christmas Day celebration, starting at 10.30am. Whether we see you this month or not, the Baptist Church wish you a merry Christmas and a happy new year – and pray that and peace which is given to us through Jesus d
e combined churches of Olney would like to take this opportunity to wish all residents and visitors to the town a blessed Christmas and to invite you all to take part in the many services that will be held in our four churches over this time of joyous celebration.
Remembrance Day Service
...And in the morning, we will remember them. As the mid- stained glass windows of St Peter and St Paul, Olney’s parish church, residents of the town quietly crowded into the pews for the annual service of remembrance.
Led by the Crucifer, Mrs Coral Bex, and the Rector, the Rev Claire Wood,
the servers, choir, members of St

service, guides, scouts, brownies, cubs and beavers paraded into the new Weston Scout Troupe, which the Rector received and blessed. Addressing the congregation, she so many had made in order that those at home could continue to live in freedom, hope, faith, love and the peace of Christ.
After prayers and hymns, the congregation left the church and walked solemnly to the Market Place for the parade, the service, the laying of wreaths and the two-minute silence, that was emphasised by the distant bells of St Peter and St Paul tolling eleven
o’clock.
Remembrance Day Sunday falls
just a few days after that other great service of remembrance, All Souls Day. St Peter and St Paul was packed on that occasion too, as family and friends gathered in the church to light candles for those who have gone before and who worship God upon another shore. d
Music a key part of the life of St Peter and St Paul
St Peter and St Paul is keen to support local musicians and singers. Many will be familiar with the choir and the part they play in our church worship. With the arrival of our Director of Music, John Witchell, the choir has grown. Many young singers (7 years plus) are actively following the RSCM “voice for life” programme and many adults now also following a similar course. If you have an interest in choral singing then do come along on Thursday evenings and meet John Witchell. Among other things the choir is currently rehearsing for the annual “Nine Lessons and Carols” service.
Similarly we have an ensemble
band, which plays once a month, and this includes brass, string and woodwind, alongside keyboards.
Now we are looking for another young musician. Two years ago we had an organ scholar, who having completed his scholarship with the church here, went on to take up an organ scholarship at Cambridge. another Organ Scholar – Are you a keen piano player, grade 5 or above? Have you ever wondered about playing the wonderful organ at St Peter and St Paul Church Olney? If you have then you might be interested in applying for the organ scholarship, which is being offered by the Church. For more information please contact the church administrator Pat Pankhurst 01234 241721. d
St Peter and St Paul Olney Christmas Tree
with a di erence.
Each year we are encouraged to

to invest a huge amount of money decorating them. I have seen the most beautiful glass and wooden
decorations for sale and I am sure I will see many more this Dickens of a Christmas.
But this year at St Peter and St Paul we want to do something that refocuses us on the birth of Christ and the real gift that Jesus was, and is, to humanity.
We are often so busy at this time of year in our preparations that we potentially squeeze out our conversations with Christ. Our prayers are put aside in the mad dash to be ready for Christmas day celebrations, family, friends, presents and food.
Yet the things we normally pray for and which need prayer continue to be there.
So rather than decorate the tree with baubles, angels and other items – each week during advent we will be providing different coloured card and ribbons so that all may write their prayers upon them and hang them on the tree in the Church. Encourage your friends and family to come and write a prayer and place them on the tree. The church is always open during the day.
Then at Christmas, come and see what it means to cover something in prayer - a tree decorated only in prayer. Just imagine! d
36 Phonebox Magazine