Second Sunday of Advent 4th December 2022 Hello Everyone, The NATIVITY FESTIVAL continues and is open today (Saturday) from 10am -1pm and then we start to put it away, though I think there will be some evidence of it in church tomorrow. Thursday evening was lovely with one local resident arriving as we opened the doors and had to be gently persuaded to leave as we were locking the gates having cleared up! We are now using the Festival as a basis for a church Advent Calendar on our Facebook page. See a set a day and a short thought. The full Nativity Festival Catalogue can be seen here https://bit.ly/NativityFestival2022 I was interviewed by Premier Christian Radio and the news story following on from the interview is here: World's tiniest nativity goes on display in Birmingham church (premierchristian.news) And you can listen to me on BBC WM last Sunday morning here Grace Smith - 27/11/2022 - BBC Sounds This is the full show – I’m on at 2 hrs 21 mins with the Mothers’ Union president on around 2 hrs 15 – she is talking about Domestic Violence as part of the 16 Days of activism against gender-based violence TODAY is also “Carols at Masefield Community Garden” at 11.30am – we have a short sing and service and then refreshments (Lindsey Ave, off Bunbury Road, B31 2DT.) On Sunday we welcome Freya Mycroft, her family and friends to the 9.30am service for Holy Baptism. Fr John will be in action! At 12noon Revd Theresa will be baptising Rufus Bagnell and we similarly welcome him. After all this busyness in church we’ll be glad to see the Holy Dusters in action on Tuesday (6th Dec) and then making the church sparkle for Christmas on Tuesday 20th December. 9.30am for about 45 minutes. Our Christingle Service is at 9.30am on Sunday 11th December. It will be a Parade Service and very family friendly. Please pick up a Children’s Society envelope so the service can help raise money for this worthy cause. Also if you have a Children’s Society Box please bring it to that service or any other service from then until the end of the year. There will also be a said service of Holy Communion at 11.30am that day but no Sunday School Service at 8.30am. Christmas and New Year Services: Sunday 18th December - 6.30pm Carol Service Christmas Eve - 2pm & 4pm Crib Services - 11pm Christmas Eve Communion (what used to be called “Midnight Mass”) Christmas Day - 9.30am Christmas Communion (which will be Family Friendly) News Year’s Eve - 10.30am Sunday School Service in church led by Rowena (this will count for school admissions for 2022) - 11.45pm – 12.15 am Listen out for the bells! New Years’ Day - 9.30am Holy Communion Please note no Sunday School Services on Christmas Day and New Years’ Day and no 10am on Wed 28th December. We’re also hoping to hold “Beer and Carols” at 6.30pm on Sunday 11th December at The Great Stone but a few details still to be sorted. Jeff Carr writes: - 100 Club - It’s that time of year when I need to start collecting your subscriptions for next year 2023. The subscription will remain at £12 for the full year. This one-off subscription payment gives you entry into 12 monthly prize draws with 3 winners randomly selected each month. New members are always welcome alongside loyal continuing subscribers. I would recommend payment by direct bank transfer. All the ways to pay are revealed if you click the link immediately below. Good luck to all current subscribers in the Christmas prize draw happening soon with bumper prizes of £40, £30. and £20. Best wishes from Jeff Carr - St Laurence Church 100 Club administrator. https://www.dropbox.com/s/6pkqlcwmwh2q1ak/2023%20Subscriptions.odt?dl=0   This Sunday St John’s Longbridge celebrates the 65th anniversary (to the day) of the parish’s creation and the church being consecrated in 1957. You may have heard that the church is to receive significant new investment from the Church Commissioners and this, combined with local people’s generosity, will enable the roof to be repaired. Late next year it will become a “Resource Church” under the leadership of ‘Gas Street Church.’ The Revd Colin Corke will see through much of this transition then from autumn 2023 will become Associate Priest at St Chad’s, Rednal. If you would like to find out more there will be a meeting Wednesday 25th January, 1:30pm at St John the Baptist Longbridge, with the Area Dean and members of the Gas Street Church team. Knitters – Fancy an occasional change from poppies? A charity (BCHC) make up a memory box when a  patient dies in one of our community hospitals. Included in the box is a knitted heart. An identical heart stays with the patient. I will bring some examples into church for the next few Sundays. I will make a few copies of the pattern, to begin with, for anyone who would like to knit a few hearts. Janice Wones For over 40 years Churches Together in Northfield has run “Community Christmas.” This year it will be an Afternoon Tea on 10th December. Jenny Shardlow of St David’s is co-ordinating the transport and will be delighted to receive offers to help collect (pick up from 1.30pm) and return guests (from 3.30pm.) Please contact her direct … jenny.shardlow@gmail.com 0121 475 7896 ASAP. Please let her know you are from St Laurence to make safeguarding checks easier. If you are ordering Christmas Presents on line don’t forget to join Easy Fundraising.’ Whilst we do want you to live within your means, please do sign up for this scheme and enjoy their Advent Calendar too which gives you the chance of winning £100 gift card as well as £5k for the church. https://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/stlaurencenorthfield/ Have you heard of Refujuice?– It is pure local apple juice with all profits go to supporting refugees from Syria, Afghanistan and Ukraine living south of Birmingham!!! You can order some NOW and it will be delivered to your door next week. Email: refujuice.brwr@gmail.com Please include: 1. Preferred delivery date: Sunday 11th December am or Wednesday 14th December pm 2. Your contact details: name, address and phone number 3. Payment method: cash or cheque (on delivery) 4. Number required: 3 - £9/Case of 12 - £35 (Min delivered 3 bottles) *Delivered by volunteers in the Northfield/Bromsgrove/Redditch areas PLEASE note that the Bible Study on Wednesdays will now run from 5.15 – 6pm to enable a new member to join us after work. Eco Tip: Advent is a time of fasting. The Catholic Bishops have suggested the ancient practice of meat-free Fridays (which contributes greatly to the climate) and giving the money saved to charity. If you are already vegetarian, they suggest eating very simply on Fridays. The latest Deanery Newsletter is available on the church notice board and also over at coffee in the Pastoral Centre. It can also be read here.. https://bit.ly/KNMSOctNov22Newsletter 10 December, 7.00pm, Birmingham Cathedral Come and experience a spectacular performance of Handel’s Messiah – his most famous oratorio this Christmas. For more information and to book click here. Finally, if you missed Revd Theresa last Sunday morning she was taking the service at St Stephen’s, Rednal and this Sunday I’m at St David’s, Shenley Green. It is good to be able to support local churches in this way especially as St David’s, St Anne’s, St Bart’s, St John’s and ourselves will be working more closely together in the future as we become an “Oversight Area.” Within this Fr Paul Cho will be leaving St Anne’s to become Vicar of St David’s Shenley Green. This will be a paid part-time appointment. Currently he is “House for Duty” priest-in-charge at St Anne’s, West Heath. We congratulate him on this but pray for St Anne’s in their devastation. Blessings, Canon Janet For your prayers: Those who are ill Pete Coyne: still stable Koby Thomas (age 10): great nephew of Rita and Brian Gardner. Koby has leukaemia but after a period in hospital for chemotherapy he is now spending most of his time at home. A nurse calls in regularly and checks his blood condition. As he is not back at school yet because of the danger of picking up infections he gets fed up at home. He is a great football fan and normally plays in a team himself so I expect he is watching the World cup competition on TV. Barbara Flight: making progress, receiving physio at home and starting to manage the stairs. Anne Stock: also out of hospital, gaining mobility and trying to sort things out post burglary whilst in the QE. Richard Barbour: Still in QE but hopefully home soon. Wife Steph came to the HC service in church with the Junior School this week. Those who have died Barbara Pryme Deykin: mother of Denise Carr Funeral now confirmed as at Lodge Hill, Friday 9th December Margaret, who fell off the Grosvernor Centre Multi-story Carpark earlier this week and all affected by this tragedy. Revd Theresa attended the vigil at the Northfield Crossroads on Wednesday lunchtime. Around 100 people gathered and she led them in saying The Lord’s Prayer. The Vigil was organised by local Christian Owen O’Brien who works for Northfield Neighbourhood Network Scheme. He wanted to bring a sign of HOPE to Northfield so look out for the banner about the shopping Centre. SERVICES AND MEETINGS COMING UP Saturdays Nativity Festival 10 – 1pm (Sat 3rd Dec) 11.30am Carols at Masefield Garden Church open back to normal next week 10am – 11.30am Church Masefield Community Garden Sundays  8.30am Sunday School Service In the Pastoral Centre – please pre-book so we know numbers https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/170206735929 bookings close at 2pm the previous day. 9.30am Sung Eucharist (and Holy Baptism on 4th Dec with a further baptism at 12 noon) In church by zoom and zoom-phone https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84533030134 Meeting ID: 845 3303 0134 4pm Wild Church (4th Dec) Churchyard Mondays 9 -10am Northfield Revealed Filming (5th Dec) Church 12.30pm Mothers’ Union Lunch (5th Dec) Pastoral Centre 5pm Evening Prayer by zoom https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89992167638 Meeting ID 89992167638 Tuesdays 5pm Evening Prayer by zoom https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89992167638 Meeting ID 89992167638 7pm PCC Pastoral Centre – papers out over the weekend Wednesdays 10am Holy Communion In church and by Conference Call 0117 463 6922 Code 1139# 5.15 - 6pm Bible Study on coming Sunday’s readings by zoom NOTE later time from now on https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89992167638 Meeting ID 89992167638 8.30pm Compline Use above phone number Thursdays 2-3pm Handbells Church 3.15pm Larry’s (after school club 11+) In Pastoral Centre Fridays 7.30 – 9pm Bell Ringing Practice In church Also - You can Phone a Service 24 hours a day! freephone 0800 804 8044 for Daily Hope offers music, prayers and reflections as well as full worship services from the Church of England. And to hear one of the St Laurence Ministers preaching: 0121 270 4690 These are changed after the services on Sundays and Wednesdays (usually by early evening) Peter Chapman is now making Sunday and Wednesday sermons available as Podcasts: via: Spotify at https://open.spotify.com/show/16wZUENutAJSTu5a4nPDde Apple at  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sermons-from-st-laurence-church-northfield/id1603832487 and on other Podcast players the generic address is https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/1915174.rss ALSO there is now a player for the sermon podcasts at the foot of the 'Worship' page on the Church web site which allows the sermons to be played directly from that page. COMMUNITY NEWS Northfield Community Partnership (NCP) Hub is open Monday-Friday 9am-5pm for any advice or support: 0121 411 2157 email info@northfieldcommunity.org or just drop in at the NCP Hub, 693 Bristol Road South, Northfield, B31 2JT The Covid19 study report is now available as it makes some interesting points about how we all coped with the Covid lockdowns... Final Report COVID-19 Social Study (covidsocialstudy.org) Birmingham City Council produces regular e-mail bulletins. You can choose the areas of information you are interested in e.g. sports, refuse, arts, education https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/UKBCC/subscribers/new?preferences=true CONTACT DETAILS PARISH OFFICE Lorraine Freeman (Parish Administrator) Lorraine is working in the office Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri most weeks enquiries@saintlaurence.info (note this changed in October 2021) ?0121 475 1518 RECTOR Canon Janet Chapman Day off: Tuesday this week! janet.rectory@gmail.com ? 0121 477 3111 ASSISTANT CURATE Revd Theresa Morton Day off: Friday theresa.curate@gmail.com ? 07557472096 READER Janice Wones Day off: Friday janice.wones@talktalk.net ? 0121 459 7417 Church Website: www.stlaurencenorthfield.org Twitter: @stlaurenceb31 Rector: @janetchapman5 Facebook www.facebook.com/StLaurenceChurchNorthfield YouTube https://www.youtube.com/c/stlaurencenorthfield Safeguarding is everybody’s responsibility. If you need to contact someone regarding a church safeguarding concern (adults or children), please call our Parish Safeguarding Co-ordinator, Rowena Nicholls, on 07724 170448. If you have an urgent concern for the safety of yourself or someone else, call 999. Sadly, some people have been abused by someone from a church. “Safe Spaces” is a free, independent support service providing a confidential personal and safe space for anyone who has been abused by someone from a church or as a result of their relationship with the Church of England, the Catholic Church in England and Wales, or the Church in Wales. Although funded by the churches it is run by the independent charity, Victim Support. If you have been affected, however long ago, they can provide you with support. You do not have need to have told the police or the church authorities. Your information will not be shared without your consent unless you or someone else is in danger. Telephone 0300 303 1056 for more information. St Laurence Church Northfield is Registered Charity 1132975