Notes from around the Parishes, December 2015

For Great Massingham, Harpley & Little Massingham

Christmas Love it or Loathe it?
Some would say the best thing about Christmas is the preparation! The
days leading up to the big day; hearing a favourite carol or Christmas hit
on the radio, decorating the tree, especially if its a real one that fills the
house with the aroma of pine. Then theres the shops, bustling, busy, full
of sparkle and colour, green, red and gold. The childrens school concerts and
nativity plays are a must see if you can. Or maybe its the church services, fun
family services and Christingles, churches full of lit candles, traditional carols sung
and shared and hearing the Christmas story one more time. There is the sense that
something really special is just around the corner. The lead up to Christmas can be
full of expectation, anticipation and HOPE.
Others would say they love Christmas because of the LOVE! Love shared openly
with family and friends Christmas cheer and Christmas spirit in full flow (and not
all of the alcoholic variety!) It is about showing our love and receiving love from
family and friends. But for some, of course, Christmas does not hold such things
they may well say they loathe Christmas! For those who are alone Christmas can be
a special day with no-one around and the lonely then feel very alone indeed! So
we all need to remember to share our love with those we know who are alone and
isolated by popping round to say hello, showing them that they are cared about and
loved. For many people Christmas Day is filled with a special kind of love, a love
found in going to visit someone or even to help prepare and serve Christmas lunch
for others.
So what about the Big Day. The Special Day! For many it is pure JOY. There are
the church services in the morning (dont forget!) then perhaps favourite Christmas
films and shows on the tele. And of course the presents; the joy and the excitement
of tearing off the wrapping paper, shouts of surprise and laughter. Followed by
seven times more than we can possibly eat! Then theres the fun and frivolity, paper
hats, crackers popping and the obligatory family board games and charades! Oh
JOY!
Whatever the holiday means for you, whether you relish the hope in the build-up,
love the love given and received, or enjoy the joy in the day itself - or if it is a
difficult day for you love it or loathe it - it is good and right that we remember that
all this was started in the mystery of God coming to share our lives in the form of a
little child.
And that child brought with Him the Hope and Love and Joy that we will find by
putting our trust in Him He is our greatest gift for all of us for all eternity.
Knowing that leads us to one response only REJOICE!
I pray that your Christmas this year will be full of Hope and Love and Joy & every
blessing
Revd Jane

SERVICES Across the Group for DECEMBER

Weds, Dec 2nd ~ 9am Holy Communion at St Lawrences, Harpley
Sunday, December 6th ~ Second Sunday of Advent
0930
1100
0900
1030
1030
3pm

Sung Holy Communion

Holy Communion
Holy Communion
Holy Communion
Family Service
Prayer Meeting

St Lawrences,
Harpley
St Marys,
Great Mass
All Saints,
Ashwicken
St Botolphs,
Grimston
St Nicholas,
Gayton
St Nicholas,
Gayton

Sunday, December 13th ~ Third Sunday of Advent

0830
1100

Holy Communion
Holy Communion

Carol Services:

4pm

St Botolphs,
St Lawrences,

1030
1500

All Saints,
St Nicholas,

1500
The Gap ~ All Saints, Roydon
th

15 Dec 6.30pm
th
16 Dec
7pm

15th Dec
17th Dec
th

2pm
2pm

17 Dec
6pm
th
18 Dec 6.20pm
th
19 Dec
6pm

Grimston
Harpley
Ashwicken
Gayton

St Andrews, Little Massingham

St Botolphs, Grimston
St Marys, East Walton

Carol Service
Carol Service

St Marys, Gt Mass School Carol Service

St Lawrences, Harpley School Christingle
St Andrews, Congham
St Botolphs, Grimston
St Andrews Congham

Rotary Carol Service

Scouts Service
Carol Service

Sunday, Dec 20th ~ The Fourth Sunday of Advent

0930
3pm
0830
7pm

Holy Communion
Carol Service
Holy Communion
Carol Service

St Andrews, Lt Massingham
St Marys,
Gt Massingham
St Nicholas,
Gayton
All Saints,
Roydon

Carol Services:
Monday, Dec 21st 7pm
Wednesday, Dec 23rd 6pm

St Marys, Gayton Thorpe

St Lawrences, Harpley

Christmas Eve: Thursday, Dec 24th ~

Christingle

4.30pm
11.30pm
4pm
11.30pm

Midnight Communion
Family Worship
Midnight Communion

St Marys, Great Massingham

St Marys, Great Massingham
St Nicholas,
Gayton
St Botolphs,
Grimston

Christmas Day
Friday, 25th December ~
9.30am
11am
8am
1030

Holy Communion

St Andrews,

Family Worship
Holy Communion
Family Holy Communion

St Lawrences,

Harpley

St Andrews,
St Nicholas,

Congham
Gayton

Lt Massingham

Sunday, Dec 27th ~ Christmas 1 (Feast of St John the Evangelist)

0830
1030

Holy Communion
Family Holy Communion

St Botolphs,
Grimston
St Marys, Great Massingham

Sunday, January 3rd ~ Christmas 2

0930
1100
0900
1030
1030
3pm

Family Holy Communion

Holy Communion
Holy Communion
Holy Communion
Family Service
Prayer Meeting

St Lawrences,
Harpley
St Marys,
Great Mass
St Marys,
East Walton
St Botolphs,
Grimston
St Nicholas,
Gayton
St Botolphs,
Grimston

Weds, Jan 6th ~ 9am

at St Lawrences, Harpley
Holy Communion for Epiphany
Our Ministry Team:
Revd Jane Holmes,

Revd Judith Pollard,

The Rectory, Gayton

The Rectory, Grimston

01553 636227

01485 601251

To arrange Baptisms, Marriages, or Funerals please contact the Revd Judith in the first
instance (her day off is Friday). If she is unavailable, the Revd Jane is happy to help
with urgent matters.
Please send items for inclusion in the January issue of the Parish Notes to the editor by
17th December ~ Rosemary Mehers rosemarymehers@hotmail.com
2 Old Post Office Court, Harpley. PE31 6GW;

or Tel: 01485 521866

From the Registers:

Baptisms:
Ashwicken
15th November
th

Grimston

15 November
29th November

Paige Molly Dack

Cordelia Hope Kerr Reeve
Aurora Hope Versteeg

Funerals:
at St Botolphs, Grimston 6th Nov

16th Nov
at Mintlyn Crematorium 9th Nov
11th Nov
at St Marys Massingham 16th Nov

Peter David Bowerman

Margaret Ann Hodgkinson
Betty Howlett
David Robert (Bob) Jenner of Grimston
Marilyn Clare Sadler

Samaritans Purse Operation Christmas Child - This year 132 shoeboxes have
been collected at St Marys; the highest number yet! The boxes have gone to
the distribution centre in Peterborough from whence they are sent to many
areas of the world
THANK YOU all for your generous donations.
Margaret Bowes

NOTE: The Childrens Workshop for Advent at St Lawrences will now

be held on Weds 2nd December 3:30 to 4:30pm
Harpley Church News:
We are very grateful that the family of Mary and Mark Tollit has
donated the funds to replace the churchyard gates in memory of their
parents and stepmother Gill.

Great Massingham School Christmas Fayre

in Great Massingham Village Hall

Saturday 5th December

1030 1230

******* Regular Events *******

Great Massingham:

Afternoon Teas

Every Wednesday from 2pm (to whenever)

You are welcome to join us in 34, John Morton Crescent;
for a cuppa, a chat and, of course, cake.
Prayer Group WEDNESDAY:
Massingham; (next to Dabbling Duck)

8.15 pm

at Barrack House, Great

Tel: Domi Bernardin 01485 521835

Bible Study: ~ Thursday 8pm to 9:30pm: 89, Station Rd., Great Massingham.
Tel: Arianne Henson, 01485 520077, or Jo Wilson, 01485 520914 for more information.