Cont’d

www.stivesfreechurch.org

THE NEWSLETTER OF

THE FREE CHURCH

(UNITED REFORMED)

SAINT IVES

I n

s p

i r

e

View from the Manse

Once again we gather during one of the darkest months of the year to celebrate Christmas, the day we recall the birth of our Lord. In spite of the dark, we are filled once again with joy and excitement as we look forward to carol singing, candle-light worship and the wonder of hearing the story of Jesus’ birth retold anew. Yet to so many people around us in society, Christmas is simply a time for winter parties, for a good family roast dinner and for exchanging gifts with each other. These are not bad in themselves, in fact they are lovely ways to celebrate, but if it is forgotten what and why we are celebrating, then they can become rather shallow and meaningless. The Free Church opens its doors daily to serve our community: with porch chapel prayers, Tookey’s Coffee Shop and our Fair Trade gift shop called Just Sharing. This month

Inspire Editorial Team

December Editor Val Bush 469189 Mary Anthony 469530 Keith Cakebread 462726 Christine Curtis 350787

Copy preferably by email please to office@stivesfreechurch.org

Deadline for January 2016 Inspire

20th December

December 2015

Inside December

Page 1 View from the Manse

Page 2 Just Sharing

Page 3 Just Sharing Page 4 Thoughts of Christmas Tapestry Concert

Page 5 Christmas Worship

Page 6 Tookeys Page 7 Tookeys Page 8 Family Christmas Concert

Page 9 Meditation, New Covenant

Page 10 For the Young From the Church Secretary

Page 11 Church/Community Page 12 Who’s Who

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we host a Cubs Scout Christmas evening, and we invite all our neighbours and friends to special services: a Civic Carol Service, a Christingle service, Readings and Carols by candle-light, an all-age Christmas Eve service and Midnight Holy Communion on Christmas Eve in order to hear once again the wonderful story of God entering our fragmented and broken world as a frail human baby in order to bring peace and wholeness to all of life. Everyone is welcome to join us for worship as we seek to recapture the mystery of the birth of the Messiah, the Promised One. And may those of us who consider ourselves high-tech, scientific, postmodern people set aside for a moment our cynicism or doubt and be open to kneel before the One who came to show us God’s love and mercy. We may find ourselves responding like the wise men and shepherds of old with awe and wonder and find our faith restored and renewed. Let it be so!

Happy Christmas and a joyous New Year! With love and best wishes,

Catherine & Peter

Just Sharing’s Christmas Shop

Our Christmas Shop on the 30

th and 31

st of

October was splendid! I realise that it is me writing this, but I can assure you it was – no bias involved.

The hall and foyer looked wonderful, we had a lot of people in, we took a record amount of money (including opening for some colleagues from Bedford on the 29

th), and it was a huge amount of work.

It is a tribute to our extended team that we ever get going at all. I cannot say how much Rosemarie and I appreciate everybody. It did, of course have its moments – as does everything else we do – one customer assured someone else that our newspaper bags were made by convicts on the Isle of Wight, and we were a bit surprised to see Pudsey Bear and Batman!

So, there we are, we can heave a sigh of relief ……… or, wait, what is this I hear? Oh, yes, please make a note in your diary, end of October 2016 we’ll be doing it all again!

With love, Sue x

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Just Sharing’s Christmas Shop

Pudsey and Batman visit

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Thoughts of Christmas

I love Christmas! Memories of my childhood Christmases are very happy, although I

realize this isn’t so for everyone. I can still feel the excitement of Christmas Eve.

After making sure that my china teapot and a cup and saucer with milk and sugar - and a mince pie, plus a carrot for the reindeer were ready on the living room table I would go eagerly to bed, my mother having given me half an aspirin to make sure I slept – at least that’s what she told me. One of my father’s socks hung limply at the foot of the bed – mine were too small! At intervals through the night I would feel the sock – had he been? Then bliss!! It was full. The light went on as I emptied the contents, always finding at the bottom a threepenny bit, an orange and a nut! What excitement! I loved Christmas!

I grew up – to discover all sorts of realities but the magic of Christmas Eve never left me. Carol singing around the

hospital wards with our nurses’ cloaks reversed to show the red lining, taking a trolley of gifts around the beds and cots.

It was always special to sing Away in a Manger on the Special care Baby Unit and if on duty on the Labour Ward to be the midwife who would deliver the Christmas baby.

In Norwich I was privileged to work on what was then the new Maternity Hospital, with not just Labour Wards but suites of rooms, all shining and new with equipment coming in prepared sterilized packs rather than the boiler in the corner. How may times I thought about the real meaning of Christmas when God sent His Son into the world to save us from sin and often wondered why He chose an unhygienic manger for His Son’s cradle rather than the sterile environment of the 20

th century – no

oxygen on hand, no sterile scissors to cut the cord and all the bacteria that accompanied animals – with no antibiotics to counteract the infection! Yet God’s plan is perfect and came to fruition in the death and resurrection of Jesus. May we celebrate His birth with wonder and receive the greatest gift of

Jesus. Faith

Tapestry

Christmas Concert

Monday 21st

December 7.30pm

ADMISSION FREE

Always a great favourite!

Retiring collection for the Lewin Stroke rehabilitation

unit at Addenbrookes

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Christmas Worship

2015

Friday 18th December

7:30pm Civic Carol Service

Sunday 20th December

11am Christingle Café Service

6pm Readings and Carols by Candlelight

Thursday 24th December

6pm Christmas Eve Family Service

11:30pm Candlelit Holy Communion

At The Free Church

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CELEBRATING

7

Dear All Time to celebrate and it's a success story! Many people in our Church family may not realise how much we owe to our

coffee shop, Tookeys. Headed

most expertly and professionally by our Manager Pat Clarke, and her deputy Linda Blake, everyone else works as a volunteer. Quite a number of our volunteers are not members of our Church, but kind friends who give generously and unstintingly of their time and energy to keep our coffee shop working. Our place in the community of St Ives is very much dependent on our provision of a place of mission, where people come to relax, meet friends, be greeted by friendly helpers, not to mention eating delicious meals, sandwiches and confectionery. So let us give thanks for this amazing service, offered to our town every day by so many people whose dedication and commitment is truly fantastic! Thank you volunteers, and Pat and Linda for managing everything so brilliantly!

Liz Denham.

PS if I have not taken a pic of you, my apologies!

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9

RAY OF LIGHT!

A record number of shoeboxes,197 in all to the Methodist Church, were

handed in this year for sending on to the boys and girls of North Iraq &

Syria.

A huge THANK YOU

to all whose efforts will bring such joy to those

who have will have a gift to open. Val

OPEN AND SHUT!!

Here are the details of Christmas hours

for

St Ives Free Church Church Office closes on Wednesday

24rd December at 1pm

(Christmas Services on Page 5) Re-opens Monday 4th January 2016

At 9.00am

Tookeys

Closes on Christmas Eve at

2.00pm Re-opens Monday 4th January 2016

Just Sharing

Closes on Christmas Eve at

1.30pm

TWINNING TOILETS

It can now be reported that so far we have raised £421 in cash with the addition of 19 privately bought toilets, at the time of writing This includes that collected and bought as

well. Well done everyone!

NEW COVENANT.

Forgive us, Lord, our ways, our foolish ways,

controlled by fear, by ownership and greed,

preventing us from hearing your true word and making us defensive, self-absorbed,

surrounded as we are by giant walls of hate and fear, protecting foolish

dreams, enabling us to walk away from pain

and blinding us to lies for selfish gain.

For, in our foolishness, Creator God, we turn to you in zealous, selfish pride; we see ourselves as saviours of your

world; our fellow humans must be cast aside!

We have to 'neutralise' all those we fear, all those who do not see you as we do, all those who look and speak in different

ways, for only we are privy to your will!

But in your mercy, Lord, we humbly pray for sight and hearing, a discerning mind

to help us recognise that you still live in enemies and those we'll never know. For through your life you taught us such

great love, brought reconciliation by your death and, as a tiny baby, fragile, small,

you taught us how to love - best gift of all!

MEDITATION

LAST ONE OF THE YEAR on

TUESDAY 8TH DECEMBER at

FENSTANTON URC CHURCH at

2.30PM

RETURNS TUESDAY 12TH JANUARY 2016

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FOR THE YOUNG ONES!

ANGEL

BELLS

BETHLEHEM

CANDLES

CAROLS

DECORATIONS

FAMILY

FRANKINCENSE

FRIENDS

FRUITCAKE

GABRIEL

GIFTS

GOLD

GREETING

CARDS

HOLLY

ICICLES

JESUS

JOSEPH

LIGHTS

MANGER

MARY

ORNAMENTS

SANTA

SHEPHERDS

SLEIGH HAPPY CHRISTMAS! HAPPY CHRISTMAS!

FROM THE CHURCH SECRETARY

Welcome to the last edition of Inspire for 2015! Our thanks go to all the editors for putting our magazine together each month, and their forbearance with those of us who submit articles at the last minute!! We are now in the season of Advent and enjoying (I hope) the preparations for Christmas, both at home and in church. There are concerts in our building every weekend up until Christmas, so there will be something for everyone to enjoy. Our popular Christingle service is on the morning of December 20

th followed

in the evening by the candlelit service of lessons and carols. Elders for the coming year have been elected, and we welcome Veronica Angus and Christine Macleod back to the Eldership. Babs Moore and Peter Davies have been elected to serve for another term. They will be inducted at our communion service on the 6

th December. Please

support all your Elders in your prayers. The Food Bank continues to be needed and tinned food is in short supply. They also welcome a few treats at this time of the year so a little extra can be given out at Christmas. Again thanks go to the many people who support the foodbank. Thanks also to all the volunteers who will be giving their time to run the Christmas Day lunch in the hall for those who would otherwise be on their own.

Whether you are at home or away visiting friends or family, I hope you have a happy and

peaceful Christmas.

ANGEL

BELLS

BETHLEHEM

CANDLES

CAROLS

DECORATIONS

FAMILY

FRANKINCENSE

FRIENDS

FRUITCAKE

GABRIEL

GIFTS

GOLD

GREETING

CARDS

HOLLY

ICICLES

JESUS

JOSEPH

LIGHTS

MANGER

MARY

ORNAMENTS

SANTA

SHEPHERDS

HAPPY CHRISTMAS!

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Pilgrimage2Paris Prayer Walk

Peterborough Cathedral Sunday 1st November - Sunday 13th December 2015 09:00 - 17:00 (each day)

By the time you read this the biggest climate summit of the decade in Paris may be under way! The big Paris march has been cancelled due to security concerns -- but the global marches have gone ahead!

Peterborough Eco-Faith Network and Peterborough Cathedral invite you to take part in a prayer walk around three stations in the Cathedral, to help you to pray for the Pilgrimage2Paris to lobby the UN Conference on Climate Change.

The Church of England, Christian Aid, Tearfund and CAFOD invite you to support the Pilgrimage2Paris to lobby the UN Conference on Climate

Change.

The Prayer and Reflection Walk is in the Cathedral from Sunday 1 November until Sunday 13 December. It has three stations, each with a different focus related to climate change, and reinforces the need for

the Paris conference to succeed.

Mary Cox

Church Activities

Mondays (until 14th)

19:00 Bowls Club

Weds (until 16th)

10:00 - 11:30

Tots & Carers

Wed 2nd Dec 19:45 Elders Meeting

Mon 14th Dec

09:00 Church in the Market Place

Mon 21st Dec

19:30 Tapestry Concert

Community Activities

Mon (until 21st)

10:00 CRUSE

Tues until 22nd)

19:30 St Ives Photographic Club

Wed (until 16th)

14:00 Senior Citizens Club

Thurs (until 17th)

09:30 Sunny Steps

Wed 2nd Dec 11:00 U3A Current Affairs

Thu 3rd Dec 10:00 U3A Italian Class

Thu 3rd Dec 19:30 WI

Fri 4th Dec 18:00 Yoga Class

Sat 5th Dec 09:30 - 16:00

Saints Crafters Fair

Sat 5th Dec 19:30 Mayor's Concert

Sun 6th Dec 18:00 Rotary Club concert

Thu 10th Dec 10:00 U3A Italian Class

Fri 11th Dec 10:30 COPE

Fri 11th Dec 18:00 Yoga Class

Fri 11th Dec 19:30 Meridian Singers Concert

Sat 12th Dec 10:00 Volunteer Office event

Sat 12th Dec 19:30 Community Choir concert

Tue 15th Dec 09:30 Alzheimer's Society Drop In Cafe

Tue 15th Dec 14:00 U3A Singing Group

Wed 16th Dec 11:00 U3A Current Affairs

Wed 16th Dec 19:30 St Ives Gardening Club

Thu 17th Dec 09:30 U3A Plant Power

Fri 18th Dec 10:00 U3A Local History

Fri 18th Dec 19:30 Civic Carol Service

Sat 19th Dec 18:30 Choral Society Christmas Concert

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Printed & published by The Free Church (United Reformed) St Ives, Market Hill, St Ives, Cambs. PE27 5AL E-mail office@stivesfreechurch.org Tel 01480 468535

Contacts

Minister Revd Dr. Catherine Ball 352058 Mobile: 07714 081930 Church Secretary Barbara Duffett 395308 Associate Church Secretary Andy Fleming 468055 Communications & Media Convenor Peter Davies 495835 Webmaster alan@stivesfreechurch.org Finance Convenor Peter German 352401 Freewill Offering Treasurer David Duffett 395308 Property Convenor Vacant Tookey’s Convenor Val Bush 469189 Manager Pat Clarke 468886 Resident Musician Brian Lodde 354647 Flower Convenor Margaret Cakebread 462726 Eco Group Convenor Mary Cox 300103 Chapel Prayer Coordinator Gerry Swain 468053 Just Sharing Manager Sue Billings 496570 Asst Manager Rosemarie Smith www.justsharing@stivesfreechurch.org Church Office 468535 office@stivesfreechurch.org Open 9am. - 1pm. Monday to Friday Room Bookings should be made

Free Church Worship

Sun 6th Dec 11:00 Revd Dr Catherine Ball - Elders Induction Holy Communion

Sun 13th Dec 11:00 Geraldine Swain

Sun 20th Dec 11:00 Cafe Style Christingle Service Revd Dr Catherine Ball

Sun 20th Dec 18:00 Readings and Carols by Candlelight

Thu 24th Dec 18:00 Christmas Eve All Age Service Revd Dr Catherine Ball

Thu 24th Dec 23:30 Midnight Candlelight Holy Communion - Revd Dr Catherine Ball

Sun 27th Dec 11:00 Keith Cakebread

Fenstanton Worship

Sun 6th

Dec

9:30 Revd Derek Newton

Sun 13th

Dec

9:30

4:00

Revd Dr Catherine Ball

Holy Communion

Christmas Carol Service

Sun 20th

Dec

9:30 Revd Chris Baker

Fri 25th

Dec

9:30 Revd Dr Catherine Ball

Sun 27th

Dec

9:30 Keith Cakebread