Letter to St George’s Church Family - Christmas 2011
Dear Church family,
I pray that as we celebrate the Messiah’s birth we will be filled with joy and peace, that those of us who are lonely or suffering will be comforted and encouraged, and that as a family we will be re-energised to work for the increase of His Kingdom in 2012.
I want to bring everyone up to date with some important news and changes:
HARRIET COLLINS is leaving the staff team at Christmas to go with Adam to Austria (dream teaching job in ski resort!). We will miss her cheerful presence in the Church Office, and all the knowledge she has built up over 4 years, first as an Intern, and then working on our admin team. Thank you Harriet for all you have given to StGs; we pray you will know the presence of God with you, as you both continue to serve Him.
WRANGTHORN
From 1st January the St George’s staff team will be responsible for the morning service at Wrangthorn Parish Church (Hyde Park corner). This is an exciting opportunity for us to learn how to work with a smaller local Church, and could be a significant way to Share Life and Love Leeds.
Joanna Pearson will be organising a team of people to help with this, and will become Priest-in-Charge of Wrangthorn in the New Year. She will not be doing this on her own; she will be coordinating various StGs teams (students, youth, children, Crypt) so that together we can further God’s mission and build up their Sunday congregation.
Please pray for this partnership, and for Joanna, who remains responsible for our Networks, Pastoral Care team, and the 5pm service.
STUDENTS
Pray for Dan and Emily Tyler as their second child is due just after Christmas, and for Dan as he takes charge of the running of the 7.30pm Service. Our aim is that students will bring their friends to church, and that it will grow.
ROOTS
On Sunday mornings there will be a ROOTS ‘service’ in the Church Centre before they go into cell groups. They will congregate in the Church Centre from 10.15am onwards. For more details, ask Jon Swales.
CHILDREN IN CHURCH
From January children will be starting in church every week. To help things run smoothly we will continue with the current timing- aiming to be parked by 10.15, seated by 10.25, and ready for a prompt start. The service will end by 12 noon, which will be the new time for children to be picked up from their groups.
Mark is in charge of the 10.30am service, and has worked with Jenny, Chris and Cat, to plan a varied programme for the first 15 minutes when we are all together. Parents and carers will be responsible for sitting with their children, and helping them to join in.
This change is to enable the Church to be more of a family, and to help parents in bringing their children up to take their place within the family. Please pray for the team, and help it to work by joining in and feeding back any comments.
Thank you for playing your part in the life of StGs over the last year.
As you can see in the programme below, we start the New Year by looking at the next stage of implementing Sharing Life, Loving Leeds.
Jonathan Clark
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