Christmas 2021

 

Christmas 2021

Christmas services in church have been cancelled

I have added some photos to the Virtual Church page:

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Sadly, for the second year, we are not able to meet in church but here are some glimpses of what it would have been like

In-person services at the church

In-person services at the church

For a trial period, we are meeting for a short service in the church at 3pm on the first Sunday of the month.

October 3rd 2021 - Harvest Thansgiving, Rev Louise Gee (URC)

November 7th 2021 - Remembrance, Rev Richard Byass (Methodist)

December 5th 2021 - Advent, Rev Louise Gee (URC)

We also hope to hold a short service on Christmas Eve:

December 24th 2021 - details to be announced, Rev Richard Byass (Methodist) 

And in the New Year:

All services at 3pm

January 9th 2022 - Covenant Service in the Methodist tradition 

February 6th 2022 - Rev Louise Gee

March 6th 2022

April 3rd 2022

May 1st 2022

Final service: May 29th at 3pm

Details to be confirmed

Trees & Nativities Packed Away

Christmas is over. Well almost.

The Christmas Tree Festival is done. The Nativity has gone. 

But: Hope?

We are in another lockdown.

Is there something, apart from Christmas cake, we can bring with us from the last few weeks to help us get through the next few weeks?

Remember the carols. Hum the tunes. Sing the words. And, whether you can remember the words or not, hold on to the truth.

No matter what happens ... 

That baby who grew up to be Jesus is the assurance that God cares for us, each of us, all of us, everyone 

No matter what happens ...

We can depend on this love. We only have to ask

A Happy New Year seems a big ask in the circumstances but the news of Christmas reminds us that we are not alone. 

Love came down at Christmas, Love all lovely, Love divine; Love was born at Christmas, Star and angels gave the sign

[Christina Rossetti]

Two short services for Christmas Eve & Christmas Day

 BURTON JOYCE 

COMMUNITY CHURCH

Thursday 24th December 2020 

A simple service for Christmas Eve

All the carols are in Songs of Fellowship (SoF)

God says to us, “Be still and know that I am God”

O Lord, you are with us. We remember your birth, life, death and resurrection and we are waiting for you to come. The angels of God guard us through the night and the Spirit of God be our guide.

We sing: Silent night (SoF 498)

As we wait, we read Psalm 4.

Our help is in the name of the eternal God who is making over afresh both the heavens and the earth. Amen

We sing: While shepherds watched their flocks by night (SoF 602)

As we wait, we pray: Our Father

O God, Companion and Bright Evening Star,

We repent the wrongs we have done. Heal us

We stumble in the dark. Walk with us

We sing: O little town of Bethlehem (SoF 420)

As we wait, we give thanks.

Dear God, we thank you for creation and for humanity, for gifts of life, for one another and for your love unbound and eternal.

We pray for our world. O Lord, hear us. Mercifully hear us

We sing: It came upon the midnight clear (SoF 251)

Lord, it is night. After a long day, we wait. It is still & dark & quiet. 

The night heralds a new dawn. We look expectant for the new day

Son of God, light that shines in the darkness, child of joy and peace, help us to come to you and be born anew this holy night. Amen

Blessing

O God, bless us and keep us and make your face to shine upon us and give us your peace. In the name of Jesus, the coming One. Amen

------------------------------------

BURTON JOYCE 

COMMUNITY CHURCH

Friday 25th December 2020 

Christmas Day

A short service. The carols are all in Songs of Fellowship (SoF)

HAPPY CHRISTMAS!

As we light the Christmas candle, let us pray:

Welcome Jesus, our humble and gentle Saviour, come to Bethlehem, where we have loved and fought and longed for peace, a peace the world can never give. We ask you now for your peace and love and gentleness and the courage to live our lives in your Way. Amen

We sing: The first Nowell (Sof 529)

A baby in a stable brings joy to all the earth

He comes, our Lord Emmanuel. We celebrate his birth

Son of God, Child of Mary, be born in us today that through us the world may know the wonder of your love. Amen

We sing: See amid the winter’s snow (SoF 489)

Readings: Hebrews 1, 1-9 and John 1, 1-14

Jesus shows us what God is like: “full of grace and truth”, as John says. If we want a better world, we need God and Jesus on our side.

We sing: Once in Royal David’s city (SoF 438)

We pray for our world. Give grace and truth to people everywhere

When our path is menaced by shadows

Encircle us, Lord. Keep light within. Keep darkness out.

When our path is troubled by conflict

Encircle us, Lord. Keep love close. Keep hatred far away.

When our path is threatened by worry

Encircle us, Lord. Keep peace among us. Banish all our fears.

O Lord, hear our prayer. And let our cry come to you. Amen

We sing: O, come all ye faithful (SoF 408)

Blessing

The peace of God that passes all understanding be with you and in you today and every day as you walk in the way of Christ. Amen

Online Christmas services

Nottingham North East Methodist Circuit

St Helens, C of E, Burton Joyce

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Nottingham North East Circuit

Online services over the Christmas period

All available via the Circuit website

St Helens, C of E, Burton Joyce

Anna is holding a Zoom carol service on Saturday 19th December 2020

Link on Rev'd Anna's Facebook page

Christmas Tree Festival

Today, our Christmas Tree Festival goes live on the website!

Yes, it's here on the Christmas Tree Festival page on the website.

This year, sadly, it has to be here, on the website but please come in and wander round. Take your time. Sit awhile. Enjoy. 

If you are out and about in the village, Jenny & Roger have put up all the Christmas Trees they can find outside the church in Meadow Lane - and supplied them all with lights! What a great job! - so do take a look.

If you are able, please make a donation to one of the charities listed on the webpage. 

(But do feel free to give to any charity of your own choosing.) 

Happy Christmas!

If you have a photo of your own tree you would like to add to our Christmas Tree Festival, you can

 email the photo to me here 

and I will add it to the page. 

And ... Nativities! If you can send photos of your nativities, I can add those too. Great. Thank you. 

Here is a post from two years ago of the first Christmas Tree Festival:

Christmas Tree Festival 2018

 

Churches Together - Charity Christmas Cards

Churches Together 
Burton Joyce, Bulcote & Stoke Bardolph

Charity Christmas Cards

We will not be holding a Churches Together coffee morning this Autumn but we can still support our regular charities by buying their Christmas cards. 

Here is a list with links to each charity.

Nottinghamshire Hospice

You can make a donation through the Facebook page

Or buy Christmas cards from the hospice shop in the village 

Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance Charitable Trust

You can make a donation on the ambucopter webpage

Or buy Christmas cards from their shop in Mapperley

Traidcraft

You can buy Christmas cards and more from the Traidcraft Online Shop

RSPB

You can buy Christmas cards from the RSPB Online Shop

RNLI - Lifeboats

You can buy Christmas cards and other gifts from the RNLI Online Shop

Donkey Sanctuaries

You can buy Christmas cards from the Donkey Sanctuary Online Shop

Or make a donation to the Radcliffe Donkey Sanctuary

If I've missed anyone, please let me know

Christmas at BJCC

Christmas

Yes, it's coming!

Join us for Carols by Candlelight on Sunday 15th December at 4.30pm

Or come along on Christmas Day at 9.30 in the morning for a short service

Burton Joyce Community Church

on the corner of Meadow Lane

Nativity at BJCC

Nativity at BJCC

It's up! Our new nativity scene is up and in position above the main entrance to the church on the corner of Meadow Lane and Main Street opposite the BJ Chip Shop and opposite the Post Office. And there are more nativity sets inside the church for you to look at when you visit the Christmas Tree Festival this weekend.

Come on in! The church is open on Saturday and on Sunday from 4pm.
And at 4.30pm on Sunday, we have Carols by Candlelight.

Come in to look at the christmas trees or come and sing carols, or both. 
You will be very welcome. 

Many different societies and organisations and village institutions have decorated a tree for the Festival. At last count I think it was fourteen. Or perhaps fifteen. There are trees from the BJ Library, Brownies and Guides, Womens Institute, drama, choir, flower arranging, village lunches - Oh help! Now I'm going to get into trouble because I've missed someone out. You can come and count them and check who is there. But no one is missed out because we have a Village Tree for everyone who hasn't got a tree of their own.

And there is a Memory Tree where you can write a label to tie on the tree (It's the white one) for someone or something you want to remember this Christmas. 

Christmas Trees & Carols ... and libraries?

Christmas Trees & Carols ... & libraries?

Saturday 1st December & Sunday 2nd December
Burton Joyce Community Church
For the homeless in Nottingham/shire

The opening weekend of the Christmas Tree Festival at the Community Church was an outstanding success. Loads of people from the village came into the church after the village Christmas lights event on Saturday evening. Well done to everyone involved especial all of you good people who set up a tree and decorated it. The lights sparkled and glowed and the sense of community was palpable. 

A special mention for the Library tree and its attendant who was doing brisk business on Saturday afternoon encouraging visitors to make use of the library if they didn't already do so. More strength to the village library, that's what I say!! We need these village institutions to thrive so that everyone in the community can feel that they have a place where they belong. Keep borrowing those books!

(By the way, look at all this stuff with the library:

• Notts help yourself
• Fun for kids
• Events & groups

... and there's a book group, I think. And a jigsaw out on the table you can help with.)

Sunday, there was a good turn out for the informal Carol sing-in in the Community Church hall. In fact, there were so many people that extra tables and chairs had to be found and we ran out of scones. (Did I mention the scones?)

 Next weekend, let's see if we can make it as good. 

Saturday 8th & Sunday 9th December
Burton Joyce Community Church
Christmas Tree Festival
Everyone welcome. Entry free
Open both days from 4pm
Come along & join in!
All gifts and donations will go to Framework or The Friary
Your generosity may give someone a bed this Christmas or even save a life

It's Coming!

It's coming!

It's almost here!

The BJCC Christmas Tree Festival!

• It's FREE!
• From Saturday 1st December at 4pm
• Then every Saturday and Sunday from 4-7pm
• And every Friday morning from 10-12 noon during Coffee Pop-ins
• In support of the homelessness charities in Nottingham

 

See what else is happening:

 

Christmas Tree Festival

Christmas Tree Festival @ BJ Community Church

Saturdays & Sundays from December 1st, 4-7pm

Preparations are in full swing for the Christmas Tree Festival in the church next month. A wide range of local organisations are each sponsoring a tree. We will be open for the first public viewing at 4pm on Saturday 1st December, after the school Christmas fair and the village lights switch on. Pop in and have a look.

The trees will also be on view at various other times if you want to pop in: for example, on Friday mornings 10am-12 noon during the Friday coffee morning, on Saturday morning December 15th for the Framework coffee morning and during Sunday services, e.g. on Sunday morning December 23rd 10-12.30.

So far, I understand, seven different groups have signed up with a further five pending. And there will be a Memory Tree and a Village Tree. Should I tell you who all the different groups are? No. I think not. You'll have to wait until the doors open on December 1st - unless of course you are a member of one of the groups!

It's going to be great

Trees - check
Lights - check
Decorations - check
More lights - check

Ready
Go

Christmas at BJCC

Christmas at BJCC

I know it is early to be thinking about Christmas but we are preparing a special series of events and services for Advent and the Christmas period at Burton Joyce Community Church to which you are very welcome. 

You can check for any further developments on the Through the Year page of this website.


 
School Fair & Village Christmas Lights
Saturday 1st December 2018
Church stall at School Fair
Church open: Christmas trees and Nativity sets
(details to be confirmed)
 

Advent Sunday Carol Service
Sunday 2nd December 2018, 10.30 am

Tea & scones with carols
Sunday 2nd December, 3 pm


Framework Coffee Morning 
Friday 14th December 2018, 10 - 12 noon
Raffle, 'Make me an offer' stall, Cake stall + coffee and cakes
All proceeds in support of the Framework homeless charity

Village Carols by Candlelight
Sunday 16th December 2018, 4.30 pm  
Note: There will be no morning service on Sunday 16th December

Carols round the crib 
Saturday 22nd December 2018, 4.30 pm
Churches Together event (refreshments at BJCC)

Christmas Day
Tuesday 25th December 2018, 9.30 am
A short service of celebration

Christmas services, etc.

Christmas services

Carols by Candlelight
Monday 18th December 2017, 6pm
The story of the three kings
led by Rev David Legge

Christmas Eve
Sunday 24th December 2017, 10.30am
This service will include Communion
led by Rev Louise Gee

Christmas Day
Monday 25th December 2017, 9.30am
A short service to celebrate the birth of Christ 
led by Rev Louise Gee 

You would be very welcome to join us at any of these services

Remember too ...

Framework Coffee Morning
Saturday 16th December 2017, 10 - 12.30 
supporting the homeless at Christmas 
in the Community Church hall 

Carols round the Crib
Saturday 23rd December 2017, 4.30pm
open air community singing outside the Old School
with members of Carlton Silver Band
refreshments afterwards in Community Church hall 
a Churches Together event

Christmas is coming

Christmas is coming

At last! The order for our Christmas publicity has been placed with CPO of Worthing in Sussex. I've been working on this order for two or three weeks, umm-ing and aah-ing over what to include and what to leave out, trying to confirm dates and times, checking which events were (are, will be) happening and which were not. At last, it is off, sent and paid for courtesy of the internet and the wonders of modern technology. 

Time for a cup of tea.

If you want a sneak preview of what will be happening in the run-up to Christmas, check our Through the Year page. Details for Advent and Christmas are at the top. 

The posters and invitations from CPO should start appearing during the first week of December. Keep an eye open. Then Christmas really will be coming.

 

Lots of things happening

There are

Lots of things happening in the run-up to Christmas

Now the days are getting shorter and the evenings are drawing in, thoughts turn almost inevitably towards Christmas. It is still some way off of course but it helps to be prepared and so that is what we are doing, preparing for Advent and the Christmas season - if for no other reason that if we don't it will all happen so quickly that it will be over before we realise.

Here are some of the things happening between now and the big day.

One World Week: Sunday 22nd October 2017
United service

Charity Christmas Card Sale: Saturday 28th October 2017
Coffee morning

Halloween (All Hallows Eve): Tuesday 31st October 2017
All Saints Day: Wednesday 1st November 2017
All Souls Day: Thursday 2nd November 2017
 
Bonfire Night: Sunday 5th November 2017 


Remembrance Day: Saturday 11th November 2017
Remembrance Sunday: Sunday 12th November 2017

Autumn Lunches: Saturday 18th November 2017
Homemade soups and desserts. Raffle & Christmas novelties stall

And then in December, the four Sundays of Advent lead up to Christmas Day itself

Advent Sunday & Advent Carol Service: Sunday 3rd December 2017, 10.30 am
Gift service: Sunday 10th December 2017, 10.30 am
Gifts for The Friary, the Nottingham charity for the homeless 
(See leaflet on notice board in the hall or the charity's website)

Framework Coffee Morning: Saturday 16th December 2017, 10 - 12noon
Raffle, 'Make me an offer' stall, Cake stall + coffee and cakes
All proceeds in support of the Framework homeless charity

Carols by Candlelight: Monday 18th December 2017, 6.30 pm

Carols round the crib: Saturday 23rd December 2017, 4.30 pm
Churches Together event

Christmas Eve : Sunday 24th December 2017, 10.30 am
Morning worship 

Christmas Day: Monday 25th December 2017

The Ghost of Christmas Past

So, that's it; done and dusted for another year. Take down the lights and put the decorations away in the attic, dispose of the tree. Now, it's just the long, dark haul to Easter and Spring.

But, hey! Not so fast. Today is Epiphany, the day the Wise Men came to Jesus. It is not quite all over yet. 

Why did they come? Because they saw the star in the east and, travelling west following the star, they came eventually to the place where Jesus was, as the Good Book says.

A cold coming we had of it,
Just the worst time of the year
For a journey, and such a long journey:
The ways deep and the weather sharp,
The very dead of winter.   TS Eliot. The Journey of the Magi

And this was the moment
When a few farm workers and three
Members of an obscure Persian sect

Walked haphazard by starlight straight
Into the kingdom of heaven.    UA Fanthorpe. BC - AD

That's it: 'straight into the kingdom of heaven'. The Wise Men came to see Jesus and they were changed for ever. 

It can be the same for us. 

Here's the secret: keep Christmas inside you, store it up where nobody else can see, put it in the attic of your heart and - this is the paradox - everybody will know, everybody will see, because your live will be changed for ever from within, imperceptively, unmistakably. That's what the kingdom of heaven does for you. Remember Scrooge?

"Are you the Spirit, sir, whose coming was foretold to me?" asked Scrooge.
"I am."
The voice was soft and gentle. Singularly low, as if instead of being so close beside him, it were at a distance.
"Who, and what are you?" Scrooge demanded.
"I am the Ghost of Christmas Past."
"Long Past?" inquired Scrooge: observant of its dwarfish stature.
"No. Your past."

Today is the Feast of the Epiphany. Come to Jesus with the Magi. Be changed.

 You can find more about Epiphany here and here

Advent

It is Advent

Traditionally, today, 1st December, is the day we open the first door on the Advent Calendar. What is behind the first door? These days it is probably a chocolate, which is OK. Chocolate is good. But it's not the whole story. In fact, it's not the story at all.

The story of Advent is about waiting, looking forward, expecting, hoping.

• Waiting for God to come into our lives 
• Looking forward to seeing things put right
• Expecting something wonderful
• Hoping for something good

 And of course, ultimately, we are waiting, hoping and looking forward to Christmas. 

Christmas is a celebration of all the above. It all happened when Jesus came. 

He came that first time as a tiny baby, of course, but he still comes to those who wait and hope. He comes as a friend and he comes as someone who understands.

In the Old Testament, Isaiah says:

A shoot will sprout from the stump of Jesse
and, from that rootstock, a branch will grow and bear fruit. 

The picture is of a vine in a vineyard. It has been pruned hard but when the time is right - in the spring or after the first rains - it will start to grow again and, in time, it will bear fruit and, in time, those grapes will yield juice and wine.

The "stump of Jesse" is Jesus. 

Jesus says: I am the vine. You are the branches

That is worth waiting for and we can experience it, every day, in our own lives

 

Christmas is coming

Christmas publicity

We are now in Advent and it will soon be Christmas.
 
We have ordered leaflets and posters to advertise services and other events at BJCC during December. Posters should start to appear around the village in a couple of weeks time. 

Look out for something like this:

Our publicity material is being produced for us by CPO in Brighton