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

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

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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

Burton Joyce Zoom Carol Service

 With Revd Anna

Link to Carol Service (You tube)

Happy Christmas!

Video Traditional Carol Service

If you would appreciate a traditional carol service - and have a good sing! - this morning's carol service from Nottingham North East Methodist Circuit is available on Youtube

(Burton Joyce Community Church is a Methodist / United Reformed Church (URC) local ecumenical partnership)

Happy Christmas!

The Youtube link is here:

NNE Carol Service

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

Carols by Candlelight

Carols by Candlelight

Sunday 15th December 2019

A big thank you to everyone who helped to make Carols by Candlelight a success on Sunday afternoon. It was great. Thank you.

I wonder what was special for you.

Mixed in among the carols and scripture readings were poems and sketches including the almost inevitable joke about Cliff - "not that Cliff. A cliff" as one of the shepherd says - and a snatch of "Mistletoe & Wine". And that wasn't all. Later the two shepherds were at it again. This time they find the baby in the stable only to be told that it's a boy, weighing six pounds, seven ounces. How did they know? "Joseph gave him a weigh in a manger!" (Away in a manger was, obviously, the next carol.)

If that's your joke, I'd be happy to acknowledge.

The shepherds also featured in a poem by Godfrey Rust, Modus Operandi

[Perhaps I should say that no disrespect was intended towards shepherds, wise men, donkeys, lambs, mangers, angels or any other celestial characters.]

There were two musical interludes (in addition to Cliff Richard). One was an instrumental rendition of O Little Town of Bethlehem on the Joy to the World CD from the Kings Chamber Orchestra. The other was a track from the CD A Celtic Christmas by the group Incantation, a version of The Holly & the Ivy. 

One of the poems was Winter Paradise by Kathleen Raine, which is a meditation on age and our place in the world and how we are all connected with something greater. The poem ends:

You have looked upon me all my days
More loved than lover's face
More merciful than the heart, more wise
Than spoken word unspoken theme 
Simple as earth in whom we live and move

Thank you everyone. It was great.

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

Carols by Candlelight at BJCC

Carols by Candlelight at BJCC

Don't forget! This Sunday!
4.30pm

Our carol service at Burton Joyce Community Church this year is at 4.30pm on Sunday afternoon. Arrive early. Space is limited. But it is always good to have a crowd.

There will be a collection in support of charities for the homeless in Nottingham.

This Sunday, 16th December 2018
Burton Joyce Community Church
Carols by Candlelight
4.30pm 
 

Carol Singing

Carol Singing

Carol singing in Burton Joyce
This Thursday!

A group from local churches will be singing carols round the village on Thursday evening this week. So, if you see them or hear them, do stop and join in. The more the merrier! Meet outside the charity shops in the centre of the village at 5.45pm on Thursday 13th December with first stop at Westwolds and then ... well, other places around the village.
 

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 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 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.