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Ainsworth Unitarians
 
 
 

Services are held every Sunday at 10.00am.

AINSWORTH PRESBYTERIAN (UNITARIAN) CHAPEL

CALENDAR FOR DECEMBER 2008

SUNDAY WORSHIP
7 December 10.00 am Service for Saint Nicholas
14 December 6.30 pm Carols by Candlelight
Please note: No morning service today
21 December 10.00 am Sunday before Christmas
25 December 11.15 am Christmas Morning Service - Joint service with Bury Unitarian Church
Today’s Collection will be donated to a Children’s Charity

28 December 10.00 am First Sunday of Christmas (Holy Innocents)

COLLECTORS
7 December Joan Greenhalgh
14 December Nora Evans & Jim Partington
21 December Jim Rothwell
Christmas Day Dorothy Roberts & Quita Brooks
28 December Harold Greenhalgh

CHAPEL FLOWERS
7 December Dorothy Roberts
14 December Ivy Partington
21 December Annie Jepson
Christmas Day Kenneth & Quita Brooks
28 December Kenneth & Quita Brooks
LADIES’ SOCIAL GROUP
The Ladies’ Social Group will meet for Christmas tea at 4.30 pm on Wednesday, 10 December in the Schoolroom.

CAROLS BY CANDLELIGHT
6.30 pm Sunday 14 December
Please join us for this special service. Tea & Mince pies.

CHRISTMAS LUNCH (Saturday 20 December)
Please note that unfortunately it has been necessary to cancel this event.

LOOP SYSTEM
The new Loop and amplification system has now been installed in Chapel. We gratefully acknowledge a grant from the Radcliffe Area Board Community Fund, together with a generous donation from a member of the Chapel Congregation.
GARDEN OF REST
Our grateful thanks go to Les Heal and Steve Horrocks for laying new edging stones and tidying up the Garden of Rest, which is now considerably improved.
They have also put in many hours of labour replacing stolen flags (again!) from the Chapel path. We recognise all their hard work and resourcefulness in providing all materials and labour at no cost to the Chapel. Thank you Les and Steve!

NEWS OF PEOPLE
1. It was a lovely surprise to see Mrs Annie Jepson and daughter Sheila in Chapel on Remembrance Sunday.
2. Mrs Ivy Partington wishes to thank everyone for their good wishes, cards and flowers during her recent illness, Ivy is still undergoing hospital treatment and we wish her well.
3. Our good wishes also go to Dorothy Roberts, our Flower Secretary, and Dorothy Rostern who are currently both not well.
4. Mrs Hilda Ratcliffe was recently 100 years old!
We send her our warmest congratulations and best wishes on this wonderful occasion.

OLD FOLK’S PARTY COMMITTEE
I would like to thank all the ladies, the Ministers and helpers who made the party on 18 October such a success, and without whom this Party would never take place. Thanks must also go to those kind residents of the village who gave very generously to fund the party. The Mayor & Mayoress of Bury, Cllr Peter Ashworth and Mrs Dorrie Burgess along with 58 residents, each over 75 years of age, attended this (69th) party and the entertainment was provided by the Radcliffe Male Voice Choir. This event proves that the community spirit of Ainsworth is as strong as ever. Valerie Watts, Secretary

To all Members and Friends of the Chapel, we thank you for your vital support during the year and send our best wishes for a Merry Christmas and a peaceful New Year.


For confirmation of any of the above, please telephone: 01204 362 900.

BURY UNITARIAN CHURCH

CALENDAR FOR DECEMBER 2008

WORSHIP SERVICES
7 December 11.15am Parcels Service, in the presence of the Mayor of Bury
14 December 11.15am Christmas Music Service
[with the blessing of Paul and Vikki Boote]
21 December 11.15am Christmas Carol Service
[with the baptism of
Heidi Alice]
24 December 6.30pm Christmas Eve Service of
Holy Communion
28 December 11.15am First Sunday of Christmas
(Holy Innocents)
Carols by Candlelight at Ainsworth 6.30pm – 14 Dec.
Christmas Lunch after morning service – 21 December

CHURCH STEWARDS
7 December Marc Peters and Philip Peters
14 December Alfred Howson and Jonathon Reeve
21 December Jack Sharples and David Pollard
28 December Anne and Roger Mills

CHURCH FLOWERS
7 December In memory of Freda Hemmingway
Susan and Family
14 December Mrs Ivy Partington
21 December Church Flowers
28 December In memory of Mrs Mary Richardson
Distributors: Susan McMullen and Joyce Clarke

 VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
Volunteers are sought for two representatives to attend the G.A. ANNUAL CONFERENCE at Chester College from Wednesday, 15 April to Saturday, 18 April 2009. If you are interested in attending, please give your name to the Chair of Congregation Mr Neville Kenyon or to Church Secretary Mrs Marian Price.

HARVEST SUPPER THANKS
The Efforts Committee thank everyone who supported us and all those who helped in any way to make this a very enjoyable and successful evening. We made a profit of £104.

100 CLUB
Nine months into this year’s 100 CLUB and we have 57 members to date. The annual fee is £12 half of which goes into Church Funds - £342 this year, plus an extra 28% of the £6 you donate if you are registered for Gift Aid, £62 this year so £404 in total. Well done! It’s a great help to Church Funds. This also a reminder that your renewal subscription for 2009 falls due in December. Why not consider another number, it only works out at 23p per week? Best of luck to you all in 2009.

CHARITY FOR THE 2009 APPEAL
Our current appeal for Home-Start will end on 31st December. Our appeal for next year will be for arc, the Arthritis Research Campaign. This charity was founded in 1936, and raises funds to promote medical research into the cause, treatment and cure of arthritic conditions; to educate medical students, doctors and allied healthcare professionals about arthritis; and to provide information to the general public.
arc is the fourth largest medical research charity in the UK and the only charity in the UK solely dedicated to investigating arthritis in all its forms. Millions of pounds are provided every year for grants funding research, education and training.Our appeal will start on February 8th at a special service at which Helen Dixon from arc will give an address. For more information about arc see www.arc.org.uk

THANKS
Muriel Smith wants to thank all those people who so generously give gifts for fund-raising raffles throughout the year. They are all very much appreciated. Thank you.

A DATE FOR YOUR DIARY
Christmas Lunch at Bury Unitarian Church will be on Sunday, 21st December. A menu will appear on the notice board later this month. Tickets will be on sale after morning service on 7th and 14th December.

CELEBRATION OF CHRISTMAS TREES
The first weekend in December will see our second Christmas Tree Event; last year the church was beautifully-decorated with a variety of trees representing our own organizations and outside ones, and we hope that this year’s event will be just as good, if not better. Please help us by supporting the event. If you wish to decorate a tree please speak to Molly Ratcliffe or Betty Kenyon.

Approximate times for the Festival are:
Friday, 5th December – 3.00pm to 8.00pm
Saturday, 6th December – 10.00am to 4.00pm
Sunday, 7th December – 1.00pm to 6.00pm
We hope that there will be carol singing and organ music in the worship area on the Saturday; on the Sunday, the Square Street Singers will give a short concert at 6.00pm
Coffee and mince-pies will be available throughout the Festival. Help with catering and stewarding will be required and if you are able to assist in any way please speak to Molly or Betty.

CHRISTMAS CARD TREE
As an addition to our usual facilities for sending Christmas cards to each other, using a newly constructed post box, there will be a Christmas tree in the foyer of the church. Congregation members will be invited, for a single donation to church funds, to hang a single greeting card on the tree to everyone. This could be in addition to, or as an alternative to sending individual cards,

CALENDAR DEADLINE
All items for the January Calendar should be in the yellow folder by Sunday 14th December please. Any late items can be ‘phoned through or e-mailed by Monday evening, 15th December.

PORCH BOXES
On Sunday, 7th December we will be collecting for the Porch Box Appeal a charity which helps homeless people as they are re-housed. Boxes will be placed in the entrance hall in which to place your gifts. A list of appropriate items to include will be on the notice-board in the lounge. The Charity Committee is most grateful for your generosity in support of these worthwhile causes.

Suggestions for Goods Suitable for Porch Boxes
Washing up liquid Bin liners
Dish cloths Disposable nappies
Tea towels Nappy sack
Pan scrubs Tins of food (soup, beans, etc)
Toilet rolls Rice
Light bulbs Pasta
Shower gel Tea bags
Shampoo Coffee
Furniture polish

SATURDAY MORNING COFFEE ROTA
6 December Barbara Ashworth & Vera Stephenson
13 December Barbara Bamford & Freda Worthington
20 December Rene Hollos & Alison Hollos

LUNCHEON CLUB
The Luncheon Club meets for its Christmas meal on Tuesday, December 16th, at 12.30pm. Anne and Roger Mills will host this meal; please let them know, in good time, if you are unable to attend.

WOMEN’S LEAGUE
Thursday, 11 December Christmas Meal
Please meet at Bury College at 6.30 to 6.45pm.

MEN’S FELLOWSHIP
Please note there is no meeting of the Men’s Fellowship in December.

COMMITTEE MEETINGS IN DECEMBER
8 December 7.00pm Church Council

UPDATE OF RECORDS
Attempts are made at the end of each year to update the Church Membership records.
If there has been any change in your address or telephone details over the last twelve months (or if you think, for any reason, we may not have the correct details) please inform Marian Price, Church Secretary at your earliest convenience.

100 CLUB
In December we always have an extra prize of £50 plus the normal monthly prize of £25. So, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to the lucky winners.
Unfortunately December is the time when your subscriptions are due. Will you please let Derek Worthington have your money (£12 per number) some time in December?
Don’t forget you can also take on another number!

SUNSHINE PENNIES
Will you please let Brenda Ainsworth have your Sunshine pennies by 15th December, please?

MEDITATION SESSION – ADVANCE NOTICE
The Rev Gillian Peel has agreed to conduct another meditation for us, and this will take place on Thursday, February 12, 2009, at 7.30pm. The session will begin with a conventional meditation followed by a labyrinth. Do come and join us if you can.

CHRISTMAS LUNCH 2008
Sunday 21 December

Tickets £3.50
Children under 12, £2.00
on sale after morning service on
Sundays 7 and 14 December
from Pam Gilbert
MENU on lounge notice-board
BOOK CLUB
The next meeting of the Ainsworth and Bury Book Club will take place on 23 February 2009 – details next month.

CALENDAR DEADLINE
Please note that the deadline for the January Calendar is 14th December.

AN INVITATION
Friends in the Ainsworth congregation are warmly invited to join the Bury congregation for Christmas Lunch on Sunday, 21 December after the morning service. Harry Taylor has tickets priced at £3.50 for adults, £2 for children under 12 and there is a menu on the notice-board.

CHRISTMAS TREE CELEBRATION
The Christmas Trees Festival with free entry will be open on
Friday, 5th December from 3pm until 8pm
Saturday 6th from 10am until 4pm
Sunday 7th from 1pm until 7pm

On Sunday at 7pm the Square Street Singers are giving
A Concert of Christmas Music
in the sanctuary of the church
We will be surrounded by the lit, glittering trees. This will be a magical evening.
To follow there will be coffee/tea/sherry and mince pies in the lounge.
There is a charge of £2 payable at the door for this occasion.

Every day during the festival we will be serving hot drinks and mince pies and the Traidcraft stall will be open daily.
During the festival there will be an archival display about our church in the vestibule.

Christmas Fair
On Saturday 6th December there will be the regular coffee morning from 10am until 12noon
and The Christmas Fair with the following stalls;

TOMBOLA/BOTTLE
CHOCOLATE
CAKES
GREEN AND RED
HAMPER RAFFLE
These stalls will be in the upstairs hall.

Along with the Fair between 12noon and 1.30pm hot and cold lunches will be served.
All the activities during this weekend make a splendid start to the Christmas season and will be significant in inviting the people of Bury into our church. Please support these efforts if you can.