Christmas Services
Sunday 19 December
6.00pm - Nine Lessons and Carols
Friday 24 December, Christmas Eve
5.30pm - Crib Service
11.30pm - Midnight Mass
Saturday 25 December - Christmas Day
8.00am - Holy Communion (BCP)
10.00am - Sung Family Eucharist (CW)
Sunday 26 December, St Stephen's Day
10.00am - Sung Eucharist (CW)
Welcome2Worship
A Quiet Evening…to be held at St Mary's, at 8pm on Thursday 2 December.
A chance to focus on the real meaning of Christmas away from all the secular preparation,
with time for quiet reflection, worship and prayer. Everyone welcome.
Contact 712583 or 712074 for more details.
Carols Around the Tree
Come & join us Carol Singing Around the Tree in Fairford Market Square
On WEDNESDAY 8th December @ 6.30pm
Mulled wine & mince pies available.
Charity of the Month 1:
The Children's Society
The Children's Society is a leading charity committed to making childhood better for all children
in the UK. Action is taken to protect, rescue and support Children facing life trapped in a vicious
circle of fear and harm, a circle driven by violence, neglect, poverty and discrimination which,
destroys childhood and wrecks com-munity living. Children are given the hope and confidence they
need to face the future with optimism. None are turned away.
The work of the Society depends on generous donations from the Public, supporters and volunteers.
Can you help with a donation? There is literature to read on the bookshelf along the south wall in the church.
For further information write to The Childrens's Society, Edward
Rudolf House, 69-95 Margery Street LONDON WC1X 0JL.
Tel: 0845 300 1128. Web:
www.childrensociety.org.uk.
The Crib Service collection will go to the Society.
Charity of the Month 2:
Crisis Open Christmas
If anyone is homeless and living in hostel accommodation, Christmas can be a lonely and depressing time.
For 38 years CRISIS OPEN CHRISTMAS has helped to alleviate that loneliness by providing Christmas Centres
across London during the period 23rd to 30th December, that not only offer vital companionship, but hot
meals and warmth, and a wide range of essential services that homeless people do not normally have access
to - all provided by volunteers from all walks of life.
Beyond the traditional Christmas Dinner, over 1500 guests can take advantage of over 20 services
and a variety of activities to hopefully transform lives and for many give a second chance in life.
To find out more about their activities infor-mation is available in the church. Your donations will
be so gratefully received. For further details write to CRISIS, 68 Commerical Street LONDON E1 6LT
Tel: 0844 251 0111 or www.crisis.org.uk.
The collection from Nine Lessons and Carols service will go to CRISIS.
Previous Charity Fundraising
Monies collected from the box for the October charity, Helen and Douglas House,
amounted to £48.97 to which the PCC will add further amounts.
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Christmas Coffee Morning
Saturday 11th December
with Bring & Buy Stall and Bottle Stall and The Grand Draw.
10am - 12 noon in Fairford Community Centre
A chance to chat to friends over coffee, buy some Christmas gifts -
and maybe go home a little richer than you came!
We would welcome items for the stalls; please note that good quality items only should be given
for the Bring & Buy stall - no white elephants please - with cakes, produce etc also welcome.
Items can be brought to the Community Centre from 9am that morning.
Bottle Stall donations may be left in the Community Centre Office for Mr Eric Graham
from Monday 6th December.
Grand Draw tickets are 50p per ticket, £2.50 per book. Tickets will be on sale in the town
prior to, and on the morning of, the Coffee Morning
Churches Together Around Fairford Events
Soup Lunch
Friday 10th December 12.00 -1.30pm
Fairford Community Centre
Donations please. To be given to the Salvation Army for their work with families at Christmas.
When you have had your soup SEND A MESSAGE OF HOPE. Join Amnesty’s campaign to send greetings
to a prisoner of conscience. Cards provided, or bring your own. Donations towards postage welcomed
Carol Singing 
Churches Together around Fairford invite you to come and join in Carol Singing.
11am Wednesday 22 December, the Market Place, Fairford
Messy Space, Saturday 18th December
2.00 – 4.00 p.m. Fairford Community Centre
This month: Christmas Party.
Adults and Children (recommended 4 years upwards)— £2 per child (max. £5 per family)
A project of Churches Together Around Fairford.
Tiddles, the Church Cat
It is with regret that we inform you that Tiddles, the church cat, has passed away after
several weeks of being poorly. Very special thanks to Audrey Johnson for looking after her
for the last twelve months.
Audrey, together with Wendy Graham, looked after Tiddles during her last few weeks. Many thanks
to both these ladies for all their efforts in making Tiddles’ life very cosy and comfortable
indeed during this time.
Thanks also to all those who gave donations towards the vet’s bills.
Audrey was given a fridge magnet last Christmas which says,― Cats leave paw prints on your heart,
which Audrey feels is so very apt. Tiddles will be sorely missed by a lot of people.
Items for Inclusion in the Parish News
must be submitted by the 10th of each month. It may not be possible to include late items.
The editor of the month reserves the right to use editor’s judgement as to the size and shape etc
of articles submitted. Do not worry if you cannot arrange the layout - that’s the editor’s job.
Send an Email to: stmaryspn@gmail.com
or place in envelope clearly marked ‘Parish News’ and
take to the Parish office (open 10am—12 noon Mon – Fri)
(if the Office is closed) put it through Fairford Community Centre letter box,
or post to
Parish News, Parish Office, Fairford Community Centre, High Street,
Fairford GL7 4AF (don’t forget the stamp).
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