Worship Group

Man with Stethoscope

A nativity from children in a New Zealand church

Hallelujah Chorus

Wydale December 21st 2010

Nine Lessons and Carols

The Parish Singers

Thanks to Richard Walker for this picture of the Parish Singers and Clare the  organist  .They lead  the worship on Sunday afternoon.  Young people from Filey School also helped the parish to celebrate this lovely traditional service of readings and worship for the season.

The Nativity

Tonight - Thursday 7pm BBC One & BBC One HD
Tony Jordan's four-part telling of the Christmas story begins tonight.

This looks as though it will be a compelling take on the Christmas story, updated to bring new relevance. In fact, I believe we may have seen clips taken from it at Parish Sundae last week??????????

Make sure to switch on!

Happy Christmas, everyone!

You'll Like this! Comments please

Happy 60th Birthday Carole!

A very Happy 60th Birthday dear Carole, of Fosters of Filey  in Belle Vue Street. We hope you have a great day .Picture taken at Sunrise Service -Easter Morning 2009

O Come O come Immanuel

One of the benefits of the Christmas Tree Festival was that I got to talk to lots of people who worship at St Johns as I needed to bring things, do things etc in the Parish Hall . Normally I go in alone with the key and bring things and do things. The hard work all the volunteers was not overlooked by me,

•  the keeping of the path free from ice
• the on duty with the teapot,
•  the welcome on the door , 
• the  manning  of the Traidcraft stall , 
• the checker of the thermostat,

An atmosphere of love and caring cannot be manufactured. My highlight , besides the Trees was the chat with people I normally don't see other than in passing. So I am thrilled that for a few months the two congregations of St Johns and St Oswalds will be able to worship together. For me its about people not places. 

Christmas Tree Festival 2010-St Johns

See them all again Here and at St Johns Tomorrow. If I have to single any out, this keen gardener loved the one from the Filey Alloments Association. The Seeds to Savoy was very clever and it gave the glory away to God! So you get my mention!You can see bigger pictures by going into our albums in Picasa.

A Labyrinth - Sacred Space

Advent-ure Labyrinth at St James Church Seamer Road SCARBOROUGH

The Church is open for you to experience a prayer labyrinth on December  9th, 11th, 12th between 12 noon and 3pm. You can experience this either on your own or with others or with a guide (provided).

My daughter  just rang me to say she and her lively 4yr old visited this Advent Labyrinth today. It provided her with a time of peace and quiet and a chance to reflect, and small boy responded to the calm of it all. Sacred Spaces, though not a new idea , are a re discovered one to be enjoyed.

Cancelled

Concert on Friday night in St Johns has been cancelled. Christmas tree Festival is still going ahead-PREVIEW TONIGHT-see Events

An alternative Christmas present

Christingle Sunday 5th Dec  Students from Filey School

Andy Dickinson kept it simple .
'Give a smile ' 

I threw out a challenge to the parish 3 weeks ago when I suggested that I would receive suggestions for alternative Christmas Presents. Many of the London eateries and coffee shops are urging customers to add a £1 to their tab  by supporting Goat Buying with Oxfam or the Homeless Charities  , Starbucks , Eat, Cafe Nero etc are all at it. All our family agreed to do without Christmas presents about 5 years ago, and only give to the school age children. We do not give cards to people we see every day. We try to give to a Charity instead. My preferred option has always been 'The Big Issue' Charity.

So I was delighted that our new Head teacher at Filey School , speaking today at the Christingle Service encouraged us all to give away 

 a smile

These Guides(or Brownies) at the Christingle have given us all a smile. 

The young people sharing in the Christingle Service gave me a real jolt. I had forgotten just how much they represent the future. I am so used to being around small children and babies now, my 4 grandchildren all being under 7, that the students of Filey School ,  reminded me that childhood goes further than Bakugan battle brawlers and the  Poisson Rouge website, my present markers on the Childhood time line. Just as a week of travelling  around  London with my bus pass and witnessing the generosity of spirit of  young people in our multicultural capital , so the young people of Filey have intrigued and encouraged me with their willingness to share and participate, their good manners and yes! their smiles!

I can't remember the actual words that Andy Dickinson spoke about the value of smiling at people. I think his alternative gift suggestion will be remembered by us all. 

Looking for the smile from Mr Chatto!

I did notice that the people on the Bayswater Omnibus did not pass the time of day as we do here, but all smiled back, albeit it shyly when I smiled . So lets do it!