November's Monthly Message

Dear Church,

 

I’m writing to you this month feeling quite tired. As a family we were hoping to get a rest over half-term at

the end of October, but were then beset by illness – and so actually feel more tired than before.

 

My thanks however go to all the team who have stepped into the breach in my absence and performed

admirably. To know that the United Service was in good hands is such a relief when I was unable to be

there. Just to say that if you missed it, then the sermon was recorded and is on the church website here:

www.bfpc.org.uk/resources/sermons

 

Christmas is fast approaching, and November feels like a busy month so I thought it might be helpful to

update you with all that’s going on.

 

Remembrance

On Sunday 13th we have a 9am Morning Worship in the Parish Centre (instead of the usual 10am) – and

then we’ll be joining in with the rest of Blandford Forum for the Remembrance Parade followed by the

Civic Service in the Church in the afternoon starting at 2.45pm. Please can I ask for people to help ensure

the church is clean and tidy on the Saturday morning in advance of the Sunday service? I’ll be there

wielding a hoover. It would be great if you could assist me.

 

Christmas Services

As mentioned before we’re continuing to worship as a church family in the Parish Centre until the end of

January. We will however be running all of our outward facing Christmas Services in the church building.

There’s a suite of Christmas offerings which I’ve outlined below. The publicity has been printed and it will

be distributed by Royal Mail to every domestic property in Blandford Forum w/b 28th Nov. Please be

praying that people would respond positively and come along. Also if you live outside Blandford Forum and

want to invite those you know, there will be flyers for you to pick up at church in the next few weeks.

 

Alpha

Off the back of Christmas we’re hoping to invite people along to the Alpha Course in January. Alpha is an

11 week course allowing people to explore the Christian faith in a relaxed, friendly and low pressure

environment. You may have friends and family members who you know would benefit from doing the

course. Do be praying and seeing when the opportunities right to invite them along, or just to come to

Christmas services, where they’ll get an invitation anyway.

 

Service Pattern Changes - January

In a previous Monthly Message I wrote about the intention to go to a regular two service format for our

worship pattern. In discussion with the PCC we have agreed to move to this pattern in January. So Jan 8th

we will have a 9am Traditional Service and an 11am Contemporary Service and it will be the same the

week after also. The pattern below will be our usual worshipping pattern:

 

Sunday of Month	Service Type
1st	10am Parish Communion
2nd, 3rd & 4th	9am Traditional (usually HC) 11am Contemporary
5th Sunday	Blandford United Service

 

Return to the Building

I know many of you will be wondering when we will return to using the church building for regular worship.

The intention is that the Bishop of Salisbury will come on 22nd Jan and lead us from the Parish Centre back

down to the church building and commission us into the new phase of being Blandford Forum Parish

Church, with a renewed vision and a renewed call to be a beacon of God’s hope for Blandford and beyond.

Having said that we’re moving to a 2-service pattern, for that week only we’ll revert to a single service at

the usual time of 10am. In the mean-time the Leadership Team is considering how we retain the richness

of fellowship we’ve gained from our time in the Parish Centre as we move back down to the church.

 

Christmas Party

I also want to put one final date in your diaries if I may. We’d like to hold a church Christmas Party on

Weds 21st Dec starting at 7pm in the Parish Centre. We’d love to invite everyone to come along and just

have a good time with each other. More details to follow.

 

I hope this month treats you well. Please do make contact if there’s anything =you need me to know or

want to talk through.

 

Many blessings

 

Chris

 

Christmas Services and Events

 

Sat 10th Dec 4pm - Carols on the Green

Blandford Churches Together on The Persimmon Estate

 

Sun 11th Dec 5.30pm - Carols by Candlelight

 

Sun 18th Dec 11am - Christingle Service

Christingle provided - Suitable for all ages

 

Sun 18th Dec 2.30pm - Football World Cup Final

A family-friendly gathering to watch the football.

 

Sat 24th Dec 3pm - Crib Service

Come dressed as a nativity character for an interactive service

 

Sat 24th Dec 11.15pm - Midnight Communion

 

Sun 25th Dec 10am - Christmas Morning