St Andrew's Psalter Lane Church
Weekly Newsletter
Sunday 15th December
Third Sunday in Advent
10.30 am Holy Communion Revd Naomi Cooke
Collect
God for whom we watch and wait,
you sent John the Baptist to prepare the way of your Son:
give us courage to speak the truth,
to hunger for justice,
and to suffer for the cause of right,
with Jesus Christ our Lord.
Readings Isaiah 12: 2-6
Luke 3: 7-18
Hymns My Lord he is a comin’ soon
StF 264 Make way, make way, for Christ the King
StF 397 The Spirit lives to set us free
StF 264 Make way, make way, for Christ the King
StF 183 Praise to the God who clears the way
MP 605 or 208 Soon and very soon we’re going to see the King
StF 188 There's a light upon the mountains
This service will also be live streamed and you can watch it here from 10.30 am.
There is a Junior Church Activity sheet available here.
NEXT SUNDAY
Sunday 22nd December
Fourth Sunday in Advent
10.30 am Holy Communion Revd Naomi Cooke
6.00 pm Carols by Candlelight Revd Naomi Cooke
THIS WEEK
Every Monday
10.00 am – 12 noon Knit and Natter Group in Room 1, Shirley House
Everyone welcome to come and knit, sew, craft or just chat and enjoy a drink and a slice of cake.
Every Tuesday
2.00 - 4.00 pm - Tuesday Café in Shirley House
The café is for those living at home with memory loss or dementia and their carers. Hot drinks and cakes, music, memories, singing, stories and more. For further information ring the church office (0114 2678289) or email office@standrewspsalterlane.org.uk.
Every Wednesday
10.30 am Holy Communion in Church
Monday 16th December
1.30 pm Housegroup, Shirley House
Thursday 19th December
7.00 pm Taizé Prayer for Advent
7.30 pm Housegroup in the narthex after Taizé prayer
NEW! You can listen to a podcast of our recent services here!
Same sex marriage at SAPLC
At St Andrew’s Psalter Lane Church, we seek to be an inclusive church, and a place in which every person is celebrated and affirmed.
We are delighted to announce that we have now received consent from both the Methodist Church and the Church of England to use SAPLC for the solemnisation of same sex marriages conducted by a Methodist Minister according to the rites of the Methodist Church, and we have made an application for the church building to be registered for such occasions.
We welcome enquiries from anyone who is considering getting married and who would like to explore this further. Please contact the Revd Naomi Cooke: minister@standrewspsalterlane.org.uk
You can also donate by BACS: Sort code: 05-08-08 Account Number: 36930499
or by cheque payable to: St Andrew’s Psalter Lane Church, and posted to St Andrew’s Church Office, 31 Psalter Lane, S11 8YL.
Don't forget to Gift Aid your donation if you can, as this will increase the amount we receive by 25%!
NOTICES
Housegroups in Advent There will be 2 housegroups meeting during Advent. We will be
using the London District of the Methodist Church Watching and Waiting 4-week course.
The daytime housegroup will meet weekly on Mondays at 1.30 pm in Shirley House Room 1. The evening group will meet weekly on Thursdays at 7.30 pm in the narthex after Taizé prayer. We would love to welcome more members! For the Tuesday group, contact Judith Roberts (Tel 236 1531 Email
robertsjm4@gmail.com), for the Thursday group contact Janet Loughridge (Tel 258 4164 Email
janet.loughridge.45@gmail.com)
Reflections from Bethlehem for Advent If you would like to access the Reflections from Bethlehem for Advent that was used in the prayers last week, it can be downloaded here.
Action for Children - Secret Santa Christmas Appeal Christmas is just around the corner and our Secret Santa appeal is back for 2024! Each year, we
ask people to become a Secret Santa for a vulnerable child. The magic of Christmas begins in
childhood. It's a time for children to feel loved and make memories that last a lifetime. But for
vulnerable children across the UK, Christmas is anything but magical. 4.3 million UK children
now live in poverty. That's almost 1 in 3 children. It's the worst number ever recorded, with
100,000 more children in poverty last year than the year before. Vulnerable children across the
UK need Secret Santas to help them feel the magic of Christmas. Become a Secret Santa here.
Better Buses The public consultation on franchising of South Yorkshire buses opened on 23 October and runs for 3 months to 15 January. Please respond, whether or not you are a frequent bus user. There is a strong case for public transport to be publicly owned and now is the time to say so. Please encourage friends and neighbours to respond too. You can have your say by using either the long or the short survey at www.southyorkshire-ca.gov.uk/busreform.
The link to the forms is at https://t.co/5ngXKMnZeN
Better Buses for South Yorkshire is holding an afternoon workshop on Saturday 16 November from 2pm to 5pm at SADACCA on The Wicker when there will be advisory material available, and the opportunity to write your personal response. This is an opportunity to hear BBSY's expectations of what difference franchising would and should make to our bus services.
Help needed! We are looking for someone willing to act as Safety Officer for SAPLC, to oversee risk assessments, identify hazards and ensure our operations accord with good practice and the Health and Safety policy. This is not likely to be a very onerous or time-consuming role, and training and support would be provided by the Property and Finance Committee. If you think this is something you would be interested in, please speak to John Cripps (Email cripps@uwclub.net Tel 258 8932)
Worship Leaders Over the next few months, Cheryl will be taking a break from leading our 10.30 am worship. She will, however, continue to lead the monthly 9.15am services and certain specials! We are so grateful to Cheryl and all the leaders of worship at SAPLC for the time, energy and support they offer to the worshipping life of the church.
Important Dates for your Diary
At Home Church Community Weekend: June 13th to 15th 2025 Next June we will hold our first Church Community Weekend here at SAPLC. A full schedule of activities will be available nearer the time, but in brief there will be worship, teaching, creative groups, lots of good food, fun and games, and the opportunity to deepen friendship and grow together in the Spirit. Our guest speaker will be the Revd Dr Gary Hall, tutor in Ethics and Preaching at the Queen's Foundation in Birmingham. He is an inspirational person and will be a blessing to us all. Please save the date now: The weekend is for everyone, from the oldest to the youngest among us and activities will be for all.
All We Can Loose Change Appeal
Thank you so much for all your donations to All We Can. The collection bowl will be out during Sunday service so please bring along any small change. Thank you again.
Clifford All Saints School
Community monthly prayer group If you are unable to attend but would like to share a prayer request for the group please click here.
The Psalter Lane building is now closed, and the whole school is at the Ringinglow Road site. The Morris School window - originally one of the pair in old St Andrew’s, of which the one in the narthex is the other - has now been installed in the Ringinglow Road building and looks wonderful. There is a photograph of it on the board in the narthex.
The Tuesday Café The café is open every Tuesday from 2.00 - 4.00 pm in Shirley House. The café is for those living at home with memory loss or dementia and their carers. Hot drinks and cakes, music, memories, singing, stories and more. For further information ring the church office (0114 2678289) or email office@standrewspsalterlane.org.uk.
Regular Giving to St Andrew's Psalter Lane Church If you do not give to the church through the envelope scheme or by bank standing order, please have a word with Rodney Godber (tel 0114 266 3893) who will explain how this makes your giving to the church easier and more beneficial. If you would like to join the envelope scheme, please contact Janet Loughridge (tel 0114 258 4164)
Car Parking If you are parking at church, please take care not to park directly opposite the yellow lines marking the path towards Shirley House and Southcroft, as this blocks pedestrian access for people coming to church from Southcroft
Methodist podcast Have you discovered the weekly Methodist Podcast? Available here and on most audio streaming services. Half an hour of inspiring stories, emerging ideas and latest news from across our national church.
Sheffield Interfaith news Visit the Sheffield Interfaith website for news on what they are doing.
Please also note this post about getting the Zoom links for their events.
EVENTS
Millhouses Methodist Church Christmas Tree Festival
Free hot fruit punch and mince pies are on offer on the following dates for the Christmas Tree Festival, admission is free and any donations will be shared between church funds and St Wilfrid’s Centre.
7th December 2pm-5pm, 8th December 2pm-5pm, 14th December 2pm-5pm, 21st December 2pm-5pm, 22nd December 2pm-5pm, Christmas Eve 2pm-5pm.
Bakewell Methodist Church invite you to A Festival of Nativity Scenes, telling the story of the birth of Jesus from the visit of the Angel to Mary, through to the journey made by Wise Men to see the long-awaited Messiah. Come and see this meaningful story of Christmas pictured in over 100 beautiful Nativity Crib Scenes and discover again how the birth of Jesus came about, and why that brings so much to celebrate in this season.
There will also be Christmas refreshments
Why not make your own journey and join us during the weekend of Friday 13th December 2024
to Monday 16th December 2024? Our doors will be open from 10.00am to 4.00pm on Friday, Saturday and Monday, and from 2.00pm to 4.00pm on Sunday.
Big Queer Carols, St Mark's, Broomhill and Broomhall
St Mark's church is proud to be holding its annual Big Queer Carol Service on Sunday 15th December at 6 – 7pm. An affirming and joyful service to remind us that in this festive period we are loved by the God who created us and who chose to live like us. Everyone is welcome so please do come along and bring your friends, family, neighbours and colleagues. No ticket is required. After the service stay for a drink and a mince pie. There will be stalls from Amnesty International and Sayit.
The Big Carol Sing
Tuesday 17th December, 6.30 pm, Walkley Ebenezer MC. Come along to this community
event to sing carols with the Walkley's 115th Sheffield Brownies and Walkley
Ebenezer Methodist Fellowship! Drinks and mince pies will be served after the singing.
The Longest Night Carol Service
The Longest Night iis a carol service with a difference! The Metal Methodists will join with St Paul's Church in Norton Lees, Sheffield, on Saturday 21st December at 6.30 pm.
The event will bring metal and alternative music, a chance to lay down burdens and to find hope in the noise in a carol service like no other. Expect the amps to be turned up! Refreshments will also be served. St Paul’s Church is on Angerford Avenue, Norton Lees, S8 9BG. Further details of The Longest Night service can be found via the Metal Methodist’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/metalmethodist/
Chanukah Keilidh with live Klezmer music and dance caller.
Come and celebrate Chanukah, the Jewish Festival of Light, with our Klezmer Keilidh on
Sunday 29th December 2024 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM at Walkley Community Centre, S6 3TG.
We have many musicians from Sheffield & Nottingham Including Klezmer Tants Nottingham, and musicians from Seven Hills Kapelye – Sheffield’s own Klezmer band with a variety of textures and yearning Yiddish music from our lively fiddle section.
A Klezmer Keilidh aims to be a happy and inclusive evening of Yiddish dance for everybody. No partners are needed and all dances are explained and then led by our dance leader, Judith.
Book your ticket here.
All We Canuary
The idea is simple: do all the *something* you can in January 2025, and fundraise for All We Can in the process! Whether it be running all the miles you can, reading all the books you can, or knitting all the hats you can – it's up to you what challenge you set yourself, because only you know what you need to fulfil your potential.
In the process, you'll have the chance to learn and share inspiring stories from All We Can's local partners in Liberia. As they fulfil their potential, journey with them as you seek to fulfil yours!
Find out more here.
Family Epiphany Party
Family Epiphany Party, 4.00 - 6.00 pm on Sunday 5th January at SAPLC. Crafts, games, songs and tea - if you're 9 months, nine, nineteen or ninety you can come along!
Hospitality Sunday
On Sunday 9th February members of the congregation share lunch with one another in their homes.
Circuit and District Celebration
Event for Church of Sanctuary Please see the invitation on the noticeboard in the narthex to the Circuit & District Celebration Event. We will be celebrating the award of 'Church of Sanctuary' which will be presented to Victoria Hall Methodist Church. This will take place on Sunday 9th February 2025 at 6pm. Following the service food will be provided by the City of Sanctuary. The President of the Methodist Conference will take part in the service, along with Rev Inderjit Bhogal. RSVP by 10th January for catering purposes to revjhaigh@gmail.com
Teaching the Lord's Prayer across the North of England - Sheffield 25th June 2025
The Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell plans to teach the Lord’s Prayer across the North of England throughout 2025, a priority of his vision for Faith in the North. Archbishop Stephen is to visit all 12 dioceses in the Northern Province of the Church of England where he will be speaking and sharing the importance and relevance of the Lord’s Prayer to our world today, encouraging people to pray and live by this as part of their missionary discipleship. Working alongside others Archbishop Stephen is encouraging prayer, storytelling and church planting inspired by the Northern Saints such as Hild, Cuthbert, Bede and Paulinus. The aim is to foster deeper connections with the Christian faith across the north and renew the Church’s missionary purpose to share God’s love with all.
Large churches and cathedrals will be hosting the events, many of which will be livestreamed to enable the widest participation. It is hoped that many people will come to a greater understanding of the Lord’s Prayer and see their lives shaped by the vision it presents.
Archbishop Stephen has authored ‘Praying by Heart: The Lord’s Prayer for Everyone’ and ‘The Lord’s Prayer: A Beginner’s Guide’ for children and young people, to be published next year by Hodder. Video extracts of the book and suggestions for home study resources will be available online in 2025.
Please see the poster in the Narthex – for more information click here
Foodbank and Baby Basics
Firvale Foodbank and Baby Basics are still desperately in need of help, so that they can help the most vulnerable members of society. If you are able to give anything, donations can be dropped off at the following addresses.
Food Bank
Donations can be left at the rear of 16 Edgehill Road, S7 1SP or in Church. Fir Vale continue to take referrals and just under 100 people are being supported. Food and cash donations are welcome. Food is especially welcome. The Food Bank particularly need pasta, rice, UHT milk, toiletries and toilet rolls, but are ever grateful for canned goods.
They need
- Baked Beans
- Canned Tomatoes
- Pasta/rice
- Toothpaste
- Canned meats/fish
If you would like to give cash, you can donate here, or you can send a cheque made out to St Cuthbert’s (write Fir Vale Food Bank on the back) and send to Joe Dey at 16 Edgehill Road, S7 1SP, who will hand it over when he delivers to the Food Bank at St Cuthbert’s.
Baby Basics
Gifts, especially nappies, toiletries and hand-knitted items (cardigans and jumpers for 2-5 year olds rather than babies if possible), and the following items for 2-5 years are always in short supply: pyjamas, underwear, socks, tights and warm trousers/jogging bottoms for boys and girls.
At the moment, they really need 0-3 month clothing, baby socks and scratch mitts, 3-6-years clothing, baby wipes, nappy cream, cotton wool, 0-2year toothpaste and brushes, kids shampoo & conditioner for afro/curly hair.
Donations can be left in the basket at 51 Barkers Road, S7 1SD or in Church; cash donations should be put through the letter box. If Pat is away she will remove the basket from her front door step and she asks that items aren’t left at her door if the basket is not there. If you have something you can put through the letter box, that would be alright. The Facebook page also has information about donating via their Amazon wishlist. Donations can be left in the box at 51 Barkers Road, S7 1SD; cash donations should be put through the letter box. Pat would be able to collect donations if you cannot get them to her – telephone her on 2014881 if you would like to donate this way. You can also now donate online.
We are grateful to all the very kind people who are taking these donations to where they are so desperately needed.
Help Needed!
(Not necessarily an accurate representation of a Working Party!)
A message from John Cripps:
'Many thanks to everyone who helped at the Working Party on Saturday 7th December. The next Working Party will be on Saturday 1st February 2025. Do come along and help – even an hour can help make a great difference to the appearance of the church grounds, which we can all enjoy. More volunteers would be very welcome!
Everyone is welcome to carry out gardening tasks at other times convenient to them. The compound has a new lock and that and the tool box have combination padlocks. Please ask me (01142 588932, 07914 290016, cripps@uwclub.net) if you want to know the combination and if you open either lock, please take care the combination is set correctly before closing it. The tool box contains the mower, strimmer and some small tools and there are additional tools in the cellar.'
The Green Box
Calling all potential climate activists!
SYCA News The South Yorkshire Climate Alliance is an alliance of groups each of whom is concerned about some aspect of the climate emergency whether locally or globally.
At the AGM we heard about the Lottery Bid which is being prepared to develop work with hard to reach young people in different parts of South Yorkshire and engage them in combatting climate change. We also put forward suggestions for SYCA's lobbying/campaigning priorities for the coming year.
Don't forget that SYCA organises Climate Vigils in the city centre on a regular basis.
Please sign the petition "Sainsbury's & Tesco: publicly support real action to cut plastic production" Since 2021, major UK supermarkets, including Sainsbury's and Tesco, have been rolling out front-of-store collection points to recycle soft plastic packaging. An investigation revealed that 70% of the tracked soft plastic bundles that reached a final destination is burnt, not recycled. You can read more and sign the petition here.
Traidcraft loo roll
This toilet paper is special because...
*It's made in the UK from 100% recycled paper (no imported bamboo) and it funds tree planting projects to actively restore nature.
*It supports producers around the world - every purchase is fighting for a fairer trade system.
*It includes free delivery straight to your door and extra long rolls for brilliant value.
Subscribe to save: When you subscribe (cancel at any time) - you save 10% (with this discount 36
rolls cost £31.49) and there's no hassle of reordering - it's all done for you.. We want you to get the best deal here so we've created a guide to how often you should order based on household size...
1-2 person household: once every four months
3-4 person household: once every three months
5-7 person household: once every two months
Business, church or big household: once a month
So in a world of worry, let this toilet roll be one less thing on your mind - and more than that - let it be a joy. When you switch to Traidcraft loo roll, you are are using the power of your everyday purchases to make the world a better place.
You can place your order here.
We all want to care for the planet, but can’t do everything at once. Here is the next in a series of tips to think about. Some can be done today, some this month, and some will not be for you. But remember - everyone can do something!
Eco Tips
December - Enjoy the feast of Christmas! Don’t forget to recycle your rubbish. Don’t waste unwanted presents, find new homes for them through charity shops or on eBay
For more practical ways to enjoy, nurture and defend nature, sign up to A Rocha UK’s Wild Christian email: arocha.org.uk/wild-christian
See the Eco Group page for more Green news!
This page contains information about upcoming services and events and groups that we support.
Please contact clare@standrewspsalterlane.org.uk or janet.loughridge.45@gmail.com if there is anything you would like to see or to add, or anyone you would particularly like us to pray for.
This Newsletter will continue to be emailed instead of being printed to hand out in church. This will be better for us as an Eco-Church. There will be printed copies in church, but only for people who cannot receive the emailed newsletter.
We will be live-streaming our main Sunday morning services, for those people who aren't able to join us in church.
All contributions, serious or light-hearted, would be very welcome!