The afternoon group will meet on Thursday afternoons in Room 3, Shirley House, and the evening group on Wednesday evenings in members’ homes. Both groups would welcome new members – contact Judith (tel 236 1531) for the afternoon group or Janet (tel 258 4164) for the evening group.

 

St Andrew's Music Festival  Another wonderful festival! Many thanks the new Director of the Festival, Gavin Usher. Many thanks also to the volunteers for the refreshments at some of the concerts.

 

 

Giving Envelopes 2024  If you would like to join the giving envelope scheme please speak to Janet Loughridge.  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.

 

All We Can Extraordinary Gifts and Loose Change Appeal

Extraordinary Gifts The extraordinary gifts featured in the brochure are a unique way to make a lasting impact on the lives of those we serve from sustainable agriculture to education initiatives. Your contribution can truly make a difference this Christmas and for years to come. To ensure your extraordinary gifts arrive in time for the holidays we encourage you to place your orders by the 13th of December. Not only will you be spreading festive cheer but you'll also be supporting our partners who put hope who put communities in the driving seat.

You can explore the Extraordinary Gifts and place your order by going to this page. 

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. 

 

'I took a bundle of SAPLC Christmas cards to the school on Friday, to go out in the children’s book bags to all school families. I had a wonderfully warm welcome from the Deputy Head, Hannah Wood, and a tour of the school, including the Morris Window which used to be in the hall at the Clifford Road building. They have also taken all the memorial plaques from the old building, which are being cleaned and restored before going on display.

The school would welcome visitors from SAPLC, and would be very happy to have offers of help with listening to children read – this is a lovely way of connecting with the school and most rewarding.  Telephone 2662977 to find out more.'                                                 Janet Loughridge

 

 

Church in Schools Project: Porter Croft School in SheffieldTeam Leader of ‘Faith and Fun for Families’ Heather Waller looks back on a year of celebrating diversity at Porter Croft School in Sheffield. The Diocesan-wide Church in Schools project has enjoyed a number of highlights this year in a multi-cultural inner-city school in Sheffield. The Church in School congregation, ‘Faith & Fun’, finish each session with a British Sign Language-signed UK Blessing. In February, a teaching assistant burst into the hall during this time because she was so moved by the music and felt compelled to come and see what it was. Then in March, a cleaner paused during her shift and at this point came into the hall to stand and soak in the atmosphere. One of the dads who is also not a church-goer was sitting with his eyes closed, really seeming to be connecting with God.  
You can read more about this story in the latest issue of Network Magazine at https://www.sheffield.anglican.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Network-Magazine-Autumn_2023.pdf#page=32

 

 

Energy Affordability Helpline Know anyone who is struggling to pay energy bills? Citizens Advice Sheffield’s new Energy Affordability Line offers personalised fuel debt advice and income maximisation. Their specialist helpline connects people with skilled Energy Advisers who can provide benefit, debt and energy efficiency advice and help you with problems you are having with your energy supplier.
They can help you to:

• Maximise your income by providing benefit and debt advice
• Reduce fuel debts by negotiating with creditors and securing financial assistance
• Access increased support through the Priority Services Register, Warm Home Discount, Tariff Checks, grant applications, and more
• Reduce future fuel costs by accessing support with energy efficiency within their home.

Call the Sheffield Energy Affordability Helpline on 0800 448 0721 (Mon-Fri 10am-4pm, excluding bank holidays).

 

 

Psalm 27 Garden in the General Cemetery  A garden has been designed by 24 year old Ollie Pike, recent student at the University of Sheffield who won the RHS Young Designer of the year competition. He was inspired to design the garden by hearing Psalm 27 at a funeral. The Garden is now open to the public in its permanent home at the Sheffield General Cemetery, where it's been called 'an amazing miracle'. The cemetery is now a conservation area and a local nature reserve, owned by Sheffield City Council. For more information see here. 

 

 

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.

 

 

 

Advent and Christmas Music at SAPLC:  A message from Kit Swanson:

Thanks to everyone who made the harvest singing such a success. There will be two opportunities for us to sing together as a choir this festive season. The first is on the first Sunday of Advent, 3rd December, at 10.30 am, and will be similar to the harvest festival in that the choir will lead singing as part of the service. The second is our Carols by Candlelight service on the 17th December, at 6.30pm. Rehearsals for these are as follows:

Thursday 30th November 7.30 - 8.30 pm

Sunday 10th December after church

Thursday 14th December 7.30 - 8.30 pm

Sunday 17th December 4.00 - 5.30 pm

 

And the music we have planned is:

Advent

StF 180 O come, O come Emmanuel

StF 181 Of the Father's love begotten

StF 188 There's a light upon the mountains

StF 188 Lo he comes with clouds descending (all congregational)

StF 179 My Lord what a morning in four part harmony as a choir piece.

Christmas

Choir stand-alone pieces:

Patapan

StF 210 Love Came Down at Christmas

The Calypso Carol

Still Still Still

Congregational:

H&P 104 Good Christians All Rejoice

H&P 98 Cradled in a Manger Meanly

StF 215 See Amid the Winter Snow

StF 213 O Little Town

StF 190 Angels from the Realms

StF 222 Who Would Think

StF 112 O Come

I look forward to seeing (and hearing!) as many people as possible at rehearsals! Please do get in touch kitswanson@outlook.com to let me know if you're coming along or to ask any questions.

As we are not yet even in Advent (!) I shall leave you with a more seasonally appropriate wish that there is space, reflection, and comfort in this period of remembrance. Keep well!   Kit

 

 

Christian Aid carol singing, Saturday 2nd December  Please 'Save the Date' for this year's carol singing. Christian Aid have permission to sing at the bottom of the Moor; they do have a permit for singing in Fargate, in which case they would be based at Central United Reformed Church, but the state of the area at the moment makes this look unlikely - watch this space for more information. They will probably combine some of the later groups and finish singing at 4.00 pm. Last year they raised £749 - Sheffield is the city that raises the most funds, over the year, for the charity. 

We have received a phone call from Sara Millard, asking if there might be some  people from SAPLC who plan to join the Christian Aid carol singing on the Moor, probably near Sports Direct, 2nd December 2.00 - 3.00 pm

If you plan to join in, please let Chris Rogers (Tel 2554540) know so that he can give Sara an idea of numbers.

 

 

More carols on 2^nd December! 2023 Derbyshire Carol Workshop, Saturday 2 December 2023, 10.00am-5.00pm in Hathersage Memorial Hall. Details of what we will be singing will be posted shortly on the Village Carols website. In the evening we will have an informal carol sing in a local hostelry, venue to be confirmed.  We hope you can come and support the day. Please book ASAP. 

Go to https://www.villagecarols.org.uk/events/derbyshire-carol-workshop-2-dec-2023.html for further details and booking information

 

 

 

Handel's Messiah, 4th December at Victoria Hall, 7.00 pm Completed in just 24 days, Handel’s Messiah is one of the most glorious and popular choral works. The Sheffield Bach Choir is pleased to be able to present our annual rendition of Handel’s marvellous oratorio, accompanied by the National Festival Orchestra with four outstanding soloists. See the Diocese website for more details.

 

 

Places of Peace - A Christmas Event for Gaza Tuesday 5th December 12.30 - 2.00 pm The Amos Trust’s Christmas tour stops off at St Aidan’s Church, 2 Manor Lane, S2 1UF.

Join us for a light lunch and to hear about Amos Trust’s work in Gaza and the West Bank featuring films and special guests from Palestine.

No charge, but contributions welcome towards costs, and the Amos Trust’s Christmas appeal supporting partners in the West Bank and Gaza.

To register, go to Amos Trust Christmas Tour 2023

www.amostrust.org.uk/diary/amos-trust-christmas-tour-2023

There will be Palestinian refreshments 

 

 

Taizé in Advent Quiet reflective worship with gentle repetitive singing on Thursdays at 7.00pm in the Church, December 7th, 14th & 21st.

 

Christmas Praise in the City On Thursday 7^th December join Cliff College, Victoria Hall, The Foundry and the Sheffield Methodist Circuit for this unforgettable evening of festive joy, taking place at Victoria Hall, Sheffield!  Get ready to immerse yourself in the spirit of Christmas as we celebrate the most wonderful time of the year and look forward to the coming of Christ at Christmas. Sing along with heartwarming carols, listen to the Salvation Army brass band, hear an uplifting message and soak up the Christmas atmosphere. They can't wait to welcome you to this magical evening! To help them estimate numbers, please reserve your space here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/christmas-praise-in-the-city-tickets-726694662297

 

 

 

Children's Craft Afternoon  Sunday 10th December 4.30 - 6.00 pm  Come and join the Junior Church for an afternoon of crafting, sing song and pizza as they make an altar cloth for Christmas - everyone welcome!

 

Christmas Concert with Sheffield Folk Chorale, 13th December 7.00 pm Come and join us at Mother of God Church on Abbeydale Road for our Christmas Concert. Not only will you be able to celebrate the festive season by singing traditional carols but you will also be able to listen to the amazing Sheffield Folk Chorale performing and also help to raise much needed funds for St Wilfrid's Centre  A large group of around 60 people make up the choir and it's sure to be a very memorable evening.

 

 

Sharing the Christian Story: Why Public Witness Matters Today - Tuesday 27th February at Sheffield Cathedral  The Bishop of Sheffield's Annual Lecture 2024  Speaker: Rt Revd Graham Tomlin, Director of the Centre for Cultural Witness, based at Lambeth Palace in London. Bishop Graham was formerly Bishop of Kensington and founding Dean of St Mellitus College and is the author of numerous books. Please put the date in your diary now. 

 

 

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

Calling all potential climate activists!

Action needed please!