Melbourn United Reformed Church November and December were busy months as usual at the church. ‘Shoebox Sunday’ saw the wonderful total of 147 shoeboxes, filled with goodies and a lots of caring thoughts, sent off to children in the Ukraine through the Samaritans Purse ‘Operation Christmas Child’. Thanks to all those in Melbourn who prepared a shoebox and also to the many individuals and groups in the surrounding villages who continue to support this charity year after year. In addition to bringing joy to those who receive the boxes, it is a fun way to start off your Christmas present giving. So do please consider joining us in our shoebox preparation later in the year. The ‘Big Christmas Card’ raised a total of £95 this year. It was a good way to send greetings to friends locally, with the proceeds being sent to the Philippines Disaster Appeal. Our new venture of ‘Tastes of Christmas’ in early December saw our hall filled with lots of happy people enjoying the tastes (and smells) of mulled wine, waffles, all manner of seasonal baked goods, Christmas curries and bratwurst. To name just some of the goodies on offer! We had apple and apple juice tasting and Christmas greenery and wooden decorations on sale. This new format will be repeated in 2014, so mark your diaries early for the first Saturday in December for ‘Tastes of Christmas 2’! As part of our ‘Homelessness Sunday’ service on 26th of January, items collected for Jimmy’s Night Shelter were blessed before being taken along to the shelter in Cambridge. These included clothing and dried goods and a number of handmade hats and blankets. Those who joined us at the Village Fete last year to knit squares should know that their handiwork is now part of one of the blankets at Jimmy’s.
Don’t forget that there are ongoing projects and a warm welcome for new people and ideas at our Craft and Chat afternoons. These are on Thursday afternoons, 2-4 pm in our hall. Contact Anne Field 01763 220869 for more information.
Looking forward We will be holding our usual Good Friday Service followed by hot cross buns and coffee in the hall. Our Easter Sunday Service will be a communion service at 11 am and a warm welcome is extended to all. To check for additional details of Lent and Easter activities and services please see our Church noticeboard and notices in the church hall. Last year we instigated the making and decorating of an Easter tree where people were invited to decorate eggs with suitable prayers or artwork. This will be made again this Easter. If you would like to decorate an egg or add a prayer, drop into the Craft afternoons in the 2 weeks before Easter or contact Eirwen on 01763 262346. Friday Morning Coffee, every week, in the Church Hall from 10.30am.
Why not a fixed date for Easter? Every year about January or February when snow or ice plays havoc with the football season the old cry goes up, “Why not a winter break for footballers?” Almost every year it’s the same and yet no action is ever taken. The same can be said of the Easter holiday. It’s either too soon and the bad melbournmagazine
43
