Notices for this fortnight 27th December 2009 & 3rd January 2010

A Prayer for the Christmas Season

Lord Jesus Christ, your birth at Bethlehem
draws us to kneel in wonder at heaven touching earth:
accept our heartfelt praise
as we worship you,
our Saviour and our eternal God. Amen

Prayers for the New Year
There is an act of worship to give thanks for 2009 and prepare for the New Year at 6pm at St Nicholas, Federal Road, Perivale, on New Year's Eve, Thursday December 31st. All are welcome. More details from 020 8997 1948

Farewell to John and Joan Baker
John and Joan Baker are saying goodbye to St Joseph's on Sunday January 3rd as they move from Northolt after 27 years living here, to their new home in Norfolk. Please pray for God's blessings and guiding for them as they prepare to put down roots in a new community and church.

A big thank you to all the hard workers for the very special Christmas lunch laid on for the Oasis over 60’s. It was great. Thank you from us all. Joan

Happy Christmas to St Joseph's!
Our thanks to St Joseph's church family for your faith, fellowship and commitment to the life of our Christian community this past year. We look forward to seeing you and your friends at our Christmas services, starting this afternoon with our 3pm Afternoon Praise carols. We wish you and those you love and care for a joyful Christmas-tide and a very happy and peaceful New Year.
With love and blessings from Simon (Vicar) and Ray (Church warden)

“Save the Children Fund”
Please don’t forget to bring your USED STAMPS to Church especially foreign ones. There are a lot about at Christmas. Please place them in the box on the ledge near the entrance. Thanks Joan Kearley

Confirmation Service in 2010
Bishop Pete will be visiting us for our confirmation service on Sunday January 31st at 10am. If you are a committed Christian, over 16 years and have not yet been confirmed as a member of the Church of England, please seriously consider making taking this step and speak to Fr Simon. There will be three preparation sessions on Thursday evenings in January.

Parish Christmas Card
Thank you to everyone who has made a donation to the St Joseph's Dovetail Project and added their name and greetings to the church family on our communal church Christmas card.

Friday Youth Drop-In Needs You!
The Drop-In cannot open if we do not have enough adults. So we are asking people to sign up on the rota in the Dovetail Centre to help for a night in the tuck shop. Come along, volunteer your time and find out what youth work is about. No upper age limit!! Chris Hill

Words For Weapons
It was great to hear from Mike Smith recently about Word for Weapons and the knife bin that has been placed beside our Bell Tower. The bin is a secure container where anyone can place a knife and in return can be offered an All I Need Bag that contains a bible among other items. When Mike was here recently he checked the bin and there had already been 5 knives deposited. This is great news!
See the posters and flyers in the Dovetail Centre for more information.

Season's Greetings for a Happy Christmas and blessed New Year
"The Lord is Near!" We celebrate the closeness of God as our Advent journey draws to its climax in the joyful celebration of Christmas. I hope for you this has been a season of blessing and growth in love for God, and you have been able to prepare to welcome Jesus, Emmanuel, "God with us". In the joy and busyness of this season, let us not lose sight of the reason for the season and let us hear again God's call to turn to him and live afresh for him. I found myself challenged recently when I read these words from the medieval Christian writer Meister Eckhart: 'What good is it to me if this external birth of the divine son takes place unceasingly but does not take place within myself? And what good is it to me if Mary is full of grace but I am not also full of grace? What good is it to me for the creator to give birth to his Son if I do not also give birth to him in my time and in my culture? This then, is the fullness of time; when the Son of God is begotten in me." Simon