ST. PHILIP’S E-NEWSLETTER
3 DECEMBER 2010
COMMENTS FROM THE EDITOR
Brrrrrrrrr.
THOUGHTS
Your editor recently encountered a quote from Soren Kierkegaard, the introspective Danish theologian/philosopher who in the name of the individual’s relationship with God/Christ rebelled against overriding systems. He had little time for accepted, established church in 19th century Denmark and became a thorn in the side of the respectable. This quote is salutary for those of us who approach Christmas with ambivalence: beautiful celebrations of the Christ’s birth alongside tinsel and tat.
Original Christianity relates itself so militantly to this world that its view is: not to slip happily and comfortably through this world but to take care to collide in dead earnest with this world…Thus there is a world of difference, a heaven of difference between the respectable church life-view (which is actually Epicurean, one of the enjoyment of life, zest for life, belonging to this world) and the Christian view, which is one of suffering, of enthusiasm for death, belonging to another world.
Happy Advent!
WORSHIP
This Sunday we have a Joint Service with our sister churches in the Parish Grouping: Old Parish and St. James’. We’ll each be lighting our second advent candles, we’ll hear from Rosie Lewis who works at Canny Kitchen (encouraging us to think about ways to use our food in a more environmentally friendly manner), and we’ll welcome members of the Drama Group, who will be doing a dramatisation of The Prodigal Son. Varied and enjoyable.
EVENTS
Friday, 3rd December 2010
Ø ‘Christmas with Octave’ You are invited to an evening of carols, songs, poems and fun with Octave on Friday, 3rd December 2010 at 7.30pm at St Philips. Tickets are available from Annette Morrison priced £5 for adults and £2.50 for children. All proceeds to the Church Talents fundraising.
Saturday, 4th December 2010
Ø Young Woman’s Group Christmas Fayre takes place on Saturday 4th December from 10am – 12 noon with Children’s Crafts, Home Baking Stall, Tombola, Stocking Fillers, Face Painting and Tattoos and tea and coffee with mince pies. Any donations for tombola and raffles prizes would be appreciated and can be handed in on the morning of the Fayre. If anyone would like to run a stall please contact Gillian McNeill.
St. James’ Christmas Fair: Takes place on Sat. 4 Dec. from 10-1 in their main hall.
Carol Singing: Come along to Brighton Park to sing Christmas Carols at the Pedal Organic Market. From 11-12 only: brave the cold!!
Ø The Walking Groups joint Christmas walk is along the Walter of Leith finishing with a meal at ‘Compass’, Queen Charlotte Street, Leith. The cost of the meal is £18.95 – please give names and a £5 deposit to Louise Simpson (657 1348).
Sunday 5 December 2010
Ø Tea and Coffee: Please do join us for tea and coffee after the 11am service and we appreciate your patience as we set up tables and chairs. There will also be a Fair Trade Stall in the hall after the 11am service selling Christmas Cards, jewellery and small gifts.
Ø The Christmas Cards are ready for collection for delivery to the Parish.
Ø Canny Kitchen: This morning we have Rosie Lewis of the Canny Kitchen and you can collect your kits from Rosie after the service, she will have a table set up outside after the service.
Ø Choir Practice will be at 6pm this evening.
Ø The Guild: As the Guild Meeting on Monday, 29th November was cancelled, Guild members wishing to pay for the Christmas Dinner at Duddingston Golf Club on Monday, 13th December at 7pm for 7.30pm can do so in the Centenary Hall after the 11am service today. If you have not already indicated and wish to come, please let a Committee member know. Transport arrangements will also be discussed on Sunday. Further information from Mary Christie.
Ø St Columba’s Hospice Calendars are available this morning from Lilian Warwick priced £4.95 or contact Lilian. There is also a selection of Christmas Cards for sale for St Columba’s Hospice.
Ø Organ Recital will take place at the Old Parish Church, Bellfield Street on Sunday, 5th December at 6.30pm. Refreshments will be served. No tickets required but donations appreciated.
Ø Have You Got the Xmas Factor? Its time to organise the Family Christmas Sing-along again. Last year we had a great time. Singing carols, a quiz, shortbread, mince pies, etc. If you have the urge to entertain us at this jolly event, please contact Poppy (aka Simon Cowell). Due the high number of talented people in our church, only one act per family! Sunday, 19th December 2010 from 6.30pm.
Ø Shopping for the Homeless: The Grassmarket Community, who help the homeless in Edinburgh, have asked if people would be willing to add a bit extra to their shopping basket. Stock cubes, sugar, lentils, salt and pepper are always needed.
Ø Fundraising Penny Tubes are available today for your small change. Please take one. Full tubes can be returned to the basket in the vestibule and a new one taken to start filling again! The penny total has now leapt to £1,211 – slightly up on this time last year!
Monday, 6th December 2010
Ø The Prayer Group The Prayer Group meets at 9.45 in the Baird Hall. Prayer Request Boxes have been placed on both sides of the vestibule. All are welcome to join us.
Ø The Coffee Club meets at 10am in the Session Room. Everyone is welcome to join us. For more information please contact Pat Knox.
Ø Country Dancing takes place in the main hall at 7.30pm. All are welcome to join us. For more information please contact Audrey Fyfe or Liz Veitch.
Wednesday, 8th December 2010
Ø Advent talks will be held at St James’ Church on Wednesday evenings commencing on 24th November at 7.30pm. Speakers from different faith communities will be leading the discussions.
Sunday, 12th December 2010
Ø Christmas Baking Stall: There will be a Christmas Baking Stall after the 11am service on Sunday, 12th November 2010. There will be Christmas Cakes, black bun and tablet for sale.
Ø Christian Aid Carol Service will take place at St Philip’s at 7.30pm with Kathy Galloway, Head of Christian Aid Scotland. All are welcome. There will be a rehearsal for the band from 6.45pm on Sunday, 12th December. Any instrumentalist from St James’ and the Old Parish are welcome to join us.
JOKE
A bit late for Thanksgiving. But what’s Thanksgiving without leftover food and leftover jokes.
And, it’s a good one.
A young man named John received a parrot as a gift. The
parrot had a bad attitude and an even worse vocabulary.
Every word out of the bird’s mouth was rude, obnoxious
and laced with profanity. John tried and tried to
change the bird’s attitude by consistently saying only
polite words, playing soft music and anything else he could
think of to ‘clean up’ the bird’s vocabulary.
Finally, John was fed up and he yelled at the parrot.
The parrot yelled back. John shook the parrot and the
parrot got angrier and even more rude. John, in desperation,
threw up his hand, grabbed the bird and put him in the
freezer. For a few minutes the parrot squawked and kicked
and screamed.
Then suddenly there was total quiet. Not a peep was heard
for over a minute.
Fearing that he’d hurt the parrot, John quickly opened
the door to the freezer. The parrot calmly stepped out
onto John’s outstretched arms and said “I believe I
may have offended you with my rude language and
actions. I’m sincerely remorseful for my
inappropriate transgressions and I fully intend to do
everything I can to correct my rude and unforgivable behaviour.”
John was stunned at the change in the bird’s attitude.
As he was about to ask the parrot what had made such a
dramatic change in his behaviour, the bird spoke-up, very
softly, “May I ask what the turkey did?”
Thanks Adrian!!
Have a good weekend!!!
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