| Sun | 5th | 7.00pm | A Festival of Readings and Carols with Holsworthy Town Band. Mince pies in the Church Hall after the service. |
| Sun | 12th | 6.00pm | Christingle Service. Children at Bradworthy school will be given a Christingle order form. For other children order forms are in church Please place them in the box when completed. |
| Sun | 19th | 10.00am | Family Communion |
| Fri | 24th | 11.30pm | Midnight Mass |
| Sat | 25th | 10.00am | Family Communion. Children who come to church should bring along a new Christmas present. |
| Sun | 26th | 10.00am | Choral Communion |
| Thu | 30th | 7.30pm | Service of Penitence and Thanksgiving at Bradworthy Chapel. United service for chapel and church congregation and anyone who wishes to come. |
| Fri | 31st | 11.30pm | Watchnight Service |
| Sun | 2nd | 10.30am | Service of Celebration and Hope at Bradworthy Church. United service for chapel and church and anyone who wishes to come. Please note the service starting time! Refreshments in the Church Hall after the service. |
| Thu | 6th | 7.00pm | Holy Communion |
| Sun | 9th | 10.00am | Choral Communion |
Just a few days ago Joan Kerslake announced her retirement from playing the organ at Bradworthy. For a period of sixty-five years Joan has been the principal organist at the church and, throughout that time, she has fulfilled her duties with great devotion and humility.
It is Joan's wish that we make no fuss, but it would be wrong not to acknowledge the debt the whole village owes her for the dignified and sensitive way she has accompanied weddings, funerals and Sunday services throughout those years.
Thank you Joan, and don't forget that the organ key is still in the vestry! Bradworthy Gift Day Since the gift day held on October 16th more money has been given, so that the total now stands at £2,020. This is the highest ever, so well done and thank you to all who have given.
A golden wedding is something quite special, so it was a great pleasure for the many friends and family of Leslie and Marjorie to gather and celebrate this wonderful occasion. Instead of gifts, the couple asked for donations to be given to the church and this amounted to £260. Thank you Marjorie and Leslie for the kind thought and we look forward to purchasing something suitable.
Ruth Wade and her eager helpers provided a really appetising meal for around two hundred diners on 24th October. This time the Friends of the Church benefited from the occasion and over £800 has been added to the Restoration Fund
Well I certainly enjoyed the service and it is very rewarding to hear that so many children and adults felt the same. Around forty children and forty adults attended from eight churches and two chapels, and we certainly enjoyed some uplifting singing. Thanks to all who supported this and especially to Robert, Steve and Jane from the Diocesan Youth Team for their musical contribution and games afterwards in the Memorial Hall.
The next event is on Sunday 30th April at Ashwater, followed by one on Saturday 10th June at Black Torrington.
Again we welcome Holsworthy Town Band to lead our Service that begins at 7.00pm on 5th December. Refreshments are being served after afterwards in the Church Hall.
The new venture is much like a winter Flower Festival, except that instead of flower arrangements we have decorated Christmas trees. Several village organisations and individuals have accepted the invitation. The Festival is open on Thursday 9th to Saturday 11th December from 10.00am to 5.00pm and on Sunday 12th December from 11.00am to 2.00pm. Look out for Father Christmas.
This is an ideal Christmas service for children and young people. The service begins at 6.00pm on 12th December. All school children are to receive an invitation, and any grandchildren and grandparents will be more than welcome. The Christingle costs 50p and the proceeds are given to support the work of the Children's Society. Christingle order forms in church.
As usual, children who attend the Christmas Day services should bring with them a new Christmas present. Noisy, interesting, cuddly and unusual presents are more than welcome!
Three services have been planned.
On Thursday 30th at 7.30pm the congregations of the church and chapel are to worship together at the chapel, with others we hope, to mark the mixed emotions of the past with a service of penitence and thanksgiving.
At 11. 30pm we are having a watchnight service in church for around 15 minutes. At midnight the bells are to ring for a few minutes to welcome the new millennium and then we have some rather grand fireworks to waken those who thought that it might be a good idea to have an early night.
On Sunday 2nd January at 10.30am in church - note the change in time for both congregations - we gather again for a service of celebration and hope for the future. Refreshments afterwards in the church Hall.
If ever I can help please call me at the vicarage on 241411