The highlight of November must have been the lunch in the Memorial Hall. Around two hundred and thirty people sat down to eat and, judging by the atmosphere in the hall everyone enjoyed the meal and the company. Someone even made a gooseberry crumble for me. Lovely!
Thanks to Ruth Wade for arranging the lunch and for keeping a watchful eye on the helpers. Thanks also to the many people who spent hours preparing and cooking food and to those who slaved away over a hot kitchen stove in the back. Not forgetting the washer?uppers.
We raised a staggering £1,100 which will go towards the cost of restoring the church. Sometimes I am asked the old chestnut of why the church is always asking for money. It is much easier to answer that question if people realise that it is not my church, nor does it belong to the congregation or to an organisation called the Church of England. It is God's church and it is there to serve the people of Bradworthy. The more the wider community sees that it has a responsibility to support its church the less we will need to ask for money.
For the next few years we will need to face several costly projects, but I hope that one day we can keep the church in good order through less expensive regular maintenance. Perhaps as time goes on we may be able to offer more to the community and ask for less. Certainly I have made a personal commitment to restore the building and build up the spiritual life of the church. Thankfully I have the support of many who give so much time, money and effort, it is this which makes it all worthwhile. Thank you for your part; it is very much appreciated.
| Sunday 3rd | 7.00pm | Christmas Carols with Holsworthy Town Band. Mince pies afterwards in the Church Hall. |
| Thursday 7th to Monday 11th | Bradworthy Christmas Tree Festival | |
| Friday 8th | 7.30pm | Wassail Evening in church |
| Sunday 10th | 6.00pm | Christingle Service |
| Sunday 17th | 10.00am | Choral Communion |
| Sunday 24th | 11.30pm | Midnight Mass |
| Sunday 25th | 10.00am | Family Communion. Children and adults (?) who come to church on Christmas Day are invited to bring along a new Christmas present. |
| Sunday 31st | 10.30am | Family Communion. Combined service for Abbots Bickington, Bradworthy, Bulkworthy, Putford and Sutcombe |
| Sunday 3rd | 10.00am | Choral Communion |
| Sunday 10th | 9.00am | Holy Communion |
| Sunday 17th | 7.00pm | Carol Service in church |
| Sunday 25th | 11.30am | Family Communion. Children and adults (?) who come to church on Christmas Day are invited to bring along a new Christmas present. |
The second annual Christmas Tree Festival is being held from Thursday 7th December until Monday 11th December. The church will be open during each day with a special late night opening on Friday with a Wassail evening beginning at 7.30pm. After the carols and other entertainment sherry and mince pies will be available.
Village organisations and one or two individuals should receive an invitation to decorate a tree at the Festival. Please contact Bryony Dorrington at Bradworthy Rectory if you or your organisation does not receive an invitation, and you would like to take part. Several organisations have already returned forms but there is room for more. If you feel artistic why not have a go?
| Opening Times | ||
| Thursday | 12noon to 6.00pm | |
| Friday | 10.00 to 6.00pm with Wassail evening at 7.30pm | |
| Saturday | 10.00 to 6.00pm | |
| Sunday | 12noon to 5.00pm with Christingle service at 6.00pm | |
| Monday | 12 noon to 6.00pm | |
We also need helpers to sit in church whenever the church is open for the Festival. If you have some time to spare please ring the Rectory on 241411. Thanks.
The Christingle service is being held on Sunday, 10th December at 6.00pm. Children at Bradworthy school should receive a Christingle order form at the school and these can be returned via the teacher. Christingle order forms for other children will be available at the back of Bradworthy church, as will be a box for returned forms.
Last year we had a lovely service and it really was one of those magic moments in life.
Any money collected at the service is given to further the work of The Children's Society.