Christmas 2009 at the Churches in Great Crosby

Unto us a Son is born.
Celebrate this Christmas morn.

Great Crosby Churches

ST LUKE'S (Church of England)	Sunday 20 December 9.00 am — Holy Communion 11.00 am — All Age Service 6.30 pm — Carols by Candlelight Christmas Eve 4.00 pm — Christingle Service 5.30 pm — Christingle Service 7.00 pm — Christingle Service (with Holy Communion) 11.00 pm — Holy Communion Christmas Day 9.00 am — Holy Communion 11.00 am — All Age Service Sunday 27 December 9.00 am — Holy Communion 11.00 am — All Age Service
ALL SAINTS' (Church of England) Forefield Lane	Sunday 13 December 4.00 pm — Christingle Service Sunday 20 December 9.00 am — Holy Communion 10.30 am — Carol Service Christmas Day 9.30 am — Family Communion Sunday 27 December 9.00 am — Holy Communion 10.30 am — Holy Communion
ST HELEN'S (RC)	Saturday 19 December 11.00 am to 4.00 pm — Sacrament of Reconciliation for Pastoral Area 12.00 noon — Mass Individual confessions throughout the day Sunday 20 December 9.45 am — Mass 6.30 pm — Mass Christmas Eve 8.00 pm — First Mass of Christmas Christmas Day 9.45 am — Mass (no evening Mass) Saturday 26 December 12.00 noon — Mass Sunday 27 December 9.45 am — Mass 6.30 pm — Mass Monday 28 December 10.00 am — Service of the Word
MOOR LANE METHODIST	Sunday 6 December 10.30 am — Family Worship 4.00 pm — Christingle Service Christmas Eve 9.00 pm — Carol Service Christmas Day 10.30 am — Family Service
SS PETER AND PAUL (RC)	Saturday 19 December 5.45 pm — Mass Sunday 20 December 9.30 am — Mass 11.30 am — Mass Tuesday 22 December 8.00 pm — Carol Service with choir and orchestra in aid of Jospice — all welcome Christmas Eve 9.10 am — Mass 12.00 noon to 1.00 pm — Confessions 8.00 pm — First Mass of Christmas Christmas Day Midnight Mass (carols start at 11.30 pm on 24 December) 9.30 am — Children and Family Mass 11.30 am — Mass (no evening Mass) Saturday 26 December 5.45 pm — Mass (only Mass of the day) Sunday 27 December 9.30 am — Mass 11.30 am — Mass Monday 28 December 12.00 noon — Mass

Other Churches in the Area

ST FRIDESWYDE'S (Church of England) Thornton	Sunday 20 December 9.30am — Holy Communion Christmas Eve 4.00 pm — Family Christingle and Carol Service Christmas Day 10.00 am — Holy Communion Sunday 27 December 10.00am — Holy Communion
ST HELEN'S (Church of England) Sefton	Sunday 13 December 4.00 pm — Christingle Service Sunday 20 December 11.15am — Holy Communion 6.30pm — Nine Lessons and Carols by Candlelight Christmas Eve 11.00pm — First Eucharist of Christmas by Candlelight Christmas Day 11.15pm — Holy Communion Sunday 27 December 11.15am — Family Worship
CROSBY UNITED REFORMED CHURCH Eshe Road, Crosby BLUNDELLSANDS UNITED REFORMED CHURCH Warren Road, Blundellsands	Christmas Eve 4.30 pm — Christingle Service at Crosby URC 11.30 pm — Midnight Communion Service at Crosby URC Christmas Day 10.00 am — Family Service at Crosby URC
ST JOSEPH'S (Roman Catholic) Blundellsands	Christmas Eve 11.30 pm - Midnight Mass Christmas Day 11.15 am - Mass
BLUNDELLSANDS METHODIST CHURCH Mersey Road, Crosby	Christmas Eve 7.00 pm - Candlelight Carols Christmas Day 10.30 am - Family Worship
ST NICHOLAS' (Church of England) Blundellsands	Christmas Eve 5.00 pm - Christingle 11.00 pm - Midnight Communion Christmas Day 9.30 am - Family Communion

Christmas Message

There is an old tradition of having a lighted candle in the window of the home on Christmas Eve night. It is a sign that we are welcoming Christ, our newborn Saviour, into our home. We invite he who is the light of the world, to be the light of our lives. Despite all the flashing Christmas lights and the glistening tinsel there is much darkness in the world, with war, other conflict, poverty, homelessness, and suffering. Yet God speaks to us through his son, through the Christmas story. "God loved the world so much that he gave His only son, so that everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life." (John 3.16).

Jesus was born in a stable, he had no riches or luxurious comfort, his beginnings were humble. Yet a new dawn was breaking, and the world would never be the same again. As St John writes, "a light now shines in the darkness, Jesus is the way, the truth and the life." We are God's children, and that is the greatest of all Christmas gifts. Let us remember God's children wherever they are in the world and pray for those who are experiencing pain, loss, loneliness and conflict this Christmas. May Jesus' birth be a comfort and bring hope where there is despair.

What's on with the Churches Together in Great Crosby?

With the First Sunday of Advent (29 November), Mgr John Furnival becomes parish priest of St Helen's as well as SS Peter and Paul. Mgr Peter Fleetwood is taking up other Archdiocesan duties, whilst remaining as parish priest of St Joseph's Blundellsands. All are welcome to the Carol Service at SS Peter and Paul's in aid of Jospice on Tuesday 22 December at 8.00 pm.

Before that, enjoy The Narnia Experience at Old Christchurch, Waterloo Road, Waterloo. In Another Place, in partnership with local Churches, Ykids and New Directions Through Drama, invite you to step through the wardrobe into the magical forest of Narnia to explore themes hidden among the trees. Narnia is open to the public on Saturdays 5 and 12 December between 10.00 am and 3.00 pm. Allow at least one hour for your visit. Go to www.inanotherplace.com for more details.