Christmas is coming!
We told you last Sunday about our Christmas Experience, which is on Sunday 10th December. I thought I’d write to give you a bit more information about that, and also share some other exciting things happening at Kerith Farnborough over the coming weeks.
Our Christmas Community Choir is back for a second year running and they will be taking part in our Christmas Experience Carol Services! If you would like to get involved, (no prior experience necessary!) please come along to our building on Thurs 9th November at 7.45pm for the first rehearsal. Their leader Ellen will be there to welcome you and let you know what else is involved.
Tuesday 28th November is our first Men’s Night Out at The Village Hotel in Farnborough. David Stubbs is kindly organising this and you can find out more and sign up here to express you wish to attend. Whether you will join for a drink or a meal, it would be great to find community and build relationships with other men at Kerith Farnborough!
Sunday 3rd December we are having a Stay for Lunch day at church. Bring a packed lunch for after the meeting and stay to chat to others and build community. On this same day we are also going to leave our building to do some outreach in the town centre. At around 1.30pm we will be gathering in Farnborough (near to New Look/Christmas markets) to sing Christmas carols and hand out flyers about out Christmas Experience – we want to invite the town to come along and hear the real message of Christmas. No need to book in for the lunch, but we’d love to hear from you if you’re able to join us in town for our outreach effort. Please do fill out this form to indicate your availability on that Sunday!
Tuesday 5th December it’s the turn of the ladies again – this time it’s a ladies wreath making evening at our building from 7.45pm-9pm. None of us are experts, but we’ll come along to get creative and enjoy conversations with one another. To register interest for this, please sign up here.
Sunday 10th December – The Christmas Experience! We are going BIG this year and having two separate parts to our Christmas Experience, with two carol services, live animals, hot dogs and festive drinks, with activities for the children. Arrive from 3pm for the outdoors activities, to get your free hot dog, and join us in the auditorium for the 4pm Carol Service. This first one will be a more sensory friendly Carol Service - particularly good for those of all ages who need things a little lower volume, slightly less dark - perhaps you have children under 5 who would appreciate this more. Or, if you wish to attend the second Carol Service at 6pm, we’re asking you to join us from 5pm for your hot dog and outdoor activities (please note the outdoor activities for both Carol Services are before each event only).
The experience is such a great opportunity to share Jesus with our friends, family and colleagues who don’t yet know him - and it’s our biggest evangelistic event in our yearly church calendar. Be thinking – who can I invite? Please take some of the postcards from church to give to those you will invite, and one of the free giveaway fridge magnets to gift to a friend who you’d like to invite along.
We’re asking everyone - those who call Kerith their home, and those who are coming as guests - to book your FREE ticket for your chosen event here. This helps us plan numbers better – don’t forget to book for all in your party. An added incentive to do this is that everyone who has booked in advance has the chance to win a luxury chocolate box that will be announced in each Carol Service!
As you know events like this don’t just happen – it needs an army of volunteers. Last year many people wanted to serve, but also wanted to accompany the friends they had invited, and understandably so! So this year, in having two sessions, we are creating more space for more people to hear the gospel at Christmas. We also hope it makes it easier for people to serve for at least part of the afternoon. We’d strongly encourage and ask everyone who calls Kerith Farnborough their church home to ‘invite to one - and serve at one!’
I’m so grateful to all those who will serve this year - do come and join us, it’ll be loads of fun, and I know you’ll be blessed as you’re a blessing to others! You can sign up to indicate your serving availability here.
To confirm, there won’t be a morning meeting on 10th December. Sunday 17th will be our last normal morning meeting of the year. We’ll be meeting on Christmas Day at 10am, for a short all age meeting, but no meetings on 24th or 31st December. First Sunday back will be 7th January 2024!
There are some other events happening over at our Bracknell Site that you’re very welcome to attend also. Check out our website for more information on those, and info on all of the above.
As ever, thank you for support - in prayer, in finances, in the practical - I am so grateful I get to do this with each of you.
Sonia
Farnborough Site Pastor