ISSUE NUMBER 90 CONTENTS December 2011/January 2012 Church News 3/5, 22/25 Village Diary 6 Bradgate Flower Club 6 Dick Whittington 8 Seniors Christmas Lunch 10 Ramblers 12 Choral Society Winter Concert 15 Choral Society come and sing Carols 15 Newtown Linford School 17 Brownies 21 Santa Fun Run 25 Kollad iba Health Centre & concert 26 From the Records 29 Cricket Club 30 Cuts in rural bus services 34 Christingle 34 Neighbourhood Watch 37 Parish Council 40 1 pre-printed adverts 2 The BradgateTeam Parish How big is Christmas? ovent Garden Market is decorated with Christ- C mas baubles, some four metres in diameter, hanging from the roof girders. They are truly mas- sive. Most are shiny red, some are mirror balls re- flecting the lights in every direction and intentionally or otherwise, these huge decorations give the mes- “ sage: this Christmas is far bigger than you are. It So what does was such a surprise to see in mid November that I must admit to being somewhat overwhelmed by this spectacle, which is, I think, their point. So as I made it mean to my way through the Market and continued my short cut towards the British Museum, leaving the glitz have God behind me, I began to ponder on the bigness of a consumer Christmas and the bigness of God’s Christmas. How big is it to have God not just prom- with us? ise to be with us but to indeed be with us, born in human shape, for a lifetime? Immanuel, God with us. Many of us live with the constant pressure of the pace of life and out of this has come the desire for quality time with our loved ones; we may not have much time to spare, so let’s make sure it’s quality ” time. In this pressure, we have lost sight of the value of quantity time. Often, for example, children don’t have a need for focused activity time with you so much as just knowing that you are in tonight, that you are there without an agenda, just sharing tea and the evening at home. And those who are housebound may not be interested in us visiting simply to swish round cleaning the bathroom or the kitchen, sorting out the washing or mowing the 3 grass; they would much prefer that we To have God with us for thirty three simply sat with them and had a cup of years is mostly about quantity time, tea. This requires a different mind-set. isn’t it? All he was doing was enjoying It needs us to stop thinking in terms of being with us, valuing us and appreci- what can I do for this person and in- ating us for who we are. stead think how can I be with this per- Immanuel, God with us, is mostly about son. Being with someone rather than presence. God is not embarrassed by working for someone. Presence rather me, he does not arrive in my life with than activity. an agenda for change which begins on God with us in Jesus shows us an in- day one (though if I spend time with teresting emphasis. Jesus spent his him, it will indeed change me), he does last week in Jerusalem doing things for not appear like the Covent Garden us: his passion, death and resurrection decorations which are simply too big did for us what we couldn’t do for our- for my life at home. selves, it achieved our salvation. For The Christmas message is that God approximately three years before that, comes to be with us. This is not a new he was engaged in doing things with message; it was there in the first two us: training his disciples, teaching the chapters of the bible and is promised in crowds, challenging people’s assump- the last two also. It is the mystery of tions and prejudices, bringing healing our creation and salvation. God with and freedom. So what did he do with us is, it seems, the most important the rest of his life? The gospels tell us thing that we can know. And, thank very little. He just lived with us, it goodness, it’s not just for Christmas! seems, experiencing the joys and sor- Louise Corke rows of family and community life, for thirty years. Look at the proportions: one week, three years and thirty years. Please note that the worship on Sunday 1st January 2012 will be a whole parish all age Communion at St. Philip and St. James in Groby, beginning at 10.00am The Parish Office Administrator: Bekki Williamson Tel 0116 239 3768 4 Email [email protected] LARGE PRINT COPIES If you know anyone or you yourself would like to receive a large print copy of the Village Magazine please contact Anne and David Couling telephone 242452 Many thanks to Newtown Linford School for the use of their facilities to produce the large print magazine. It is much appreciated 5 VILLAGE DIARY December 6th Gardening Club Christmas Party 8th Seniors Christmas Party Village Hall 10th Newtown Ramblers 22nd Come & Sing Carols Regular events Monday afternoon Mature Movers fitness class V. Hall Mondays 8pm at the Church Bell Ringing 1st Monday of the month Youth Club 4th Tuesday of the month Gardening Club 1st Wednesday of the month Flower Club Thursday Mornings Welcome Club Thursdays am during school term Toddlers Group Thursdays eve during school term Brownies 3rd Thursday Gentlemen's Lunch Club Bradgate Flower Club Bradgate Flower Club's 2011 meetings conclude with a demonstration on Wednesday 7th Decem- ber. When we welcome Lee Berrill from North- amptonshire. Appropriately, the chosen theme is 'Winter Wonderland'. The meeting will start at 7.30pm in Woodhouse Eaves Village Hall (please note change of venue - we usually meet at Newtown Linford Village Hall). A charge of £4 is made for visitors. The Club AGM will be held at 7.30pm on 11th January 2012 in Newtown Linford Village Hall. Further details of both meetings can be obtained 6 from Geraldine Abbott on 01530 415378. Holy Communion 7 Once again its time for our foray into Panto land with this years production of ...... Bradgate Drama Groups Dick Whittington by Derek Dwyer & Merlin Price with extra material by Peter Orton. Newton Linford Village Hall Thurs 1st, Fri 2nd & Sat 3rd December 2011 Evenings Doors Open 6.45 Curtain 7.30 prompt, Sat matinee doors 1.45pm Curtain 2.30. All tickets £6.00 Sat MATINEE ONLY accompanied children half price . Tickets available from Jane Warlow 6, Countryman Way Markfield LE67 9EQL Tel no 01530 245431. 8 E.W. Goddard & Sons (Established 1970) QUALIFIED PLUMBERS Bathroom and Tiling Specialists All Building Work and Renovation *************** 305 Markfield Lane Markfield LE67 9PR Telephone 01530 245316 or 0116 2311672 07961 319908 or 07961 319907 9 Newtown Linford Village Hall Committee SENIORS CHRISTMAS LUNCH Thursday 8 th December Doors open at 12.00 Ticket price £8 Call Bev - 242632 Newtown Linford Sunday School We normally meet on the first Sunday of every month, The next session will be on Sunday 4th December between 10.30 and 11.30 in the Sun- day School Rooms. Suitable for children of all ages. Please note there will be no Sunday School on the 1st January 2012. Good Luck to Beth Raynor who will not be with us in December as she is running in the Santa Fun Run in Loughborough in aid of Charity. 10 Contact Katherine/Carole on 244790 Make 2012 the year you finally stop your weight problem – perma- nently The season of cheer has flown by in a blur of mince pies and chocolates and has left you feeling run down, fed up and overweight. But that’s ok, because 2012 is going to be the year that you finally start eating healthily and working out to get the body you know you should have. Or is it? We’re all guilty of it. Making New Year’s resolutions on the 1 st January but then using every excuse possible to delay it one more week. Then before you know it, it’s December again and you’re no closer to your goal. If anything, you’re further away from it. But imagine how you would feel if you did actually make this year differ- ent. Imagine buying a smaller clothes size or being on the beach without covering up. 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