How Great Is Our God
Our 2025 Memory Verse
Come and hear, all you who fear God;
let me tell you what he has done for me. Psalm 66:16 NIV
Mike Massey
The funeral of Mike Massey (former committed member of St Nicholas) will take place at St Andrew’s Cheddar on Thursday 27th November at 12:00 p.m. The family would be pleased to see anyone from St Nicholas who remembers Mike. Mark is taking the service.
Shoe boxes
If anyone has a shoe box for Samaritans Purse, it needs to be taken to Nightingales this Friday or Saturday. Thank you to those who've filled some: Kathy and Kayleigh Goldie in memory of Sheila's birthday, Pauline, Audrey (Howell) once again for dressing 63 barbie dolls and Frances Land for knitting 11 scarves and 16 pairs of mittens.
Visit of Heather Johnstone – Sunday 16th November
After a worrying time with the situation in Tanzania, we are pleased to report that Heather Johnstone, our Mission Partner from Rehema, Tanzania will still be visiting St Nicholas on Sunday 16th November.
Before and after the service there will be a stall selling crafts made by the Rehema women.
After coffee/tea at the end of the service Heather will be giving us the latest news from Rehema.
This will be followed by the hot lunch in the Church Hall.
Prayer for Peace in Ukraine and Israel Gaza/Palestine
St Nicholas’ Church will be open for prayer for peace between 9:30 and 10:00 on Mondays 17th and 24th November and 1st December, weather permitting. If in doubt phone Joy (625545).
Coffee and Cake Evening – Wednesday 19th November 7:30 p.m. in St Nicholas’ Church
Helen Sworn speaking about Cambodia. Helen has a fascinating story of how she came to be in Cambodia, how she came to set up a Human Rights Charity called Chab Dai (focusing on modern slavery) and how she has now returned to the local area and works in the charity sector supporting refugees and asylum seekers.
Do invite your friends to hear this journey of Christian Faith. More to come after Christmas.
PCC – Monday 24th November
The PCC is meeting on the morning of Monday 24th at the home of the Lorings. Please pray for the PCC as it seeks the Lord’s will and makes important decisions.
Vision Day – Saturday 29th November
If you are on the electoral roll, you should have received an invitation to the St Nicholas Vision Day from 10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. to be held in St Nicholas and followed by lunch.
This is St Nicholas focused as we wait to hear about St Barnabas.
Parish Christmas Appeal – from Sunday 30th November
This year we are supporting the TearFund Humanitarian Project for Ukraine.
Millions of people in Ukraine are still struggling because of the ongoing war. Many people have no homes, no food and nowhere to go.
TearFund mission partners are working around the clock to provide support such as food, bedding and temporary accommodation. Our giving this Christmas will help to meet some of these needs.
Full details, including how to donate, will be given in Church on Sunday 30th November and in the next Parish Update being produced on Friday 5th December.
The Mission Team
Lunch Club – Monday 1st December at 12.45 in St Barnabas
This month will be a special Christmas Meal.
Instead of charging for the meal, we shall be asking for donations towards the Parish Christmas Appeal for the Tearfund Humanitarian Project in Ukraine.
New folks welcome. Please contact Pauline on 01934 415401.
Will regulars also please contact Pauline if they are unable to come this month.
Please pray for those who attend and those who cook and serve but most importantly, that the Lord will make himself known.
Prayer Meeting Sunday 7th December after the service
We are experimenting to find a good time to meet and pray for the Parish. In December we shall try having our prayer meeting immediately after the service, once we have collected coffee and tea! If this time is not suitable, please let Mark have suggestions of any other time you might be able to pray once a month. It would be good to have more prayer meetings. No one has mentioned anything since the last update.
St Nicholas' Christmas Tree Festival
Friday 12th and Saturday 13th December from 10.00am to 4.00pm.
If you know a local business/organisation that would like to decorate a tree please let us know. Also if you would like to decorate one yourself.
We need helpers to serve refreshments and welcome visitors on both days; also if anyone would like to make a cake, that would also be welcome.
Gail and Cheryl
Mark adds: The Christmas Tree Festival has brought in a lot of people in previous years and it is an ideal opportunity to come alongside people, talk to them and invite them to the Christmas services and perhaps more as the Lord leads. Please make sure this event has lots of prayer and if you can help in Church please put your name on the list at the back of Church as we need people to be around.
Keeping St Nicholas Clean
We need more people on the cleaning rota so that those who keep our church clean and tidy do not have to do it more than once a month. Please contact Duncan if you would like to volunteer.
Lynn
Pastoral Questionnaire
Please return your Pastoral Questionnaire if you have not done so already.
St Barnabas Wednesday Service at 10:30 a.m.
Have you considered coming to the Wednesday service at St Barnabas? It is a beautiful oasis in the middle of a busy week. We alternate between Morning Worship and Holy Communion.
Messy Church
Messy Church will be starting again on 4th February, and the planning team have already met to think and pray about how we move forward.
They have identified the following needs:
- More people to join the team in general. We need more than the number required each month to cover holidays etc.
- More folks who are able to do food preparation. We have simplified our end of session meal to be something like baked potatoes or hot dogs in the winter or sandwiches in the summer, so it shouldn’t be too onerous.
- Anybody prepared to come to help to move chairs before and after the sessions?
- Please can everybody pray for the new start, that families will return and new families will join us, to learn about Jesus.
Services
Sunday 16th November
10:00 a.m. – Holy Communion live and by zoom from St Nicholas
Do Everything Without Grumbling
Philippians 2:12-18
Wednesday 19th November
9:30 a.m. PRAYER MEETING in St Barnabas
10:30 a.m. Morning Worship live and by zoom from St Barnabas
Persistent Weakness and Resurrection Life
2 Corinthians 4:1-18
Sunday 23rd November
9:00 a.m. PRAYER MEETING in St Nicholas
10:00 a.m. All Together Service
Remembering
Wednesday 26th November
10:30 a.m. Holy Communion live and by zoom from St Barnabas
Advent 1
Isaiah 52:1-12
Sunday 30th November
10:00 a.m. – Morning Worship live and by zoom from St Nicholas
First Sunday in Advent
Romans 13:11-14 & Matthew 24:36-44
Wednesday 3rd December
10:30 a.m. Morning Worship live and by zoom from St Barnabas
Advent 2
John 1:19-28
Sunday 7th December
10:00 a.m. – Holy Communion live and by zoom from St Nicholas
Second Sunday in Advent
Romans 15:4-13 & Matthew 3:1-2
The next Parish Update will be produced on Friday 5th December.
Please pray:
Joan Bailey - Joy is pleased to relate that Lyndhurst Nursing Home now has a lovely young lady doing activities with the residents. When Joy visited, Joan and others were painting poppies. The young lady was interacting with them and the atmosphere was happier and there was a bit more life. Joan continues to get depressed and when I saw her I was sad to find she was a bit confused. However, her loving nature shines through as she calls new residents her friends and asks the person using bad language to please not speak like that in the lounge. Louise, Elaine and I were all visiting at about the same time!
Ann Butt
Rene Eaton
Malcolm and Edna Hunter
Angela James
Ada Keeley
Paul and Barbara Lewis
Jim Loring - Jim thanks everyone for their prayers over the past three years. The prayers and new medication mean that the few remaining traces of prostate cancer are inactive.
The Madeleys
Stella Middleton
Lynn Pack
Gwen Purnell
Mac Reid
Jo Scott
Diana Thomas
Peter and Val Tullett
Gill and David Willis
St Barnabas Church - Please continue to pray that the Diocese will find the remaining funds needed to employ the lay Pioneer Minister to be based at St Barnabas Church.
Please pray for the Magnificat Parishes Group meeting in Wells on Thursday 20th November. These are parishes like ours with high-level of social deprivation in some of their communities.
Please pray for Diocesan Synod meeting at St Paul's Church on the morning of Saturday 22nd November. Amongst the topics being discussed are the Diocesan Budget for 2026 (another substantial deficit), next year's Benefice Share, Year of Prayer 2026, Environment and Climate Change, Racial Justice and Rural Strategy.
Prayers for Mission
Pedro Santos as he seeks the Lord regarding his future ministry.
The Clarkes
Heather Johnstone
CMS mission partners Alison Giblett, Anya and Pastor Valery in Kiev - Please continue to pray for their safety, for wisdom in their use of their time and resources and for peace in Ukraine.