Sunday bulletin for 4 December 2011

Worship This Week
Sunday 11 December: The Third Sunday of Advent
10.00am Morning Service at St Stephen's
11.15am Morning Service at the Old High


SUNDAY BULLETIN ANNOUNCEMENTS should be sent to Joy Cossar. The deadline for all items is Wednesday at noon.
NEWS FROM OUR CONGREGATION

THE GIVING TREE is our way of making Christmas gifts to those in need. Take a ribbon, and bring your gift back on a later Sunday. Details for this year as follows:
ST STEPHEN’S GIVING TREE will be at the Church door this Sunday You are invited to choose a tag from the Tree, but please return the red bow for future use. Details of the gifts required are on the labels. You should wrap your gift and attach the label for identification and return them on 11 December for subsequent distribution. Gifts are for Beechwood, Cale House, Manna House (No men’s after-shave with alcohol please) Mackenzie Centre, Hilton Village (Social Work) + Porterfield Prisoners’ Children. Any queries to Cliff Sim .
OLD HIGH GIVING TREE will be in the east corridor this week. Donations are for the Homeless Refuge. Take a card (marked M or F for Male or Female). Shower gel, deodorants and shampoos are especially appreciated (please no alcohol-based toiletries), as well as items such as socks, scarves, and gloves. Pleased return your wrapped gifts on Sunday 11 December. Any queries to Diana Fraser
SOAPS We also appeal at this time of year for the congregation to donate soaps (wrapped if possible) to those in Hospital and Nursing Homes. There will be boxes this Sunday at both churches for those who wish to donate them. On Wednesday 7th December we meet in St Stephen's hall at 2pm to write cards and wrap any soaps that may require it, help would be appreciated in this regard. Please come and enjoy a cup of tea with us. Florence Munro
OLD HIGH CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS will be done on Saturday 10 December from 10.00am and any helpers and donations of greenery would be most appreciated. Details from Biddy MacBean
OLD HIGH FLOWERS volunteers are needed for the flower rota for next year. Details from Biddy MacBean
ST STEPHEN’S CHOIR CD “Revelation” is available now Christmas wrapped for you to purchase at no extra cost for £7.50 contact Joan Darcy
ST STEPHEN’S GARDEN gives a lot of pleasure to our congregation and to passers by and it is thanks to all who take great care of looking after it. The triangle plot of garden has many Roses that have been planted in memory of loved ones but unfortunately are in need of replacement. If you would like to donate some money to go towards this please put your donation in an envelope marked Garden in the offering bag in any of the next two weeks or contact Joan Darcy.

OTHER NEWS

CAROLS AT THE CROWN with the Inverness Singers at 7-30pm,at Crown Church on Wednesday, 7th December. Tickets are £6 & £3 for children/students from Margaret & Ken Young; the Music Shop, Church Street and at the door on the night.
BORN IN BETHLEHEM- a puppet musical on Saturday 10 December from 7pm to 8.15pm at Trinity Parish Church, Huntly Place- features the Christmas Story told by the Out of the Box puppets for children and adults of all ages. Entry is by donation. For more information check out www.outofthebox.me.uk
MUSIC FOR JOY Saturday 10th December in Hilton Church at 7.30pm Tickets: £8/ Child £4 at the door Featuring Peter Donald & Julie Keen, ‘In Cahoots’, Animato, Beat Roots, James Ross & Helen Standen All proceeds to Carpathian Aid, Romania and the Joy Community School, Ndola, Zambia
BLUE CHRISTMAS SERVICE will take place on Friday 16 December at 7.00pm. After the success of our very meaningful last two Blue Christmas Services, Trinity Church, 60 Huntly Place, has decided to make it an annual service because it was so well received and such an emotional and uplifting service to those who attended. This is a special service for everyone in our community who wishes to take time to remember friends and family who they have lost in the previous year or indeed in years gone by. Christmas sometimes can remind us all over again about that pain and loss. It is hoped that through coming together, each of us will find comfort, hope and a sense of peace in the midst of sadness. The service will include a special act of remembrance, which will ensure loved ones are remembered throughout Christmas. Any queries to Rev Alistair Murray.
CHRISTMAS CONCERT St Stephen's Choir, St Stephen's Community Choir and Inverness Royal Academy are holding their Christmas Concert on Tuesday the 20th of December in the Cathedral at 7.30pm. The tickets are £5 adults and £2 for children. Details from Joan Darcy.