Nativity Play and Toy Collection

What’s Christmas without a children’s nativity play! You have to have one, every church has one, and so do we! This Sunday, December 9th at our usual time, come and be taken back in time, if only for a few minutes, to witness the birth of our Lord, ushered in by cute little dancing angels, a dreamy wandering star, kingly wise sky gazers with an eye for the stars, a relatively hard working donkey, and cheerful shepherds with perfectly obedient sheep. All this fun and excitement packed in with some delightful Christmas music and a pinch of wholesome Christmas cheer.

The angels dance and shout hurray, the star will guide you on your way
The wise men lose their sleep at night and shepherds quake with dreadful fright!
Mary sings a joyful song, and a little donkey prods along
That’s the children’s play for you, filled with joy and laughter too
Come and join this Christmas cheer, and spread the love both far and near

 

#ChristmasEve Services
Come and join the celebration … if thinking about this Sunday’s Nativity play has made you realise it’s a long time since you got to dress up as a shepherd, or that you never did get to be Mary … or your child is insisting they want to wear their sheep’s costume / angel’s wings to church every week – don’t worry on Christmas Eve you will get your chance. This year our 14:00 Crib service will be an informal service for all the family, there will be singing, stories and the blessing of the crib. Everyone, young and old, is invited to come dressed as something from the nativity – come in biblical or in modern dress.
This a perfect service to invite English speaking friends to who, don’t usually come to church, but are looking to put a little bit of Christ into their Christmas.
For those who prefer their Christmas to be carols, candles and Communion – “Fear not” – at 20:00 on Christmas Eve there will be all the splendour of Christmas … bring your friends and family to this service too, and / or on Christmas morning at 10:00.

#Toy Collection – St. Catherine’s Anglican Church in the Alt-Katholische Kirche St.Katharina is a generous and caring community that prides itself in giving and sharing. For more than two decades the St. Catherine’s community has been involved in many social projects, ranging from collecting goods for food banks, donating items for women and children, and coordinating children projects.
It’s annual toy project was the brain-child of one of its former members who learned about a Romania orphanage needing support for its young children at Christmas. Our community immediately rallied
together by collecting toys and other items needed and a volunteer drove the them to the orphanage in Romania.
Even though the member has since moved away, St. Catherine’s has continued the tradition of collecting toys during Advent and distributing them to organizations in the Stuttgart area.
Your support this year will, as ever be, greatly appreciated. This Sunday after the nativity play toys will be collected and afterwards given to the Kinderschutzbund for distribution. For safety and hygiene reasons, please only bring new toys – and no cuddly toys.
As a community, members of St. Catherine have come to know and work with people from different countries and cultures. They recognize that diversity makes the community rich and strong. If you have an interest in giving back to your community, or lending a helping hand feel free to join the many volunteers during Advent and throughout the year.
For more information speak to Lauris.

#Bazaar Thanks Many thanks to all of you who helped make the Bazaar a success!  I won’t name any names in case I forget anybody but all your help on Friday evening, during the Bazaar and clearing up was much appreciated. There are still items on sale in the Anglican Centre which will hopefully bring in still more revenue. So far we have accumulated in the range of € 1.800,– which will go a good way to helping us with our Outreach projects.  Alison S.
Thank you – and thank you also to those who took photos: which you can find here: http://stcatherines-stuttgart.de/st-catherines-bazaar-2018/

#Choir Practice and Carol Service
Our “scratch” choir for leading the carols at this year’s carol service has had their first rehearsal but if you enjoy singing there is still time to come along and join in:

  • Friday 7th December – 18:00 – Anglican Centre
  • Sunday 16th December – 15:00-16:00 – Leonhardskirche
  • and of course the Carol Service itself starting at 17:00 in the Leonhardskirche

Let me know if you are interested in joining us. Kara

#forourprayers
we pray for the sick and among them Brigitte’s Walter
we pray for all for whom this time of year is a real struggle

#justsoyouknow
calling all of you – please take some responsibility for your Christian Learning – and let me have some ideas on what you’d like a sermon on in the new year…… chaplain@stcatherines-stuttgart.de

#Remembrance Day Poppy Collection The donations to the poppy collection amounted to €145,– so many thanks to all those who contributed enabling the Royal British Legion, which launches  the appeal, to continue their important work supporting service men and women and their families in times of trouble. This year was especially poignant as we were remembering the end of the First World War on 11th November 1918. Alison S

#men’sPubNight goes Christmas Market
Pub night this month is scheduled to will take place at 7pm on Thursday 13th December at the Weihnachtsmarkt. Alas this is the same night as my work Christmas party at which my presence will be expected, so sadly I will not be able to make it 🙁 As usual, we’ll meet near the gateway to the Weihnachtsmarkt on Schlossplatz (between the Alte Schloss and the Alte Kanzlei) The nearest U-Bahn is either Schlossplatz or Charlottenplatz. Wishing you all a splendid festive season and a “good slide” into the New Year as they say in these parts.
See you in 2019, Darren

#comingsandgoings
we pray for any newcomers that they might feel truly welcome among us and as they discern what gifts God is calling them to share among us
we pray that too for those who live a long way from Stuttgart but feel part of the St Catherine’s church family

#chaplain@theoffice
Chaplain – every Monday: 14.30 – 15.30 and every Saturday: 11.00 – 12.30
If I am not there at these times there will be a very good reason !
Chaplaincy Administrator aka the lovely Lauris – every Thursday: 10.00 – 12.00

I am also at the Centre at other times so feel free to drop in – no appointment needed !

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