St Mary’s Cathedral, Glasgow

For week beginning 6 December 2009

INTERCESSORY PRAYERS… Written prayers may be left on the prayer board by St Anne’s Chapel, behind the organ console. Candles are available at the back of the church. Donations for candles can now be put into the money box marked “Candles” in the pillar at the back of the church.

PRAYER REQUESTS… Requests for inclusion in the public prayers of the church can be made to any member of the clergy. The request will be included in the Sunday 10.30 intercessions for 2 weeks, remembered at Daily Prayer and then posted on the prayer board next to St Anne’s Chapel.

We are going on an ADVENTure…. Create, sing, laugh, and listen: Advent Activities for younger members of the Cathedral (3-11 years) and their carers will take place in the Synod Hall during the 10.30 am service for the duration of Advent. All welcome and we look forward to seeing you. For more information contact Andy or Suet – suet@teowinter.f9.co.uk / 0141 338 8189.

PRETTY STRAPPED FOR CASH? So is St Mary’s, hardly surprising since our tradition looks out inclusively to serve others as did our Lord. If you can do more to help enable the Cathedral financially, email giftaidrecorder@thecathedral.org.uk, or leave a message for Andrew on 334 8115.

SUNDAY PARKING… All day on Sunday, parking spaces are reserved for Blue Badge holders and Staff Permit holders only.

CAROL SINGING (1)… We are asked to join the groups singing at Gartnavel Hospital this year on Thursday December 17th at 7.00 pm. As usual we will meet in the entrance hall at 7p.m. Everyone is welcome—– everyone enjoys the evening and the patients are very appreciative. For any further information contact Margaret Kitson: 357 4437

CAROL SINGING (2)… Volunteers are sought to sing carols at Silverburn shopping centre on Saturday 12th December in aid of a new charity, “My Wish”. The aim of this charity is to help sick children worldwide, but, at the moment, it concentrates on helping terminally ill children and their families in Sri Lanka. If you would like to join the singing, please speak to choir member Olanna Horhut.

KNIT US TOGETHER… the Knitting group would like to invite members of the congregation to join in a project to brighten up the room of a Cathedral family member who recently moved into residential accommodation. We intend to use her yarn collection to make a blanket of colourful squares to symbolise the warmth and affection in which she is still held by us. Only very basic knitting skills are required, the simple pattern and yarn will be provided, needles and help if necessary. There are some samples at the back of church. See Pam Barrowman or Anne Halliburton to volunteer your help, or for further details

CHRISTMAS GIFTS CATALOGUE… Every year the Balmore Trust launches Alternatives, a catalogue of special donations to charities which can be purchased as Christmas gifts. This year the two charities supported by St. Mary’s Cathedral – Wells for India and New Life for Burma – are among the charities represented. Alternatives catalogues are available at the back of the church.

LAUNCH OF THE YOUNG CHURCH AT ST MARY’S… On January 10th the new initiative The Young Church will be launched with an exciting session of singing games with members of the choir. The following two weeks will have a different format:- on Jan 17th, With Parents in Church (with the Treble Choir taking part in the service) and on Jan 24th Finding out about the Church Year. Following weeks’ activities will have sessions of Godly Play and time spent with a member of the clergy. All these sessions will be repeated through the year. Young Church will be held in the Synod Hall during the 10.30 service. Children will meet there during the Psalm and come back into Church for the Peace. If you have children or grandchildren between the ages of 3/4 to 11 and are interested in them coming along, please look out for the flyers at the back of the church.

LISTEN & WATCH AGAIN… There is an archive of audio & video of recent sermons on the Cathedral website at: www.thecathedral.org.uk/spirituality/preaching

TRAIDCRAFT STALL… On most Sundays after the 10.30 am service there is stall in the Synod Hall selling Traidcraft (Fairtrade) products. The stall has a range of products including coffees, teas, chocolates, cereals and greeting cards. On behalf of Traidcraft Graham Skellern thanks you for your continuing support.

ST MARY’S BOOK GROUP… The Book Group is held in the Meeting Room and meets between 5.45 and 7pm (tea/coffee happens first, followed by discussion at 6pm). Please feel free to join us when you can – new members are most welcome. Dates and books are: on 4th February ‘Moon Tiger’ by Penelope Lively; on 4th March ‘Between the Monster and the Saint’ by Richard Holloway.

BIBLE STUDY… The next contextual Bible study will take place in the Meeting Room on Tuesday 8th December at 6.00 pm. We shall be looking at the Gospel for the following Sunday: Luke 3 vv 7- 18. Tea and coffee available from 5.30. No previous knowledge or expertise required. Sung Compline will follow.

POETRY GROUP… Next meeting 17th December 2009 in the meeting room – Susan Anthony is the contact person for this group at: okediadi@hotmail.co.uk / 0141 339 0224

KNITTING GROUP… The group meets in the Meeting Room (next to the Synod Hall door) once a month on a Monday from 7.30 to 9.30 pm. The purpose of the group is to provide a social network for knitters in the congregation, who should bring their own knitting project along. Tea and coffee available. New members welcome. Contact person: Anne Halliburton: tel: 0141 946 5426. Please note that there is no meeting in December: the next meeting is on 11th January 2010.

LGBT… The next meeting of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans group is a Christmas Party. More details from David McFadyen.

“THE MIRACLE OF CHRISTMAS” – PRAYER LUNCHES FOR THE ADVENT SEASON… This is an ecumenical initiative of West End churches, held in Hillhead Baptist Church (Tryst) on Thursdays from 12.15 to 1 p.m. (approx.). It is a time of guided reflection & prayer, lasting around 25 minutes, followed by a soup lunch. All are welcome to come and share to the extent that they find comfortable and helpful. The themes for the four Thursdays are: 26th November – The Miracle of Good News; 3rd December – The Miracle of Hospitality; 10th December – The Miracle of Giving; 17th December – The Miracle of Christmas. There will be an opportunity to support others through charitable donations to Christian Aid.

PIANO RECITAL… Pianist Jill Crossland will give a recital in the Cathedral on Friday 11th December at 7.30 pm. Tickets £5/£4 at the door. The recital will include works by J. S. Bach, Handel, Haydn, Beethoven, Chopin and Mendelssohn.

CAROLS AND CLASSICS FOR THE FEAST OF ST NICHOLAS… Aleksander Kudajczyk (piano) and the Spirit of Life Youth Choir are taking part in this event at Wellington Church at 7.00 pm on Sunday 6th December. Tickets are £10/£7, and all proceeds will go to L’Arche Glasgow. L’Arche works to support people with learning difficulties.

CONTACT DETAILS… Members of the clergy can be contacted through the Cathedral Office: 300 Great Western Road, Glasgow G4 9JB, telephone 0141-339 6691, office@thecathedral.org.uk. The Provost, the Very Rev Kelvin Holdsworth, can be contacted on 0141-530 8643 and his email address is provost@thecathedral.org.uk. He keeps a weblog at www.thurible.net The Cathedral website is www.cathedral.glasgow.anglican.org

e-mail THESE NOTICES… If you would like the Cathedral notices to be sent to you by e-mail, please send an e-mail to office@thecathedral.org.uk with NOTICES as the subject line.