Living Advent 2019— Angel Story
This year during Advent, Busbridge Church will display a 6ft angel outside the church door. Children from Busbridge Junior School have created the angel’s feathers this week, and the Angel will be installed over the pathway from Advent Sunday.  There will be a Living Advent launch event on Monday 2 Dec at 3.15pm, when Buddy the dog will be out to greet children coming out of school.  The main event will be a special storytelling event straight after school on 19 December.  The story will be about the Angel Gabriel, and has been written especially by a published writer who will also come and read it on the day.  The storytelling will take place round a campfire in the churchyard (weather permitting!) and there will be refreshments served in church from 3.15pm.  All very welcome!

Prime Time Tea & Talk: Inspired to write a Christmas card Next Thursday 5 December 2.30-4pm, led by Frances Shaw.  Have you thought about your Christmas cards yet?  Every year we receive a wide variety of cards. Some bring us snow scenes and crib scenes; some trees, holly & ivy; others Father Christmas, reindeer and robins. Some bring us landscapes, and some classical art.  We’ll have tea and cake, as is customary at our Prime Time events, and will explore together some traditional art that often appears on Christmas cards. If you have a favourite art card available, do bring that along. All very welcome – not just Prime Timers!

Sherry with the Rector - Helpers needed to (drink sherry and) make up Christingle kits on Monday 9 Dec, 2pm.  We hope that a social tipple and mince pie with Simon might disguise the ruse to draw in helpers to make up 500+ Christingle packs for Christmas eve! Come and join Prime Time members for this fun and very useful afternoon. 

Call for Choristers  As in previous years, the Busbridge Evening Carol Service on 22 December will be supported with a choir. Rehearsals will be from 11.30am to 1pm on 1st, 8th and 15th Dec in Busbridge church. The choir will join the congregation with some favourite carols, as well as performing three choral-only items; including a piece prepared by some of our own talented musicians.

All are very welcome - particularly male voices! Please contact Julie Nelson julienelson@phonecoop.coop if you would like to join in.

Christmas Rocks Ladies’ Night, Friday 13 December, 7-9pm. 
The Ladies’ big Christmas social, and a vision to surprise and bless the local community with Christmas themed decorated stones.  Other Christmas craft activities (gift tags, decorations etc) will also be available.    Tickets £5 are available now from the office.  Take a flyer for more info.

Spare Mobile Phones
Due to safeguarding and GDPR considerations, several members of BHC staff require mobile phones specifically for their work in the church.  We have a limited budget, and are hoping to get SIM only contracts where possible.  Just thought we’d ask… if anyone would be able to donate a spare/redundant smartphone (iPhone 6, Samsung Galaxy equivalent or better) for a church team member, please contact the office.

Warmest congratulations to Ollie and Suzie Lambert on the safe arrival of Hannah Rose, on Wednesday 27th November.  A gorgeous sister for Josh.  All well!

Channel for Mission—Besom hampers
This is an opportunity for Busbridge&Hambledon to collectively lend a helping hand to those in need at Christmas. We are planning to prepare 25-30 hampers and help is needed:

1. Between now and 12 December, we need people to collect 25-30 large flat boxes from the stack at Sainsbury's, and to WRAP THEM neatly in Christmas paper.

2. HAMPER DONATIONS—from now.  Deliver to the church office: Food items (luxury and seasonal items preferred, but please do not include alcohol, perishable or home-made items), household items, Christmas decorations, candles, napkins and paper table cloths, crackers...

3. PACKING HAMPERS Thursday 12 December (yes, it's election night) from 7-8.15pm at Spinney Copse in Hambledon Road, by kind invitation of Simon and Catherine Taylor, who will be offering mulled wine and nibbles to keep us going.

4. DELIVERING HAMPERS—We need several volunteers (adults only) to deliver the hampers to their recipients over the weekend of 13-15 December. 

If you can help with any of the above, please sign up in church or contact Shelagh                    t:  417725 / e:  jimdogshome@aol.com.  To find out about Besom, please see the Autumn newsletter.

Next week is Mission Sunday for SALCET.  We look forward to hearing from the Jaggers about the charities latest work.  There will be donation envelopes in all services.