Christmas Is Coming

There are only 35 days until Christmas! Now that Halloween, Bonfire Night and er...my birthday are out of the way, I start to feel a bit more festive. I have resisted the temptation to crack open the Christmas Carol Playlist on my itunes (although we have had a few little musical treats in the office) but the Christmas Puddings are made, I've started to buy one or two bits and pieces and I'm really enjoying the run up to, what is probably, my favourite time of year. You done your Christmas shopping yet? Have you worked out what you will be doing this year? Here's what we will be doing in BCC..

As well as the many festive get-togethers taking place across Home Groups, kids' ministry teams, youth, the Christmas Fair (5 Dec from 10am-2pm in the Bourne Chapel) and so on, there is a lot going on but there are two high profile events which we hope will attract as many non-Christian visitors as possible...

Kids' Christmas Celebration
On Sunday 20 December from 10am-12.30pm we will be running an extra special service for all kids and their families celebrating the real meaning of Christmas. It will last about an hour and will be full of life, fun, games, singing and more. The Puppet Team have written a special sketch and this will be premiered during the service. We will also be taking an offering for Zambian children. The Team putting this together has discovered a real flow of life as we have tapped into what the Holy Spirit wants and lots of different people from BCC are involved in some way or another. Tickets are FREE and all those kids attending the Service will be eligible for a free bounce in Castaways afterwards. People can obtain these tickets from the Office or via Castaways and it will be first come, first served! Last year we had to turn people away and there were over 200 people in the Bourne - a wonderful sight!

Star of Wonder
Run entirely by the young people of Bristol Community Church, this Service will adopt a relaxed, cafe-style approach and will feature Louie Giglio's DVD "How Great is Our God". This will be followed by a live Q+A Session using a panel of 'experts' as well as some festive music and refreshments. It is totally different from anything we have ever done before and there will not be a Carol or Reading in sight! Esther and Mike are spearheading this project and we aim to involve as many of the youth as possible. Although led and run by the teens, it is open to everyone aged 11+ (kids should come to the morning meeting). Again, tickets are FREE and available from the Office but NOT Castaways.

At the time of blogging, our special professionally-designed invites are at the printers and will be available for distribution from next Sunday (29 November). As usual, they are done to a high standard as we want them to be attractive to potential visitors. Representatives from each of the organising teams will be briefing all of us on these Christmas Services during the Guest Service on that day.

**Tickets for both events will be available from Monday 30 November and will be on a first come, first served basis. Please pray and invite friends along. We are also hoping to go out and hand out the invites during a Saturday morning - more information to follow so watch this space!**