December Newsletter 2025
Julie Writes
Dear Friends,
On Sunday we will enter the season of Advent with all its preparation and expectation. It’s easy to become lost in the frantic activity preparing for the big day! But Advent challenges us to do more than that. Rather like Lent we are encouraged to take stock, to look at how prepared we are, not just to meet the infant Christ but for that final advent, Christ’s final coming. In our Creed over Advent we’ll say those words from Revelation, ‘Come Lord Jesus.’ In our readings we’ll hear much of being prepared for that time.
On Tuesday I attended Bishop Ruth’s study day for clergy. There was a mixed programme, but revisiting the rule of life was one of the sections which has stayed with me. It’s a good few years since Bishop Paul introduced this and we’ve been dutifully including it on our service sheets ever since. The question at the study day was which of the six actions do we find the easiest and which is the bigger challenge. I’ll leave you to ask yourself that question too. In Advent maybe we could spare some time to revisit them – the 3 inward actions; pray, read, learn, encouraging us in our journey towards Christ and the outer 3; tell, serve, give, send us out to witness to Christ. Many folk like to take on an Advent read, there’s a good selection at the cathedral bookshop, I picked up a couple last week. The national Church has also produced some online reflections which you can sign up for free of charge or they are available to buy as a booklet. Here are the links-
Reflections via email: Sign up to our Christmas reflection emails and receive daily messages straight to your inbox. Our daily emails will offer Bible readings, short reflections and a practical challenge, as well as prayers linked to weekly themes.
Downloadable reflections for 11-15 year olds: Following the same themes and Bible verses as our Advent reflections for adults, these bitesize daily reflections for young people written by Lucy Rycroft can be downloaded in full colour or black and white.
Daily reflections via Everyday Faith app: You can read and listen to daily Advent and Christmas reflections from 1 December through the Everyday Faith app, the daily devotional app from the Church of England, which is available to download here.
Women of the Nativity: A collection of nine imagined stories told from the perspective of women, written by Paula Gooder, recreating the events of the Nativity. Listen here.
I’ve signed up so it would be good to hear what you think, maybe over our coffee before or after the services. We have a full programme of services and activities, why not invite a friend to come along with you?
Prayer Harmony
The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned. Isaiah 9:2
This time of Advent, we pray for the world, that it will be ready for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, when He comes in glory. We pray for peace, we pray for justice, we pray for those who are exploited, the poor preyed upon by the rich, the weak put down by the strong. With Mary we pray: He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty.
I don’t have to remind you that we give grateful thanks to God for sending Jesus into the world to save us from sin and ourselves. We pray that the world will see beyond the tinsel and feasting and turn to worship the King in the stable.
We pray for the children and families that will receive the toys that we have collected for them. We pray for that they will find the love and friendship that is tucked inside the presents, and know that we care for them, even though we don’t know who they are.
We pray for all the special Christmas Services, Wreathing, Carols, Christingle and all the things going on around them. We pray for all those who don’t normally come to Church, that they will find a welcome and an inclusion, so that they feel at home in their Father’s house. We pray for families coming home for the celebrations, that they will renew old friendships and find new ones.
And, in a different tone, we pray for all who find Christmas and all other annual celebrations, just too much to bear. We pray for them to find peace, that peace which only God can give, being held in His arms in their hurting. We pray for their healing, of body, mind and spirit, that they may come through their difficulties and out into the light of Christ.
Today, in the town of David, a Saviour has been born to you; He is the Messiah, the Lord. Luke 2:11
Prayer meeting each Thursday 7.00pm-8.00pm, no invitation required, just turn up at the Prayer Room. Not Christmas Day or New Years Day
Bible study continues Tuesday afternoon at 2.00pm fortnightly, call Sylvia on 07872 314103 for more details.
Vicar Vacancy Update
The advert has been placed for a new Vicar. Advert closes in January, and interviews will take place in February. We pray God will direct the right Vicar to come to our United Benefice.
Dates for December at St Michael’s
Sunday 7th December Advent 2- 9.30am Holy Communion
Sunday 14th December Advent 3. 9.30am Holy Communion 3.00pm Carol Service followed by tea.
Sunday 21st December Advent 4 - 9.30am Holy Communion
Wednesday 24th December 11.30pm Christmas Eve Midnight Communion
Sunday 28th December Holy Innocents/Christmas 1-9.30am Holy Communion
Dates for December at Holy Trinity
Wednesday 3rd December 6.30 pm -8.00pm Pizza Eaters Youth Group meet in Church to decorate the foyer Christmas tree and make lanterns. Year 6 and upwards welcome to join us. Contact Sylvia on 07872 314103
Thursday 4th December 7.30pm. A Celtic Christmas Formby Methodist Church Elbow Lane. Sing Carols. Listen to poems and tales. Find out about Celtic Traditions. Admission by donation on the door.
You may hear people you know speak!!!
Friday 5th December 9.00am to 2.00pm
Wreath making for the Wreathing Service in the Parish Hall.
We need 18 volunteers’ please.
Amazing, we have the volunteers, thank you.
Saturday 6th December 9.00am -12.30pm
Big Christmas Sing-along and Coffee Morning in the Church with Maggie, Mandy & Friends of course. Fabulous social event to start Christmas off. Refreshments available including popular bacon butties. Amazing raffle prizes. What’s not to like? So come along and bring a friend. All money raised will be given to Queenscourt and Woodlands Hospices.
Saturday 6th December
Village Lantern Parade 4.00pm Meet in Holy Trinity Church at 3.45pm and in small group and families take illuminated lanterns to the village Nativity display to sing a couple of Carols, then back to Church for hot drinks & snacks. It would be great if you could join us.
Sunday 7th December 3.00pm Wreathing Service
Monday 8th December 9.15am Tiddler Toddlers Christmas Celebration.
Saturday 20th December 2.00pm Blue Christmas Service for anyone who maybe on their own or sad at this Christmas time.
Sunday 21st December 10.30am Joint Café Carol Service with Communion
6.30pm Evening Service with Holy Communion and Carols followed by ‘soiree’!
Wednesday 24th December 11.00am Christingle Making in the Workshop. 11.30pm Midnight Communion
Christmas Day 25th December Christingle Service 11.00am followed by Communion.
Sunday 28th December Joint Holy Communion Service.10.30am
Formby Parish Council need help assembling Christmas Food Hampers they are providing for local needy families.
Monday 15th December at 12.00 noon, Formby Methodist Church for an hour if you can spare the time. They are short of helpers so any help would be great.
Village Nativity – Churches Together
Saturday 13th December 11.00am
Formby Pool Gardens. Free Entry. All welcome
Parish Breakfast
Sunday 4th January 9.30am Parish Breakfast in the Parish Hall
Continental Style to include various croissants and Bucks Fiz.
Special Price £3.50.
Please sign your name on the form at back of church should you be attending so the catering team know how many to cater for.
4th Formby Scouts Charity Christmas Post 2025
Delivered by 4th Formby (Holy Trinity) Scout Group
Christmas is coming -and the 4th Formby (Holy Trinity) Scouts are once again spreading festive cheer with our charity Christmas Post!
We’ll be delivering Christmas cards across Formby, Freshfield, Altcar and Hightown only-all while raising funds to support local Scouting activities.
Here’s how it works:
Buy a Scout stamp -just 40p each
Write your card and attach a stamp
Post it in one of our official Scout boxes
We’ll deliver it before Christmas
LAST POST: Thursday 18th September at 5.00pm
There is a Scout post box and Scouts stamps in Holy Trinity Church.
Other locations and Scoup boxes and Scout Stamps are available throughout Formby & Hightown. Details can be found on leaflets in church.
Church Office Christmas Closure
The Church Office will be closed from Monday 29 December until Monday 5th January 2026.
For anything urgent please call Jenny Hays on 07876032058
or you please email
Our postal address is:
Holy Trinity Church
Rosemary Lane
Formby,
Liverpool,
L37 3HA
