Dialstone Lane Notices

Action for Children Lanterns

If anyone has not emptied their box this year, or if it is full, please could they pass box or the contents to one of the stewards for Margaret Adshead to send on. Thank you.

Christmas Greetings

One Late Greeting

Blessings, Love and Peace to this Christmas. With my love to everyone at Dialstone.

Marion Barton-Bentley

Thank you to everyone who has sent their Christmas Greetings to Church Friends via the newsletter slot (this year in the form of a card) and for your donations to Church Funds – much needed during these difficult times. Pat

Race for Life Update

Suzie is pleased to announce that the total she raised is now £560 for Cancer Research. Thank you to all who contributed.

Funerals You will all be aware that two much loved members of our Church Community have died recently. We now have some information about their funerals:

Margaret Holmes: Margaret’s funeral has taken place as a private family event in the past week. We hope, that in easier times to come, we can join in a celebration of her life, remembering the influence she had particularly on the musical life of the church for both young and old.

Ted Dawber: Ted’s cremation and funeral will take place on the morning of Monday 14^th December. Because of Corona restrictions, limiting funerals to a maximum of 30 people, both of these events are by invitation only. However, the funeral cortege will drive down Dialstone Lane around 10.15, with a pause by the church, before going to Stockport Crematorium, giving us an opportunity to offer our support and show our respects, by lining the road near the church, as has been done on previous occasions. Please remember to wear your masks and observe social distancing.

Booking into services

Blue Christmas service 3.00pm Sunday 13^th December
This past year has been a difficult time for many people for a range of different reasons and as Christmas approaches it may be hard to feel in tune with the idea of a Happy Christmas and general merriment. So, we are holding a service for all those who might be feeling a bit low, or ‘blue’ this Christmas, providing space for reflection and an offering of hope and comfort.
There is still time to book your place at this service by phoning Gill Ramsbottom on 0161 483 8812 or emailing her on gillian.ramsbotttom@sky.com. We need bookings, just to make sure we don’t exceed the numbers we are allowed to stay safe in Church.

Christmas Day 10.00am
This is another service you need to book into. While all are welcome, we don’t want to be turning anyone away at the door! Please phone Catriona Stoker on 487 2010 or email her on cat.stoker@btinternet.com to make a booking. This also enables us to arrange the chairs so that you can sit in your household bubble.

Other special Christmas services

Carols in the Car 4.00pm, 6.00pm and 8.00pm on Saturday 19^th December at the Hazel Grove Park and Ride. This is a great opportunity to sing. Tickets are being sold in aid of Stockport Mind through this website- www.carolsinthecar.co.uk.

Information from Rev Katie Smith about Sound for the Carols in the Car
The sound is broadcast by radio, I believe on VHF. We get a frequency on a short-term license, and it is given out at the entrance to the carol service. We are working with a company who do the drive in movies and they have back-up in case anyone's car radio doesn't work or is DAB only - I think that is via Bluetooth speakers.
I hope this puts people's minds at ease that they will have a fabulous experience!

Christmas Eve Services:
While it’s not vital to book for the Zoom Christingle at 3.00pm, it would be good to know how many Christingle kits we need to get from the circuit in advance of the collection days on 20^th (12.00) and 22^nd December (11.00am). Please advertise this Circuit Event amongst your friends; it’s for the young at heart as well as the children.

Midnight Communion starting at 11.30pm. Join us at Dialstone Lane to welcome in Christmas Day.

Thank You for our Christmas Cards
The hand-made cards delivered to you have been made by Anita John, Ann Dawber and Susan Conlon and were the idea of Anita, who thought they would bring some light to our Church Family after a very dark year.  A big thank you for all the time and effort this has involved.

Thank you too, to Pat Wentworth for giving us all the opportunity to send our Christmas greetings to our friends in Church, and to Susan Conlon for designing the outer card.

We are grateful too to all those who will be delivering the cards. It takes many people’s involvement to make good ideas bear fruit.
The Stewards

 St George’s Christmas Tree Festival
Due to technical problems which delayed its arrival, the Virtual Christmas Tree Festival can now be seen by following this link: https://fb.watch/293jC_p0WN/. The whole video is about 40 minutes long, but if you want to see “our” Fairtrade tree, it’s about 23 minutes in. I must confess that after recording the slot I tweaked the tree a bit, so it doesn’t look quite the same in the church foyer now.
Catriona Stoker

Advent Course
You can still join the Advent course that Cathy is running on Zoom from 4.00 – 5.00pm on Wednesdays December 16^th and 23^rd. Click   https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81406672847?pwd=cDgyZytyZGdlSjVic0tSckptUHZMZz09 Meeting ID: 814 0667 2847
Passcode: 610313

To join by phone, use the numbers given each fortnight for the Circuit services and use the meeting ID above.

The Stokers’ Christmas Quiz

This year’s quiz is now available, price £1.50. It will raise funds for Action for Children, in recognition of the fact that our church fundraising has been very limited this year. The theme is “clothing”. Final entries due in by 31^st January. Should there be a tie over correct answers the winner will be selected by drawing lots. Answers will be available in February.

You can obtain a paper copy by contacting Andy Stoker on 487 2010 or have a copy emailed to you if you email him on andy.stoker@btinternet.com. If you haven’t received one already by email. We send copies with all our Christmas cards sent to friends and family at a distance and so have set up a Justgiving page for them to pay and gift aid their donation if desired. Details of this are on the quiz entry form.
Andy Stoker

Traidcraft

If you’re short on Christmas cards, some Fairtrade chocolate or need a few extra goodies for Christmas such as dates, biscuits or nuts, feel free to get in touch.
Thank you for all your custom in the past year.
Catriona Stoker Tel: 487 2010, email: cat.stoker@btinternet.com

Coffee Mornings/Afternoon Teas
Please contact Andy & Catriona or Peter & Pat if you would like to participate in the zoom meetings.

Next meetings Thurs 17th Dec 3:30pm & Thurs 31st Dec 11:00am.

Next Newsletter
This will be available around 7^th January 2021. Any items should reach Pat by 4^th January at the latest.