Welcome to the Parish of Exning with Landwade

 

FOR A LIST OF OUR CHRISTMAS SERVICES PLEASE SEE THE CHRISTMAS SERVICES TAB

READINGS FOR SUNDAY SERVICES

                                                            

St Martin (NRSVA)                                                  

14^th December Isaiah 35:1-10 OT page 689; Matthew 11:2-11 NT page 11

21^st December Isaiah 7:10-16 OT page 663; Matthew 1:18-25 NT page 1

24^th December 11 pm Psalm 96 OT page 580; Luke 2:1-14 NT page 62

25^th December 11 am Psalm 98 OT page 581; Isaiah 52:7-10 OT page 709;

Hebrews 1:1-12 NT page 233

St Philip and St Etheldreda (NRSVA)

14^th December Isaiah 35:1-10 OT page 689; Matthew 11:2-11 NT page 11

25^th December Hebrews 1:1-12 NT page 233; John 1:1-14 NT page 98

St Agnes (KJV)                                                                                                                                 

14^th December Psalm 146; Isaiah 35:1-10 page 735; Matthew 11:2-11 page 972

21^st December Isaiah 7:10-16 page 712; Matthew 1:18-25 page 961

25^th December Hebrews 1:1-12 page 1206; John 1:1-14 page 1063

 

PRAYER REQUESTS

 

Please pray for:

Please pray for:

Avril, Ann, Nicholas, Pauline, Cedric, Sandra, Arthur, Tony, Lynsay, Claire, Andreea and Stephen and family, Patricia, Jane, Malcolm, June, Leena, Louie and his girls, Ralph and Andy and Janice who are in particular need of prayer.

For those mourning the deaths of loved ones particularly those mourning Bridget Gosney and Rhoda Ludford. 

 

 

Events for weeks commencing 7th and 14th December
Day	Date	Time	Topic	Venue	Contact
Monday	15th December	10 am	Footsteps Mums and Toddler Group	Exning Community Church Hall	Sarah Price
Monday	15th December	2 pm	Time for Tea and Friendship	Exning Community Church Hall	Christine Pearce
Wednesday	17th December	10 am	Bible Study	By Zoom	John Pascall
Wednesday	17th December	8 pm	Singing for Fun Christmas Special	Exning Community Church Hall	John Saville
Tuesday	23rd December	6 pm	Christingle Making	Exning Community Church Hall	John Pascall

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS AND INFORMATION

NEW THIS WEEK

RECITATION BY ALEX BERRY

On 14th December at 4.00pm Alex shall give a devotional performance of Olivier Messiaen's seminal organ work, La Nativité du Seigneur at Great St Mary's Church in Cambridge. This performance started out as a new year's resolution, which I shared with my very talented colleague, the Revd Ally Barrett, who has created a set of stunning artworks to accompany each movement. The work describes the story of Christ's incarnation from several perspectives, and is challenging and moving in equal measures.

You can read more about the project in this week's Church TImes: https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2025/28-november/faith/faith-features/acts-of-faith-and-love-repeat.

Please do consider coming along. It would be lovely to welcome you to Great St Mary's and to introduce you to this amazing piece of music - and a very different perspective on Christmas.

With thanks and warmest wishes,

Alex Berry

 

THE NEXT MBC SINGING FOR FUN will be the “Christmas Special” on Wednesday, December 17th at 8pm in Exning Community Church Hall. This will be the 14th Anniversary of our first SfF session.

There are lots of other opportunities to sing Christmas Hymns, so we only have one (and that has a different tune). There will be some Christmas No#1 hits, some traditional Yuletide songs, and some new words to old tunes.

If you’ve seen these evenings mentioned here over the years, don’t be like the old Guinness advert, “I know I won’t like it because I haven’t tried it!” As well as the SfF anniversary, we’ll be celebrating the birthdays of a couple of our MBC team you’ll probably know. So, especially if you haven’t been before, come along and join in what is always a fun evening.

Music will be provided on acoustic guitars. Words on the ECCH screen.

We ask for a voluntary donation of £2.50 on entry to cover the cost of hiring the Hall (cash or contactless).

There will be Festive refreshments. Seasonal clothing is optional! If you enjoy Christmas …. and singing …. come along for a different kind of evening. John Saville

ST MARTIN’S CHURCH FLOWERS FOR CHRISTMAS You are warmly invited to help decorate St Martin’s Church for Christmas on Friday, 19th December at 10am. If you would like to contribute towards the flowers, there is an envelope at the back of the church. We would also appreciate any donations of holly and ivy. With thanks Christine Pearce

 

PREPARATION OF CHRISTINGLES We will be preparing Christingles at 6 pm on 23^rd December in Exning Community Church Hall. The more helpers the merrier (and the faster!). Thank you in anticipation. John Pascall

THANK YOU to everyone who, in any way, supported the Advent Coffee and Mincepie morning held in the Exning Community Church Hall on Saturday 6th December. It was a lovely occasion, with people enjoying the refreshment and pleasant company. We are delighted to have raised £265 towards the work of UNICEF. Jenny King

 

PREVIOUSLY ADVERTISED

TIME FOR TEA AND FRIENDSHIP Join us for our Christmas party on Monday, December 15th, from 2pm to 4pm at Exning Community Church Hall. Our first meeting in January is on Monday 19^th January 2026, with regular meetings every 1st and 3rd Monday of the month.

Contact: tel. 01638 664314   email. exningtftf@gmail.com Christine Pearce

PLEASE NOTE - DECEMBER 18^th Owing to Exning Primary School holding their carol service in St Martins church that day, there will not be a Holy Communion.

CHRISTMAS TREE IN ST MARTINS CHURCH A Christmas tree (kindly donated by Christine Pearce from her garden) is now in St Martins Church. It is planned to decorate it after the 11 am service on 14^th December. Assistance would be appreciated please. Thank you. John Pascall

WARNING OF CHANGE OF WEEKLY NEWS SCHEDULE Please note that the last weekly news of 2025 will be produced for distribution on Sunday 21^st December. Therefore, if you want to put something in for week commencing 28^th December or to advertise something early in January. please send it to me for inclusion in the 21^stDecember news sheet. Normal service will be resumed for the issue week commencing 4^th January. John Pascall

HEAVENLY REALMS A production by LAMPS. Sunday 14^th December 3 pm and 7 pm. The Stable Café and Community Space 65 High Street, Newmarket. “Hold on to your halo! Enjoy a “holy” new take on the Nativity story!” Festive fun for all the family from ages 8-800.

To book contact Thestable@btinternet.com or telephone 01638 662311. Adults £10, Concessions £5, Family £25. For further information speak to Alan Shand.

 

BURNS NIGHT SUPPER 7 for 7.30 p.m. Saturday 24th January 2025 at Exning Community Church Hall.  Authentic Burns evening with traditional Scottish Menu. (towards church funds).Three course supper. Wine bar and soft drinks available. Piper, poetry, music, raffle draw. Tickets (£20) available from: Alan Shand 07791 190325, Christine Shand 07740 171688,

Jan Lovegrove 07471 942696 or Vanessa Burns 07578 902171

 

GODLY PLAY IN EXNING Godly Play for 3–6-year-olds and their families will run on the following dates from 9:15-10:45am at Exning Community Church Hall:

21 December 2025.

 

PLAY THE ORGAN 25

Play the organ year is designed to inspire a year-long national effort by the whole organ playing community to increase the number of people learning to play the organ. The organ is a magnificent instrument and fun to play.

If anyone of any age would like to find out more about the organ, or interested in playing the organ, then please contact any of the following people:

Christine Shand on 07740171688 or email on c.conwayjarrett@hotmail.co.uk

Dr Simon Bailey on 07719373538 or email on yeliabz@yahoo.co.uk

Josephine Roberts on 07469730195 or email on jer.roberts01@gmail.com

BIBLE STUDY The bible study group continues to meet by zoom on the 1^st and 3^rd Wednesdays of each month. Between now and the end of the year, we are having a quick look at the story of Joseph (he who may have had a technicolour coat!). If you would like to join us please contact me. John Pascall – john.pascall@outlook.com

FOOTSTEPS The next meeting will be at 10 am on 15^th December in Exning Community Church Hall. Thank you everyone for your continued prayers. Please pray for the helpers as well as the parent/carers of the young children. May the group bring blessings to the families. Let it be a place we can invite families to our services, particularly, Soundbites and Nativity with Christingle. Sarah Price

 

PARISH FACEBOOK SITE Thanks to Liam and Michael Frape, the parish now has a refreshed face book site. You can find it by searching for St Martin’s Exning.

 

NEWMARKET FOODBANK Kerri Davies from the Newmarket Foodbank has issued a plea for help. The foodbank is very low on everything. Recent donations have been very low; however, demand remains the same. Though Kerri says they are in need of everything, their urgent needs are for pasta, soup, cereal, and tin tomatoes. They are happy to pick-up any donations if required, and they would also be grateful for any financial donations you care to make. Please contact Kerri Davies at 07597582546, or www.newmarketopendoor.org.uk if you have any questions.

THE NEWMARKET COMMUNITY PANTRY, based at The Racing Centre, provides affordable food and essential items to those in need, offering long-term support through a partnership-based approach. For a one-off £5 membership fee, members can do a weekly shop for just £3. We aim to help individuals not just with food but by connecting them to the right resources for lasting stability. The pantry is open on Monday and Friday from 10.00 a.m. to 12.00 p.m., and Wednesday from 10.00 a.m. to 2.00 p.m. If you, or someone you know could benefit, visit us at The Racing Centre or contact us at community@theracingcentre.org or 01638 662828

SAFEGUARDING

The parish of Exning with Landwade is committed to safeguarding children, young people, and adults from harm. We follow the House of Bishops guidance and policies and have our own Safeguarding Officer. Our Diocese of St. Edmundsbury & Ipswich’s safeguarding pages contain vital links and information including contacts for the Diocesan Safeguarding Officer who advises our parish Safeguarding Officer. If you are concerned that a child or adult has been harmed or may be at risk of harm, please contact the parish Safeguarding Officer (Mrs Christine Pearce 01638 664314) or the Diocesan Safeguarding Officer, Karen Galloway 07785 621319 or safeguarding@cofesuffolk.org If you have immediate concerns about the safety of someone, please contact the police and your local authority’s children or adult social care services.

Further information can be found on the diocesan website Promoting a safer church - Diocese of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich.

 

 

PRINCIPAL PARISH CONTACTS

Title	Name	Telephone Number
Priest in Charge	The Revd Liam Beadle	01638 612373
	Liam.beadle@gmail.com
Assistant Curate	The Revd Cheryl Belding	07801 499179
Parish Safeguarding Officer	Christine Pearce	01638 664314
Churchwarden Exning Parish	Christine Pearce	01638 664314
Churchwarden St Agnes Parish	Dorothy Thomas
Lay Elders	Christine Shand	01638 667788
	Patsy Edwards	01638 665343
	Sarah Price	01638 578138